Q&A: Eating Before Prayer
Eating Before Prayer
Question
I once heard, based on the Talmud in Berakhot, that if a person said, “A psalm, a song for the dedication of the House, of David… What gain is there in my blood, when I go down to the pit? Will the dust praise You? Will it declare Your truth?” he is allowed to eat before prayer, since he has already prayed for his blood in those verses. On the other hand, it says afterward in the Talmud that there is also a problem with eating before accepting the yoke of Heaven. Can one rely on this? Is it true? Thank you.
And Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Hanina said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov: What is the meaning of that which is written, “You shall not eat over the blood”? Do not eat before you pray for your blood. Another version: Rabbi Yitzhak said that Rabbi Yohanan said that Rabbi Yose son of Rabbi Hanina said in the name of Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov: Anyone who eats and drinks and afterward prays, regarding him Scripture says, “And Me you have cast behind your back.” Do not read “your back” but “your pride.” The Holy One, blessed be He, said: After this one has become arrogant, he then accepts upon himself the yoke of Heaven?
Answer
It seems to me that the intent is before the prayer. That also appears from Maimonides in the second half of the ninth principle, where he brought this as a Torah prohibition against eating before prayer.
Indeed, on logical grounds I do not see a reason why there should not be a prohibition on eating before reciting the Shema, just like with any commandment once its time has arrived. But that is a different, rabbinic prohibition.