Ikar and Tofel

Our brachot unit continued this week with a focus on the laws of ikar and tofel. Whenever we eat foods in combination (noodles and cheese, for example), we must evaluate which of the two foods posesseses greater significance (ikar) and which possesses only secondary importance (tofel).

Here are the general principles we laid out in class today:

1. Whenever you have an ikar item and tofel item, the bracha on the ikar exempts the tofel item from its own blessing (Brachot 6:7).

2. However, if the tofel item is mezonot, it still receives a bracha, in addition to the bracha recited on the ikar item.

3. If both items are desired and possess equal importance, then the ikar item is the one of greater quantity.