Translation:Mishnah/Seder Zeraim/Tractate Berakhot/Chapter 3/4

Introduction

Having discussed various people who are exempt from the recital of the Shema, the Mishnah now turns to people who due to reasons of ritual impurity are unable to recite the Shema (as decreed by Ezra).

Hebrew Text

בַּעַל קֶרִי – מְהַרְהֵר בְּלִבּוֹ וְאֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ,

לֹא לְפָנֶיהָ וְלֹא לְאַחֲרֶיהָ.

וְעַל הַמָּזוֹן – מְבָרֵךְ לְאַחֲרָיו, וְאֵינוֹ מְבָרֵךְ לְפָנָיו.

רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר:

מְבָרֵךְ לִפְנֵיהֶם וּלְאַחֲרֵיהֶם.

English Translation

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A baal keri should think about the Shema in his heart [i.e., instead of saying it out loud] and should not recite the blessings,

either before or after.

On food, he makes the blessing after, but not the blessing before.

Rabbi Yehudah says:

He blesses before and after.

Explanation

Baal keri: Baal keri is a Mishnaic euphemism for a person who has had a seminal emission but has not yet been purified according to the relevant laws.

Think about: I.e. he should say the words in his head, concentrating on their meanings.

Blessings: I.e. the blessings of the Shema.

On food... before: This refers to the blessings before eating, which are described in more detail later in this tractate. These blessings must be recited in one's head, similar to the Shema. The 'blessings after' refers specifically to Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals).