Michael Davis
The blessing shehakol is recited for all foods that do not grow from the ground, including mushrooms. This is because mushrooms are fungi that do not receive their nutrients from the soil like other plants. Instead, they draw carbon from other organisms, typically decomposing plants. While mushrooms are not seed-bearing plants, they are kosher as the Torah only specifies which foods are forbidden, and anything not explicitly prohibited is allowed. The blessing shehakol is also said for foods eaten in an uncommon manner, such as plain flour or coffee beans. It is a unique blessing that thanks God for existence as a whole rather than the specific food being consumed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Definition | The blessing you make when there is no blessing specific to the food, or if you cannot determine the right blessing |
| Translation | "Blessed are You, L-rd our G‑d, King of the universe, by Whose word all things came to be" |
| Application | Said over foods that do not grow from the ground, including mushrooms |
| Reasoning | Mushrooms are fungi and do not receive their nourishment from the ground |
| Kashrut | In practical law, mushrooms are always kosher, but there may be kashrut concerns in their processing |
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What You'll Learn
Shehakol is said over mushrooms because they are not seed-bearing plants
The Shehakol blessing is said over mushrooms because they are not seed-bearing plants. Mushrooms are fungi, and while they often grow on the ground, they do not receive their nourishment from it. Instead, they draw their nutrients from other organisms, typically decomposing plants. This means that the blessing said on most plant foods, "Blessed are you... the Creator of the fruit of the earth", is not recited for mushrooms.
The Shehakol blessing is said on all foods that do not grow from the ground, including animal products, water, and drinks (except for wine). It is also said whenever a food is eaten in an uncommon manner, such as eating plain flour or coffee beans. In the case of mushrooms, the blessing is "Shehakol nihyeh bidvaro", which translates to "all came to being from His word". This blessing acknowledges that even things that were not primarily created as food are deserving of recognition.
The blessing on mushrooms is a recognition that they do not fit into the specific category of plant foods. This is because mushrooms are not mentioned in the Torah, which outlines the foods that are forbidden to eat. The Torah's silence on mushrooms may be due to their absence in the Garden of Eden, as they would have had no place there without death and decomposition.
The Shehakol blessing is unique in that it expresses gratitude for existence as a whole, rather than for the specific food being consumed. It is a general blessing used when there is no specific blessing for a particular food. By saying Shehakol, one acknowledges that even foods that are not traditionally considered part of the human diet are created by God and worthy of appreciation.
In summary, Shehakol is said over mushrooms because they are fungi that do not grow from the ground or receive nourishment from it. This differentiates them from seed-bearing plants, which have their own specific blessing. The Shehakol blessing recognises that mushrooms, despite not being traditionally considered food, are still a part of God's creation and deserving of thanks and appreciation.
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Mushrooms are fungi and do not grow from the ground
The bracha (blessing) for mushrooms is Shehakol. This is because mushrooms are fungi and do not grow from the ground like other plants. Fungi were historically included in the plant kingdom, but they are now considered a separate kingdom, distinct from both plants and animals.
Fungi are distinguished from plants by their unique structural and physiological features, including the components of their cell walls and cell membranes. Unlike plants, fungi lack chlorophyll and chloroplasts. Instead, they grow from the tips of filaments (hyphae) that make up the bodies of the organisms (mycelia). They digest organic matter externally before absorbing it into their mycelia.
Mushrooms are the earliest representatives of fungi to be classified. They form conspicuous fruit bodies that sometimes resemble plants such as mosses. However, mushrooms do not receive their nutrients from the soil like plants do. Instead, they secrete digestive enzymes into the nutritive surface on which they are growing, breaking down carbohydrates and proteins, which are then absorbed through the walls of the hyphae.
Fungi are among the most widely distributed organisms on Earth and are of great environmental and medical importance. They have been used by humans for thousands of years as food sources, tinder, and for medicinal purposes. While mushrooms are the most well-known type of fungus, there are about 144,000 known species of fungi, including yeasts, rusts, smuts, mildews, and molds.
