Q. I attended a chupah where the chosson thought he had the ring in his pocket but at the crucial moment after the rabbi recited the first brochos, he remembered he left it home and he send urgently someone to fetch it. The rabbi proceeded meantime to read the kesuva and to make time he delivered an impromptu drasha too. Eventually the ring was there and the ceremony came to an end. Was the wait of almost a half an hour a hefsek and required a new brocho?

A. Rishonim disagree on the classification of Birchas Eirusin or the brocho prior to the kidushin realized by the giving of the ring. Rambam (Ishus 3:23) maintains that it is a Birchas Hamitzvos similar to all blessings recited before the performance of any mitzvah (See also Ribosh 98). However the Rosh (Kesuvos 1: 12) regards this as a Birchas Hasvach or a praise and exaltation blessing. He thus explains the changes in the wording between this brocho and a common mitzvah brocho.

Shulchan Aruch (E.H. 34:1) rules to perform the kidushin after reciting the blessing. Bais Shmuel (ad loc. 4) explains that there are Poskim that maintain that the brocho should be recited after the giving of the ring (in case she changes her mind), therefore he rules that on the onset it is better to recite first.

If a hefsek or interruption between the brocho and the kidushin requires repetition of the blessing would depend on whether this is a Birchas Hamitzvos where the rules of hefsek apply or a Birchas Hashvach. When the hefsek is done by the Rabbi or the Kalah, most Poskim maintain that no new brocho is necessary as this is the Choson’s mitzvah (Otzar Haposkim 34: 1: 1.) If the Choson interrupted, some rule that the brocho should be repeated (Shaarei Brocho 62: 3).

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in this particular case no repetition is necessary since the hefsek was done for the benefit of the kidushin and they were constantly engaged in the proceedings with no hesech hadaas.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a