This document outlines a tiered activity for a 9th grade Halacha class on defining the concept of "achila" or eating for purposes of reciting blessings. Students are given various food and drink items and asked to determine if consuming each would constitute achila requiring a blessing. They then formulate a single sentence definition of achila based on their experiences. Finally, students review halachic sources on achila and compare them to their conclusions, explaining any differences. The goal is for students to grapple with categorizing foods according to Jewish law.

1. Bryan Chustckie
Tiered activity for a 9th grade Halacha class
Tiered activity sheet as baseline
What is ‫?אכילה‬ – Food for thought.
Introduction:
Brachos on food are only made on when there is an action of achila, eating. But “eating”
can be hard to define. We use halacha to define and categorize things in our environment.
The chart contains foods that may or may not be considered “achila” if consumed.
With your group, ‘experience’ each item and try to determine if it is considered “achila”.
Assignment:
After eating each item, decide if it constitutes achila and if it deserves a bracha. Also
write down what “category” the example addresses for those left with a question mark in
the column.
(Note: Labeling an item as food DOES NOT mean you would choose to eat it.)
Category
Not Customarily Eaten
Items:
Examples
Would you make a bracha
on…
A repugnant food: Lemon, Olive Oil
A unprocessed food: Potato
An unripe food: Banana?
? Listerine
Category
What food accomplishes –
pleasure, nutrition, or
satisfaction?
Solely pleasure (no
nutrition):
Pure Sugar
? Raw Egg
Satisfaction without
nutrition or taste:
Tepid water

2. After having eaten all the items, try to formulate ONE sentence on what you think defines
‫.אכילה‬ If the example demands a beracha then it should be able to fit into the definition.
For assistance, look at the “why” column on the left– the categorization provided. If the
given item demands a beracha and is halachically edible then the opposite of the quality
SHOULD NOT incorporated into your definition. For example, if the repugnant food –
lemon – is edible then its inverse “satisfying” or “delightful” should not be part of the
definition. But if Listerine which is not nutritional does not receive a beracha, then the
opposite, “nutrition”, can be included in the definition.
Definition:
Finally, Learn three of the following halachic sources. Find which example above
corresponds with the halacha and then decide if your experience are in concordance with
the Halacha. Also see if the Halacha fits into your definition. If there is a difference,
defend why you chose your course of action to make a bracha instead of the halacha. Try
to account for any discrepancies between the Halacha and your definition as well.(Some
key words will be bolded and underlined below for the difficult halachot)
Enjoy the experience – and maybe even the food.
Item used for different
purpose (to swallow pill):
Water
Category
Various methods of eating
Tasting (spit it out): Sour Stick
Swallowing (without
chewing):
Raisin
?
_Picture #1______Mattilda
Fat Boy_
Food ingested unnaturally
(intragastric feeding):
_Picture #2__IV Tube
Non-kosher food (for
survival):
_Picture #3_Pork
Compulsory eating:
(someone has to eat it)
Prunes

3. ‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬ ‫ך‬
‫האוכלי‬ ‫כל‬,‫מהם‬ ‫נהנה‬ ‫והחיך‬ ‫טוב‬ ‫טעמם‬ ‫יט‬ ‫אם‬ )‫(מג‬ ,‫לרפואה‬ ‫ושותה‬ ‫אוכל‬ ‫שאדם‬ ‫והמשקין‬ ‫ן‬
‫דהחיך‬ ‫אע"ג‬ )‫(מה‬ ,‫לשתות‬ ‫או‬ ‫לאכול‬ ‫אנסוהו‬ ‫אם‬ >‫<יב‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫וסוף‬ ‫תחלה‬ ‫עליהם‬ ‫מברך‬ )‫(מד‬
‫כך‬ ‫על‬ ‫ונאנס‬ ‫הואיל‬ ‫כ‬ ,‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫ממנו‬ ‫.נהנה‬
.
.
.
‫קצו‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫המזון‬ ‫וברכת‬ ,‫סעודה‬ ,‫הפת‬ ‫בציעת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
)‫(ג‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫ואין‬ )‫(ב‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מזמנין‬ ‫אין‬ ,‫מדרבנן‬ ‫אלא‬ ‫אסור‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫פי‬ ‫על‬ ‫אף‬ ,‫איסור‬ ‫דבר‬ )‫(א‬ ‫אכל‬
‫בתח‬ ‫לא‬‫בסוף‬ ]‫[א‬ ‫ולא‬ )‫(ד‬ ‫לה‬ .
.
.
.
‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
‫שהכל‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫לצמאו‬ )‫(מ‬ ‫מים‬ ‫השותה‬)‫(מב‬ ,‫אומצא‬ ‫חנקתיה‬ )‫(מא‬ * ‫אם‬ ‫אבל‬ ;‫בנ"ר‬ ]‫[יב‬ ‫ולאחריו‬
‫לאחריו‬ ‫ולא‬ ‫לפניו‬ ‫לא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫יח‬ ,‫האומצא‬ ‫להעביר‬ ‫מים‬ ‫.ושתה‬
‫אומצא‬ ‫חנקתיה‬ – refers to choking
.
.
.
‫רב‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
‫ד‬ )‫(יב‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫לכפול‬ )‫(יא‬ ‫הגיע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫זמן‬ ‫כל‬ ,‫הבוסר‬‫ואילך‬ ‫הלבן‬ ‫כפול‬ ‫ומשהוא‬,‫בפה"א‬
:‫מברך‬ ‫לעולם‬ )‫(יד‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫פול‬ ‫שיעור‬ ‫לנו‬ ‫נודע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ומתוך‬ )‫(יג‬ ;‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬
‫בפה"ע‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ,‫פרי‬ ‫משיוציאו‬ )‫(טז‬ ,‫האילן‬ ‫כל‬ ‫ושאר‬ * ;‫ביותר‬ ‫גדול‬ )‫(טו‬ ‫שיהיה‬ ‫עד‬ ,‫בפה"א‬
,‫הדחק‬ ‫ע"י‬ ‫אפילו‬ ‫לאכילה‬ ‫ראוי‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫עד‬ )‫(יח‬ ‫ביותר‬ ‫עפוץ‬ )‫(יז‬ ‫או‬ ‫מר‬ ]‫[ה‬ ‫ה‬ ‫יהא‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ובלבד‬
‫עד‬ )‫(כ‬ ,‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫חרובין‬ ‫דעל‬ ‫וי"א‬ ‫ו‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫כלל‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫אין‬ )‫(יט‬ ‫דאז‬
)‫(כא‬ ‫לכן‬ ‫וקודם‬ ,‫סביבם‬ ‫הנץ‬ ‫שיגדל‬ ‫עד‬ ‫בזיתים‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫חרובין‬ ‫של‬ ‫שרשראות‬ ‫כמין‬ ‫בהן‬ ‫שיראה‬
‫(טור‬ ‫עיקר‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫האדמה‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ )‫(כב‬ :‫.)מברך‬
.
.
.

4. Tiered activity Scaffolding
What is ‫?אכילה‬ – Food for thought.
Introduction:
Brachos on food are only made on when there is an action of achila, eating. But “eating”
can be hard to define. We use halacha to define and categorize things in our environment.
The chart contains foods that may or may not be considered “achila” if consumed.
With your group, ‘experience’ each item and try to determine if it is considered “achila”.
Assignment:
After eating each item, decide if it constitutes achila and if it deserves a bracha
(Note: Labeling an item as food DOES NOT mean you would choose to eat it.)
Steps: Eat food item > would you make a bracha on it? > if yes, then is it something you
would consider as an act of achila? – Think why or why not. That will add to your
definition of achila.
Category:
Not Customarily Eaten
Items:
Examples
Would you make a bracha
on…
A repugnant food: Lemon, Olive Oil
A unprocessed food: Potato
An unripe food: Banana
Something not edible but
enjoy taste:
Listerine
Category
What food accomplishes –
pleasure, nutrition, or
satisfaction?
Solely pleasure (no
nutrition):
Pure Sugar
Solely nutritional value (no
pleasure):
Raw Egg
Satisfaction without Old water

