Mishnah Berachot 7.4:
Three people who ate a meal together can't be separated to recite the Blessing after Meals, and every one by his side; rather, they should recite the zimmun together.
In the same way, four that they ate together, and in the same way, five.
Six to ten people who ate a meal together can be divided into two groups, and each group recites their own zimmun.
But ten people can't be divided in two groups unless there are twenty.
This is the general principle: a group can't be broken unless the resulting groups can recite the same formula zimmun that would have recited the entire group.
Mishnah Berachot 7:4 sets an architecture halachic accurate about when a group that ate together you may —or may not— be divided to recite the Blessing after Meals. The criterion is not comfort, but conservation level liturgical the zimún.
Three people who ate a meal together can't be separated to recite each one by their side; they should recite the zimún together. The same thing happens with four and five. Six up to nine can be divided into two groups and recite two zimunim. Ten can not be divided unless there are twenty. The general principle shuts down the system: it only allows you to split if subgroups can recite exactly the same formula of zimún that have recited the entire group.
Core concept
The Mishnah does not speak of a coincidence, but a group that ate “as one” (ke'ejad). This social configuration creates a collective obligation: when there is the opportunity of keeping the close of the meal so community, not allowed to disassemble the group if that degrades the mitzvah.
The mathematical halachic of the zimún
3-5: Not divided. 3, when they are separated is lost zimún. With 4 or 5, although it could be 3, the Mishnah protects all so that no one is left without zimún.
6-9: It can be split. Two groups of 3 remain at the same level.
10-19: Not divided. 10 the zimún rises to the formula, with a special mention in the divine (“Elokeinu”); to divide, degrade the text.
20+: It can be split. Two groups of 10, they keep the same formula high.
Rule of engineering liturgical
The “general principle” is a rule of conservation: it is not enough that the sub-groups to be able to say some zimún; you should be saying the same zimún the whole. The Halachah prioritizes the integrity ritual and the equality of access to the close community.
Coding and development
The line of pesaq maintains the same criterion from the literature tanaítica to the encoding:
- The Mishnah fixed thresholds and the beginning.
- The Talmud Bavlí discusses the frameworks of the constitution of the group.
- Rambam systematizes the criterion in Mishné Torah.
- The Shulchan Aruch encodes in Orach Chaim.
When is it considered that “ate like one”?
The obligation arises when the event-food it is socially (sit down together, common framework), not just at the end. Therefore, the restriction to split operates from the formation of the group.
Practical applications
- 6-9 persons: they can be divided only if each subgroup closes with zimún (≥3).
- 10-19 people: do not split; or is expected to, or does zimún before departure, or is organized to get to 20.
- 20+: it can be divided into 2×10 without losing “Elokeinu”.
- Hybrids or remote: the principle does not change; does not degrade the text by a partition.
Synthesis
Berachot 7:4 it is a rule of conservation of kedushá community: the group exists halájicamente and can only be fragmented when fragmentation does not steal from no one —not the text— the level of zimún that the set had to say.
