More Discussions for this daf
1. Pas Shacharis and Onah 2. The Diet of Rebbi Elazar 3. טעמא דרבן שמעון כדמר
4. שתהא יציאתך מן העולם כביאתך לעולם 5. י"ג דברים נאמרו בפת שחרית
DAF DISCUSSIONS - BAVA METZIA 107

Dovid Resnick asks:

Reb Mordechai: is there any research as to whether the diet recommend by R Elazar on 107b is suitable today? the inyanim about pas shachris? is it all still nogeah? if so, does anyone speak about details? A guy in my shiur is very interested (as am I). thanks

Mazal tov on recent simchas, and many more. Kol tuv Dovid

Dovid Resnick, baltimore md usa

The Kollel replies:

1) I will cite a major authority who may shed a different light on what Pas Shacharis is. This is the Eshel Avraham (of Butshatsh), printed at the end of the standard editions of the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 155:2).

He writes that there is no doubt that one need not be particular about what kind of Pas one uses. Furthermore, one does not actually have to eat Pas; any eating and drinking is included in the Berachah of the Torah (Shemos 23:25), "And He will bless your bread and your water."

The "Butshatsher" writes that the idea of Pas Shacharis is to give us physical strength so that our soul should not be uncomfortable when we feel hungry. Any eating or drinking, which satisfies the body until the time comes for a proper meal, is included in the blessing of the Torah.

2) I am not necessarily claiming that this represents the majority opinion among the Poskim, but the Butshatsher is nevertheless a big Posek.

3) If we follow the above idea, I can now refer you to the modern scientific research (see "Research Brief: Breakfast for Health," issued by FRAC (Food Research and Action Center)).

They write that children and adolescents who skip breakfast tend to have poorer nutrient intakes than those who eat breakfast.

This is based on studies in the Journal of the American Dietic Association 105(5), 743-760, and 110(6), 869-878.

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom

The Kollel adds:

I found more sources that suggest that Pas Shacharis does not necessarily need to be bread. (I am not claiming that all of the Poskim agree with this, but at least this approach has solid support.)

The Teshuvos Rivevos Efrayim (vol. 3, end of #990, p. 398, #35) writes that it is clear that one fulfills the Mitzvah of Pas Shacharis with Mezonos, and he argues that in all the places in Shas where Pas Shacharis is mentioned, one learns that the main thing is that one should taste something sustaining and healthy.

1) In Sukah 26a, the Gemara discusses what is considered "casual eating" ("Achilas Arai") which is exempt from the Sukah. Abaye says that what a Yeshiva student eats before he goes to the Shi'ur is called Achilas Arai. Rashi writes that in the morning, before he goes to the Beis ha'Midrash, the Yeshiva student is concerned that the "Shemu'os" may last for a long time, so he tastes a mouthful and has a drink.

2) The Gemara here (Bava Metzia 107b) cites Rava bar Meri who says that one should get up early and eat. He learns this from, "They will not be hungry nor thirsty, and will not be smitten by the burning heat and sun." One learns from here that the main thing is that one should not go hungry, but this does not necessarily have to be achieved with bread.

3) The Gemara in Shabbos (10a) states that the way of Talmidei Chachamim is to eat their meals in the sixth hour of the day. If one eats later than this, it is "like throwing a stone into a leather sack." (This means that it is bad for the body; alternatively, it means that while it is not harmful, it has no positive benefit either, -Rashi.) Abaye elaborated that the latter applies only to someone who did not taste anything earlier in the morning, but if he tasted something, then eating after the sixth hour is constructive. (One sees again that Abaye is in favor of having a taste early in the morning, as we saw in Sukah 26a; see above, #1.)

4) In addition, the term "Pas Shacharis" can be explained to refer to "Pas haBa'ah b'Kisnin" (see Berachos 42a) on which one says the Berachah of "Mezonos." It does not have to be bread of "Hamotzi."

Kol Tuv,

Dovid Bloom