Passing Bread And Knives

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I. Introduction

The Bukharian Jewish community has long been known for its strong adherence to traditional customs and practices. Within the rich cultural tapestry of the Bukharian Jewish community, a distinctive custom has been woven, where passing bread or knives directly from hand to hand is scrupulously avoided. This intriguing tradition, passed down through generations, raises essential questions regarding its halachic legitimacy. Does this practice possess a foundation in halacha, or is it merely a superstition and folklore?

 

II. Halachic Precedent

Drawing from Eichah Rabbah, the Rambam¹ stipulates that when breaking bread, the individual should distribute a slice to each person present, allowing them to pick up their portion with their own hands. Notably, the Rambam emphasizes that the bread-breaker should refrain from placing bread directly into another person's hand, unless the recipient is a mourner.

This practice finds robust support in the Yalkut Shimoni² as cited by the Rashba³, reinforcing the notion that direct hand-to-hand transfer of bread is generally avoided.

According to the Shulchan Aruch⁴, based on the Rambam's ruling, bread should not be placed directly into another diner's hand, with the sole exception being a person in mourning.

The Mishnah Berurah⁵ clarifies that handing bread directly to a non-mourner is inappropriate, lest it bring unfavorable consequences. Kaf HaChaim Sofer, among other prominent Acharonim, concur with this custom. The Ben Ish Cha⁶ warns that one should be careful with this halacha even with little kids.

 

III. Throwing Bread

The Mishnah Berurah⁷ notes that while distributing bread to others, one should not hand it directly to the recipient, it's crucial to handle bread respectfully. The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 171), citing Tosafot (Berachot 50b) and other early rishonim, explicitly prohibits throwing bread from one place to another. Throwing bread is deemed exceptionally disrespectful, even if the bread remains undamaged. Moreover, bread over which hamotzi is recited and then thrown across the table is deemed disrespectful to the mitzvah.

 

IV. Exceptions

A. Certain poskim⁸ clarify that this halachic guideline specifically applies to the bread over which hamotzi was recited, excluding other pieces distributed during the meal. Thus, this does not extend to supplementary bread offered during the course of the meal.

B. Maran in his commentary on the Rambam (ibid),⁹ cites Rabenu Manoach, who quotes the Geonim, stating that on Shabbat, one may not pass bread to a mourner, since mourning is not observed on Shabbat. Similarly, the Mishnah Berurah¹⁰ writes Shabbat, one should refrain from handing bread directly to a mourner (Avel), as public mourning is not observed on Shabbat.

Next week we will explore passing knives. To Be Continued….

Excerpt from: Hillel Omer: A Journey Through Jewish Law and Minhag. Available on amazon.com. For any comments and questions, the author can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

By Rabbi Nissan Shalomayev
Rav, Bukharian Jewish Cong. of Hillcrest, Kehilat Ohr V'Achdu

 

¹  Laws of Blessings 7:5

הַבּוֹצֵעַ נוֹתֵן פְּרוּסָה לִפְנֵי כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד. וְהָאַחֵר נוֹטֵל בְּיָדוֹ. וְאֵין הַבּוֹצֵעַ נוֹתֵן בְּיַד הָאוֹכֵל אֶלָּא אִם כֵּן הָיָה אָבֵל

²  Remez 947

זה האבל דכתיב כי נעצב המלך על בנו תני בבית האבל בחול פריס מנחם ויהיב לאבל מן הה"ד פרשה ציון בידיה משום דאין מנחם לה

³  Vol.1 Siman 278

⁴  O.C 167:18

הבוצע נותן פרוסה לפני כל אחד והאחד נוטל פרוסה בידו ואין הבוצע נותן ביד האוכל אלא א"כ היה אבל: [ופרשה ציון בידיה רמז לפרוסת המוציא שנותנין בידו בשעת אבלות] [ב"י ואבודרהם בשם רמב"ם פ"ז מהל' ברכו' ותשו' הרשב"א]

⁵  O.C 167:90

משמע דאין ראוי לעשות כן כשאינו אבל דלא ליתרע מזליה

⁶  Year 1, Emor #11

⁷  O.C 167:88

אבל לא יזרוק חתיכת המוציא על השלחן לפני האורחים אפילו אם לא נמאס המאכל ע"י הזריקה כמו שיתבאר בסימן קע"א ועוד כיון שהיא פרוסת המוציא הוי בזיון מצוה

⁸ Rav Shmuel Wosner cited in Kovetz M’Bet Levi, vol.3 pg 48

⁹  Kesef Mishne ibid.

וכתב ה"ר מנוח בשם הגאונים דבשבת פורס כדרכו שאין אבילות בשבת

¹⁰   O.C 167:89

ובשבת פורס האבל כדרכו דלא יהיה כאבילות דפרהסיא אם יתן לו בידו