Is "Nu" an Interruption By Berachot

Halacha Moment
May 8
2 min read

The Daily Halacha Moment - Is "Nu" an Interruption By Berachot

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

Is "Nu" an Interruption By Berachot?

Answer:

One should be careful not to hum a tune or utter sounds such as "nu" or "sh" between reciting the beracha and eating, even though these are not considered actual words. Ideally, there should be no interruption at all between the blessing and the act of eating in order to maintain the proper flow and intent of the beracha. However, if one did make such a sound or slight interruption, it is not considered a significant enough break to require repeating the beracha, and they may proceed with eating as intended. [1] Similarly, one shouldn't walk between the beracha and eating since walking is an interruption. [2] Furthermore, ideally one should avoid winking or making signals to someone between reciting the beracha and eating, as it is considered an interruption. However, if one did so, it is not significant enough to require repeating the beracha, and they may proceed with eating. [3]

Sources:

[1]. Rav Elyashiv holds that saying "nu" or "sh" between a beracha and eating should ideally be avoided but is not an interruption after the fact. The Minchat Yitzchak (7:9) considers humming a tune between Hamotzi and eating a hefsek, citing the Magen Avraham (124:14), who rules that one should answer Kaddish before "v'imru amen" if the chazan extends it with a niggun, as the niggun is an interruption. However, the Shevet Halevi (5:16) argues that a niggun is only a hefsek in the Kaddish case since "imru amen" is not part of Kaddish. He further notes from Magen Avraham (128:73) and Kiddushin 71a that a niggun within tefillah is not a hefsek. He concludes that after the fact, a niggun is not considered an interruption.

[2]. Shulchan Aruch Harav 167:9; Shaar Hatziyun 167:28; Vezot Habracha p. 14.

[3]. The Ma'amar Mordechai 25:8 cites the Halachot Ketanot 1:57 who held that winking is an interruption but he argues.

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