Food for Zimmun

Question: We regularly have lunch together at work, where two of my colleagues eat bread while I usually bring a salad. Can we still make a zimmun?

Answer: The Gemara (Berachos 48a) teaches that, for a group of ten to recite the special zimmun of “nevareich Elokeinu,” a majority, must have eaten bread. Rambam (Berachos 5:8) and the Shulchan Aruch (OC 197:2) rule that when seven of ten participants eat bread, the remaining three may join even if they have only eaten other foods, forming a valid zimmun.

A machlokes exists, however, regarding a zimmun of three: The Rif (Berachos 35b), Rambam, and Rashba (Berachos 48a) hold that all three participants should eat bread, while the Ri (Tosafos Berachos 48a), Rabbenu Yonah (35b), and Rosh (Berachos 7:21) allow one participant to join even if he ate other foods. Tosafos goes further, permitting a third who has only had a drink to participate, though the Kol Bo (25) requires a minimum of a kezayis of food (see Beis Yosef OC 197:2).

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 197:3) advises avoiding this machlokes by ensuring that those eating other foods should not join two who have eaten bread. Still, the Magen Avraham (197:9) cites the Knesses Hagedola, who rules that it is sufficient if one person has only had a drink. The Mishna Berura (197:22) supports this, and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 4:13) clarifies that this leniency aligns with the Shulchan Aruch. In earlier times, the leader would recite the entire bentching aloud while others listened. Today, with individual recitations, a zimmun may be led even if not all participants ate bread, especially given that Hashem’s name is not invoked during the zimmun.

The Kitzur Shulchan Aruch (45:10), Mishna Berura (197:20), and Ben Ish Chai (Korach 1:5) elaborate that ideally, one who has not eaten bread should consume a kezayis of mezonos to join a zimmun. If that is not possible, any kezayis of food or drink, aside from water, suffices.

In conclusion, one who has only eaten a salad may join as the third member of a zimmun.