If One Mistakenly Recited Al Hamichya Instead of Birkat Hamazon

If a person mistakenly recited Al Hamichya in a situation where he was required to recite Birkat Hamazon, what should he do? The Bracha of Al Hamichya is recited over grain products other than bread, whereas one who eats bread is required to recite the full Birkat Hamazon. If a person ate bread and mistakenly recited Al Hamichya, must he then recite Birkat Hamazon, or do we say that he fulfilled his obligation through his recitation of Al Hamichya? Rabbi Moshe Halevi in his work Birkat Hashem cites authorities who maintain that the Torah obligation of Birkat Hamazon does not require reciting three separate Brachot. Although the Birkat Hamazon we recite indeed consists of three separate Brachot (and a fourth Bracha which was introduced at a later point), this format was instituted by the Sages. As far as Torah law is concerned, however, one fulfills his obligation even by reciting a single Bracha, provided that this Bracha incorporates the themes of the three Brachot of Birkat Hamazon. This is the view of Maran (author of the Shulchan Aruch), both in his Bet Yosef and in his Kesef Mishne. According to this view, then, one who mistakenly recited Al Hamichya when he was to have recited Birkat Hamazon has indeed fulfilled his obligation. Since the Bracha of Al Hamichya makes mention of the main themes of the three Brachot of Birkat Hamazon, it suffices, on the level of Bedi’abad (after the fact), to fulfill the obligation of Birkat Hamazon. Therefore, in such a case, one is not required to recite Birkat Hamazon, as he has fulfilled his obligation by reciting Al Hamichya. Of course, it would be admirable in this case to wash one’s hands and eat another portion of bread so that he can recite Birkat Hamazon and thereby satisfy all opinions. According to the strict Halacha, however, this is not necessary, as he has fulfilled his obligation by reciting Al Hamichya.

By Rabbi Eli Mansour