5. After having eaten all the items, try to formulate ONE sentence on what you think defines
‫.אכילה‬ If the example demands a beracha then it should be able to fit into the definition.
For assistance, look at the “categories” column on the left.
Words to consider including in your definition: (You must add at least one more
descriptive word/phrase not provided)
Tasting
Swallowing
Edible
Nourishment
Placing it in your mouth
Satiated
Appetite
Definition:
Finally, Learn two of the following halachic sources. Find which example above
corresponds with the halacha and then decide if your experience are in agreement with
the Halacha. If there is a difference, defend why you chose your course of action to make
a bracha or instead of the halacha. (key words to look for are bolded and underlined)
nutrition or taste:
Item used for different
purpose other than eating (to
swallow pill):
Water
Category
Different methods of eating
Tasting (spit it out): Sour Stick
Swallowing (without
chewing):
Raisin
Gluttonous eating:
_Picture #1___Matillda Fat
Boy
Food ingested unnaturally
(intragastric feeding):
_Picture #2_IV tube
Non-kosher food (for
survival):
_Picture #3_Pork
Force-feeding (Someone has
to eat it):
Prunes

6. Enjoy the experience – and maybe even the food.
‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬ ‫ך‬
,‫מהם‬ ‫נהנה‬ ‫והחיך‬ ‫טוב‬ ‫טעמם‬ ‫יט‬ ‫אם‬ )‫(מג‬ ,‫לרפואה‬ ‫ושותה‬ ‫אוכל‬ ‫שאדם‬ ‫והמשקין‬ ‫האוכלין‬ ‫כל‬
‫דהחיך‬ ‫אע"ג‬ )‫(מה‬ ,‫לשתות‬ ‫או‬ ‫לאכול‬ ‫אנסוהו‬ ‫אם‬ >‫<יב‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫וסוף‬ ‫תחלה‬ ‫עליהם‬ ‫מברך‬ )‫(מד‬
‫הואיל‬ ‫כ‬ ,‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫ממנו‬ ‫נהנה‬‫ונאנס‬‫כך‬ ‫על‬ .
Which example(s) above fits into this Halacha? .
Did you agree with the Halacha? .
Why or why not? .
.
‫קצו‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫המזון‬ ‫וברכת‬ ,‫סעודה‬ ,‫הפת‬ ‫בציעת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
)‫(ג‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫ואין‬ )‫(ב‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מזמנין‬ ‫אין‬ ,‫מדרבנן‬ ‫אלא‬ ‫אסור‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫פי‬ ‫על‬ ‫אף‬ ,‫איסור‬ ‫דבר‬ )‫(א‬ ‫אכל‬
‫בסוף‬ ]‫[א‬ ‫ולא‬ )‫(ד‬ ‫בתחלה‬ ‫.לא‬
Which example above fits into this Halacha? .
Did you agree with the Halacha? .
Why or why not? .
.
‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
)‫(מב‬ ,‫אומצא‬ ‫חנקתיה‬ )‫(מא‬ * ‫אם‬ ‫אבל‬ ;‫בנ"ר‬ ]‫[יב‬ ‫ולאחריו‬ ‫שהכל‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫לצמאו‬ )‫(מ‬ ‫מים‬ ‫השותה‬
‫לאחריו‬ ‫ולא‬ ‫לפניו‬ ‫לא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫יח‬ ,‫האומצא‬ ‫להעביר‬ ‫מים‬ ‫.ושתה‬
‫אומצא‬ ‫חנקתיה‬ is Choking
Which example above fits into this Halacha? .
Did you agree with the Halacha? .
Why or why not? .
.
EXTRA CREDIT:
‫רב‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
‫ואילך‬ ‫הלבן‬ ‫כפול‬ ‫ומשהוא‬,‫בפה"א‬ ‫ד‬ )‫(יב‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫לכפול‬ )‫(יא‬ ‫הגיע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫זמן‬ ‫כל‬ ,‫הבוסר‬
:‫מברך‬ ‫לעולם‬ )‫(יד‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫פול‬ ‫שיעור‬ ‫לנו‬ ‫נודע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ומתוך‬ )‫(יג‬ ;‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬
‫בפה"ע‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ,‫פרי‬ ‫משיוציאו‬ )‫(טז‬ ,‫האילן‬ ‫כל‬ ‫ושאר‬ * ;‫ביותר‬ ‫גדול‬ )‫(טו‬ ‫שיהיה‬ ‫עד‬ ,‫בפה"א‬
,‫הדחק‬ ‫ע"י‬ ‫אפילו‬ ‫לאכילה‬ ‫ראוי‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫עד‬ )‫(יח‬ ‫ביותר‬ ‫עפוץ‬ )‫(יז‬ ‫או‬ ‫מר‬ ]‫[ה‬ ‫ה‬ ‫יהא‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ובלבד‬

