Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 198 - [How] One Person Who Enters [Place] Where Three People Ate [Together Should Conduct Himself]

SECTION 198 [How] One Person Who Enters [the Place] Where Three People Ate [Together Should Conduct Himself]. (1–2)

1 [The following rules apply when] three people ate [together] and began reciting Grace with a zimun and another person who did not eat enters: If he enters when the leader says: Nevareich sheachalnu mishelo, “Let us bless Him of Whose [bounty] we have eaten,” he is obligated to respond: Baruch u’mevorach shmo tamid leolam vaed, “Blessed and praised be His name continually, forever and ever.”1 Afterwards, he does not respond Amen when the others [respond]: Baruch sheachalnu mishelo…, “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten…,” as stated in sec. 195[:4].2 If those dining are reciting a zimun with [a quorum of] ten, he should respond: Baruch Elokeinu u’movorach shmo tamid leolam vaed, “Blessed be our G‑d and praised be His name continually, forever and ever.” This law also applies if he was [with them] in the place where they ate, but did not eat with them.

If he did not respond to [the leader] in this manner, or if he entered as the people dining were responding: “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten…,” he may not respond, “Blessed and praised…,” because he did not hear the leader announce: “Let us bless….”

(Even according to the authorities who maintain that one who did not hear Barchu… (“Bless…”)from the sheliach tzibbur may respond [Baruch A-donai HaMevorach…, “Blessed be G‑d Who is blessed…”] together with the congregation,3 in this instance, the person may not respond with those who dined, for they say: “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten…,” and he did not eat. Nor is it fitting for him to respond independently [“Blessed and praised…,”] since he did not hear [the announcement: “Let us bless….” Hence,] he should [merely] respond Amen after their response. Consequently, he should [also] not respond again after the leader repeats: “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten….”

Needless to say, one is obligated to respond Amen after actual blessings that contain G‑d’s name, even though he is not obligated to recite these [blessings].

If one enters as the leader is repeating: “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten…,” there are authorities who maintain that he is obligated to respond Amen afterwards. Other authorities maintain that he need not respond. [Their rationale:] Since the others who dined remain silent, there is no obligation for him [to respond] at all. (Weight should be given to the first opinion.)

2 All the above applies when [the visitor] did not eat or drink [beforehand. A different rule applies,] however, if he ate an olive-sized portion of a vegetable or other food, or drank a reviis of any beverage and entered [the place where] the others [were eating] without having recited the blessing after partaking of them.4 Even though he did not eat in their company, as one group, but [ate] in another building, he may respond with them, “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten….”5

(Even if he entered [only] when all those dining were responding, he may respond with them, “Blessed be He of Whose [bounty] we have eaten …,” even though he did not hear the leader say “Let us bless….” [The rationale:] He is responding together with the others who heard [this announcement].6 This follows the opinion of the authorities who make similar statements with regard to Barchu.)