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Bracha length or Borei Nefashos

Question:

Shalom,

  1. What is the Gedder in Bracha Ketzara and Arucha? Is there a minimum length of words? In regards to Borei Nefashos, the length of the Bracha is relatively short and yet it still has a Chasima. If you could offer some clarity I would appreciate it.
  2. Also even though there is a debate about Borei Nefashos, if one was in the middle of saying it and had to answer Amen Yehe Shmei Rabba or Kedusha or Barechu should he stop to answer?
    Thank you very much

Answer:

Answer:

 

  1. The Rambam in Pirsush Hamishnayos (Brachos 1-4) explains that a Bracha Arucha or Ketzara do not depend on how many words the bracha has, rather if it starts and ends with a bracha it is aurcha, and if not it is ketzara.
  2. Although there is debate, the way we pasken is that it is a Bracha Keztora, (see Shulchan Aruch 207-1 that we don’t say H-shem’s name at the end), and this is the minhag (see M:B 207-5). Therefore, we would not stop to answer all of these things in middle of the bracha. On a practical level though, it is a relatively short bracha, (no pun intended) and if you see that within the next 5 seconds you might have to answer amen etc., wait before stating the bracha.

Best Wishes

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