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They do not receive their nutrients from the soil
Mushrooms are fungi and are not seed-bearing plants. They do not receive their nutrients from the soil, unlike other plants. Instead, they draw their carbon from other organisms, usually decomposing plants.
The Torah specifies which foods may not be eaten, and anything not forbidden by the Torah is permitted. The Torah does not forbid mushrooms, and therefore they are kosher. However, there may be kashrut concerns that arise during the processing of mushrooms. For example, canned mushrooms require kosher certification because sometimes non-kosher ingredients are used in the canning process.
Since mushrooms do not grow from the ground, the blessing said on most plant foods, "Blessed are you... the Creator of the fruit of the earth," is not recited. Instead, we say the blessing said on meat and other non-plant-based foods: "That all came to be from His word" ("she'hakol nihyeh bidvaro"). This blessing is also said on other foods that do not grow from the ground, including animal products like meat, chicken, fish, and eggs, as well as water and other drinks (except for wine).
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Shehakol is said over all foods that do not grow from the ground
Shehakol is a blessing that is said over all foods that do not grow from the ground. This includes animal products like meat, chicken, fish, and eggs, drinks like water, beer, and juice, and other foods like mushrooms, candy, and salt. The word "shehakol" means "all things" or "everything" in Hebrew.
The blessing acknowledges that all things, including those that were not primarily created as food, were created with God's word and are deserving of recognition. It is a way of thanking God for existence as a whole, rather than for the specific food being consumed. This is in contrast to other blessings, which focus on the specific food and thank God for the creation of that foodstuff.
The blessing is also said when a food is eaten in an uncommon manner, such as eating plain flour or coffee beans. In these cases, the blessing acknowledges that the food is being consumed in a way that is not typical and may not be covered by other blessings.
In the case of mushrooms, they are considered part of the "shehakol" category because they are fungi and do not receive their nutrients from the soil like other plants. Instead, they draw their nourishment from other organisms, usually decomposing plants. This distinction is recognized in the Talmud, which specifies that mushrooms do not receive their nourishment from the ground.
Overall, the "shehakol" blessing is a way to give thanks for all things created by God, including those that may not fall into more specific blessing categories. It is a recognition of the divine creation of all things, regardless of whether they are commonly consumed or fit neatly into other categories of blessings.
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Shehakol is a blessing that thanks God for existence as a whole
The word "shehakol" means "all things" or "everything," and the blessing is said to recognize that even things that were not originally created as food are still created by God and deserving of gratitude. Shehakol is also recited when the specific blessing for a food is unknown or when a food is eaten in an uncommon manner, such as eating plain flour or coffee beans. In these cases, the blessing of Shehakol is used as a catch-all to express gratitude for God's provision.
The structure of the Shehakol blessing is significant. It begins with "ברוך אתה" (Baruch Atah), meaning "Blessed are You," followed by "ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם" (HaShem Eloheinu Melech HaOlam), which translates to "L-rd our G-d, King of the Universe." This introductory phrase is common to many Jewish blessings and expresses gratitude and praise to God as the ruler of the universe.
The unique part of the Shehakol blessing is "שהכל נהיה בדברו" (Shehakol nihyeh bidvaro), which translates to "by Whose word all things came to be." This phrase emphasizes that creation exists through God's word, reflecting the belief that God is the source of all existence. The use of the present tense "nihyeh" (came to be) in some sources suggests a continuous action, indicating that God provides for us not only in the past but also in the present.
The Shehakol blessing is a powerful expression of gratitude and recognition of God's role as the Creator of all things. By reciting this blessing, individuals acknowledge the divine source of existence and express their appreciation for God's provision, even for things that may seem insignificant or unrelated to their daily lives.
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Frequently asked questions
Mushrooms are fungi and do not grow from the ground in the same way as plants. They do not receive their nourishment from the soil and do not produce their own carbon. Therefore, the blessing reserved for most plant foods is not recited for mushrooms.
"Shehakol" means "all things" or "everything". It is an acknowledgement that even things that were not primarily created for consumption are deserving of recognition.
Besides mushrooms, other foods that are blessed with "shehakol" include meat, chicken, fish, eggs, water, beer, vinegar, salt, truffles, and candy.
