272. Cutting the Bread

41:2 We must be careful not to interrupt between washing our hands and reciting the bracha of hamotzi. One may, however, respond “Amen” to any bracha he hears. Interruptions include delaying longer than the time it takes to walk 22 cubits (a cubit is about 18 inches, so 33 feet or so), walking to another residence even if nearby, or talking about some matter unrelated to the needs of the meal. While one shouldn’t interrupt, if he did, it does not invalidate the washing. If one became distracted and may have absentmindedly handled things, he would have to wash his hands again. 41:3 One should cut the bread at its best spot to show honor for the blessing. The best spot is the hard place, where the bread is most-thoroughly baked, which is opposite the split. (Nowadays, our breads should be cut on the sides so that the slice reaches the top and the bottom – Rema 167:1.) An older person who may have difficulty eating hard bread should cut it in a softer spot. One ought not delay unnecessarily between the bracha and eating, so the bread should be cut around its perimeter so that when he raises the cut piece, the whole loaf comes up with it. He should not cut off a slice because the bracha hamotzi should be recited on a whole loaf; he should complete the slice after finishing the bracha. If if cutting an already-incomplete loaf, one should not cut completely through before finishing the bracha; the bread should be the largest possible at the time the bracha is recited. On Shabbos (and Yom Tov – MB 167:10), one should not cut the bread at all until after he has recited the bracha so that the loaves are completely intact. If one is eating a soft loaf, even during the week, he may recite the bracha before cutting at all since cutting a soft loaf will not cause a delay.