7. ‫עד‬ )‫(כ‬ ,‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫חרובין‬ ‫דעל‬ ‫וי"א‬ ‫ו‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫כלל‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫אין‬ )‫(יט‬ ‫דאז‬
)‫(כא‬ ‫לכן‬ ‫וקודם‬ ,‫סביבם‬ ‫הנץ‬ ‫שיגדל‬ ‫עד‬ ‫בזיתים‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫חרובין‬ ‫של‬ ‫שרשראות‬ ‫כמין‬ ‫בהן‬ ‫שיראה‬
:‫מברך‬‫(טור‬ ‫עיקר‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫האדמה‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ )‫(כב‬ ).
Hint: a boser is an unripe grape.
.
.
.

8. Tiered activity sheet as Stretch
What is ‫?אכילה‬ – Food for thought.
Introduction:
Brachos on food are only made on when there is an action of achila, eating. But “eating”
can be hard to define. We use halacha to define and categorize things in our environment.
The chart contains foods that may or may not be considered “achila” if consumed.
With your group, ‘experience’ each item and try to determine if it is considered “achila”.
Assignment:
After eating each item, decide if it constitutes achila and if it deserves a bracha. Also
write down what “category” the example addresses.
(Note: Labeling an item as food DOES NOT mean you would choose to eat it.)
Category
Not Customarily Eaten
Items:
Examples
Would you make a bracha
on…
A repugnant food: Lemon, Olive Oil
Potato
Banana
Listerine
Category
What food accomplishes –
pleasure, nutrition, or
satisfaction?
Solely pleasure (no
nutrition):
Pure Sugar
Raw Egg
Tepid water
Water (to swallow tic-tac)

9. After having eaten all the items, try to formulate ONE sentence on what you think defines
‫.אכילה‬ If the example demands a beracha then it should be able to fit into the definition.
For assistance use the category column.
Definition:
Finally, Learn all of the following halachic sources. Find which example above
corresponds with the halacha and then decide if your experience are in concordance with
the Halacha. Also determine if the Halacha fits into your definition. If there is a
difference, defend why you chose your course of action to make a bracha or not instead
of the Halacha. Explain why your definition does/does not defer to the halalachic
definition.
Enjoy the experience – and maybe even the food.
‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬ ‫ך‬
,‫מהם‬ ‫נהנה‬ ‫והחיך‬ ‫טוב‬ ‫טעמם‬ ‫יט‬ ‫אם‬ )‫(מג‬ ,‫לרפואה‬ ‫ושותה‬ ‫אוכל‬ ‫שאדם‬ ‫והמשקין‬ ‫האוכלין‬ ‫כל‬
‫דהחיך‬ ‫אע"ג‬ )‫(מה‬ ,‫לשתות‬ ‫או‬ ‫לאכול‬ ‫אנסוהו‬ ‫אם‬ >‫<יב‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫וסוף‬ ‫תחלה‬ ‫עליהם‬ ‫מברך‬ )‫(מד‬
‫ממנו‬ ‫נהנה‬‫כך‬ ‫על‬ ‫ונאנס‬ ‫הואיל‬ ‫כ‬ ,‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ .
.
.
.
Category
Various methods of eating
Sour Stick (don’t swallow)
Raisin (don’t chew)
_Picture #1______Mattilda
Fat Boy_
_Picture #2__IV Tube
_Picture #3_Pork
Prunes (hint: Someone has
to eat it)

