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Why is a birkat mitsvah not recited upon performing the mitsvah of the recitation of birkat hamazon? This would perhaps be akin to the blessing upon Bitkat Kohanim as noted by @danno.

mevaqesh
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    Are there any comparable cases, where we make a bracha on the mitzvah of making a bracha? – Scimonster Jun 10 '15 at 06:59
  • @Scimonster the bracha the kohanim make before duchening (if you see the 3 verses said afterwards as the same sort of bracha - the text of what they say seems to indicate that they are but the formulation indicates that the "bracha" is not the same sort) – rosends Jun 10 '15 at 10:35
  • why don't we make a beracha before making kiddush? – Menachem Jun 10 '15 at 22:44

1 Answers1

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This is discussed in the Sefer ליקוטי שושנים on page 13.

Essentially he answers:

Since we bless Hashem during the Birkat Hamazon (Grace After Meals), there's no need to first bless Him before doing the Mitzva.

There's no need to make a Bracha on a Bracha, since the point of making the Bracha is taken care of as we say the actual Bracha.

Similarly we don't have a Bracha upon reciting Kriat Shma, since Shma is all about accepting the yoke of heaven, making the pre-blessing redundant.

Danny Schoemann
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  • "Similarly we don't have a Bracha upon reciting Kriat Shma". Actually, there are brachot before Kri'at Shema. What is their purpose / why do we need them? – DanF Jun 10 '15 at 13:51
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    That is a question you can ask the forum; they do not refer directly to Kriat Shma, if you read them carefully. Besides, they are recited even if you have already said Kriat Shma earlier. – Danny Schoemann Jun 10 '15 at 13:59
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    @DannySchoemann the nature of the "birkos kriyas shma" is a machlockes Rishonim (if I recall Ramban / Rashba). presenting it simplistically is somewhat misleading. – mevaqesh Jun 10 '15 at 18:24
  • @DanF actually it is a machlockes Rishonim what the nature of the brachos on kriyas shma are. (Ramban/Rashba IIRC). It is this machlockes that determines whether or not one says the brachos after already saying sh'ma. – mevaqesh Jun 10 '15 at 18:30
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    @DannySchoemann R Amram Gaon says to say Asher Kiddishanu...Likro et haShema before bed if you davened maariv too early. – Double AA Jun 10 '15 at 18:31
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    What does Kabolas Ol have to do with a Bracha? We say a Bracha on Hallel, which is more closely related to a Bracha. – HaLeiVi Jun 10 '15 at 21:52
  • @mevaqesh I was just translating from the book, if somebody wants to do a better job, feel free to edit my answer or add a new one. But we pasken like I wrote, as we say Birkat KS even if we already said Shma. – Danny Schoemann Jun 11 '15 at 11:47