Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 6/3

Introduction

The Mishnah continues the discussion of the all-inclusive blessing described in the previous mishnah by applying it to processed foods and various other things which do not directly come from the ground.

Hebrew Text

על דבר שאין גדולו מן הארץ – אומר: "שהכל".

על החומץ, ועל הנובלות, ועל הגובאי – אומר: "שהכל".

על החלב, ועל הגבינה, ועל הביצים – אומר: "שהכל".

רבי יהודה אומר:

כל שהוא מין הקללה – אין מברכין עליו.

English Translation

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For things which do not grow from the earth, say: "For everything".

For vinegar, and for unripe fruits and for the locusts, say: "For everything".

For milk, and for cheese and for eggs, say: "For everything".

Rabbi Yehudah says:

All which is cursed – There is no blessing for.

Explanation

Which do not grow from the earth: All things ultimately come from and return to the earth in some fashion. The sages refer, thus, that things which do not directly come from the land, such as processed foods, meat, fish, etc.

For everything: This refers to the all-inclusive blessing שהכל נהיה בדברו "For everything exists by God's word" discussed in the previous mishnah.

Unripe fruits: That is, fruits which have not yet ripened and have either fallen early or been picked early. Unripe fruits have a lesser status than ripe fruits and thus have a different blessing.

Cursed: Rabbi Yehudah holds that the above foods, such as vinegar and unripe fruits are 'cursed' in the sense that it is by God's will that they are as they are, and therefore do not require a blessing. The halakha does not follow his view, however.