10. ‫קצו‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫המזון‬ ‫וברכת‬ ,‫סעודה‬ ,‫הפת‬ ‫בציעת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
)‫(ג‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫ואין‬ )‫(ב‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מזמנין‬ ‫אין‬ ,‫מדרבנן‬ ‫אלא‬ ‫אסור‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫פי‬ ‫על‬ ‫אף‬ ,‫איסור‬ ‫דבר‬ )‫(א‬ ‫אכל‬
‫בסוף‬ ]‫[א‬ ‫ולא‬ )‫(ד‬ ‫בתחלה‬ ‫.לא‬
.
.
.
‫רד‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
* ‫אם‬ ‫אבל‬ ;‫בנ"ר‬ ]‫[יב‬ ‫ולאחריו‬ ‫שהכל‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫לצמאו‬ )‫(מ‬ ‫מים‬ ‫השותה‬)‫(מב‬ ,‫אומצא‬ ‫חנקתיה‬ )‫(מא‬
‫לאחריו‬ ‫ולא‬ ‫לפניו‬ ‫לא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫יח‬ ,‫האומצא‬ ‫להעביר‬ ‫מים‬ ‫.ושתה‬
.
.
.
‫רב‬ ‫סימן‬ ‫הפירות‬ ‫ברכת‬ ‫הלכות‬ ‫חיים‬ ‫אורח‬ ‫ערוך‬ ‫שולחן‬
‫ואילך‬ ‫הלבן‬ ‫כפול‬ ‫ומשהוא‬,‫בפה"א‬ ‫ד‬ )‫(יב‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫לכפול‬ )‫(יא‬ ‫הגיע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫זמן‬ ‫כל‬ ,‫הבוסר‬
:‫מברך‬ ‫לעולם‬ )‫(יד‬ ,‫הלבן‬ ‫פול‬ ‫שיעור‬ ‫לנו‬ ‫נודע‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ומתוך‬ )‫(יג‬ ;‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברך‬
‫משיו‬ )‫(טז‬ ,‫האילן‬ ‫כל‬ ‫ושאר‬ * ;‫ביותר‬ ‫גדול‬ )‫(טו‬ ‫שיהיה‬ ‫עד‬ ,‫בפה"א‬‫בפה"ע‬ :‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ,‫פרי‬ ‫ציאו‬
‫דאז‬ ,‫הדחק‬ ‫ע"י‬ ‫אפילו‬ ‫לאכילה‬ ‫ראוי‬ ‫שאינו‬ ‫עד‬ )‫(יח‬ ‫ביותר‬ ‫עפוץ‬ )‫(יז‬ ‫או‬ ‫מר‬ ]‫[ה‬ ‫ה‬ ‫יהא‬ ‫שלא‬ ‫ובלבד‬
‫בהן‬ ‫שיראה‬ ‫עד‬ )‫(כ‬ ,‫העץ‬ ‫פרי‬ ‫בורא‬ ‫מברך‬ ‫אינו‬ ‫חרובין‬ ‫דעל‬ ‫וי"א‬ ‫ו‬ :‫הגה‬ .‫כלל‬ ‫עליו‬ ‫מברכין‬ ‫אין‬ )‫(יט‬
‫ס‬ ‫הנץ‬ ‫שיגדל‬ ‫עד‬ ‫בזיתים‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫חרובין‬ ‫של‬ ‫שרשראות‬ ‫כמין‬‫בורא‬ )‫(כב‬ :‫מברך‬ )‫(כא‬ ‫לכן‬ ‫וקודם‬ ,‫ביבם‬
‫(טור‬ ‫עיקר‬ ‫וכן‬ ,‫האדמה‬ ‫.)פרי‬
The key here is to able to skim through a halacha to find the relevant point
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Explain how these halachot do or do not concur with your definition: