---
title: Siman 197 – Joining others to make the zimun
description: "בChelek 2 1. When two people finish eating and along comes a third person who is interested in combining for a zimun, he can, according to the following conditions: 2. The two could theoretically eat a little more if offered…"
url: "https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-197-joining-others-to-make-the-zimun/"
updated: "2025-12-31"
category: Laws of Birkas Hamazon
---

# Siman 197 – Joining others to make the zimun

בChelek 2

1. When two people finish eating and along comes a third person who is interested in combining for a zimun, he can, according to the following conditions:
2. The two could theoretically eat a little more if offered their favourite food.
3. The third person sits at their table and is given a k’zayis of food to eat (or a r’viis of drink, other than water).

1. The two have not yet verbalized “Let’s bentch” nor washed mayim achronim. (ShA ,  – MB , ,  – BeH “k’zayis”) L’chatchila, offer this third person a k’zayis of bread (this doesn’t apply to the tenth person if there are nine people). (MB ) One person can combine with 9 others, two with 8, and 3 with 7 according to the above conditions and they can bentch with the Shem. Just make sure the leader of the zimun is one of the people who ate bread. (ShA )

1. The people combining to the zimun must make sure to say their own appropriate beracha achrona after they finished listening to Birkas Zimun. (ShA -MB )

1. Do not be motzi anyone in Birkas Hamazon if you yourself aren’t obligated to bentch. (MB )

1. Some poskim hold that you aren’t obligated in Birkas Hamazon d’oraisa if you didn’t drink and you feel thirsty. (Rama )

1. If your stomach is full before you eat to the point that any more food would be disgusting to you, the food isn’t fit to bless upon, not before nor after – it is not called “eating”. (MB )

## Key

**ShA**
 : Shulchan Aruch

**MB**
 : Mishna Berura

**ShaH**
 : Shaar Hatsiun

**ShaT**
 : Shaaray Teshuva

**BeH**
 : Beur Halacha

**BaH**
 : Baer Haytayv

  [← PreviousSiman 196Ate something forbidden](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-196-ate-something-forbidden/)[Next →Siman 198Join up with three people](https://mishnaberurasummaries.com/docs/siman-198-join-up-with-three-people/)

**Want this on paper?** Print any simanim you choose as one clean document.