Q. Hello Rav, I’m wondering about what to do when you are in the middle of a bracha and realize you’ve already said it (or really to need say a different bracha than the one you originally had in mind to say). For example, I’m going to drink some Coke. I said “Baruch Attah Hashem”, but then I realized I’ve already said a Shehakol that covered it.
Is it best to say “Lamedeinu Chukecha” or better to finish the bracha as an “Adama” on a potato chip on the counter. Second question: what if I’ve finished the shehakol, but then immediately realize I’ve already said it, should I admit defeat and just say “Baruch Shem Kavod….” or should I switch the bracha (b’toch K’dei….within 2 seconds) to something else by saying “Borei Pri Hadama” and eat the chips on the counter that I wasn’t planning on eating.
I was looking around and it seems there could be a difference if the bracha was D’oraita vs Rabbinic and possibly if its an obligatory bracha (teffillin) vs optional (eating). I can’t figure out the psak, please help. Thanks!
A. Once the name Elokenu has been said one cannot add Lamdeinu Chukecha as this is not a passuk anymore.
Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that the best choice in this difficult situation is to end the bracha of Shehakol and eat a very small piece of the chips in both cases.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Dovid Pam, Horav Aharon Miller and Horav Chanoch Ehrentreu Shlit’a