Q) Do I need to wash on wraps?
[A) We will discuss wheat-based wraps. Corn-based wraps are neither hamotzi nor mezonos and do not require netilas yodayim.]
The default position regarding baked bread-like products is that their brocho is hamotzi – unless they can be classified as pas haboh b’kisnin. The definition of pas haboh b’kisnin is subject to major debate among the Rishonim (see Beis Yosef and Shulchan Aruch OC 168:7):
- The Rashbo explains that pas haboh b’kisnin is dough that is filled with “pockets” of honey, sugar or similar substances, for example a pie or tart that consists of a regular plain dough and is filled with a sweet filling. However, the filling must be present at the time of baking; and not added after the dough is baked[1].
- The Rambam learns that pas haboh b’kisnin is a dough that sweet substances are mixed into and kneaded with the dough, and the taste of the sweet components is discernible in the dough (for example a cake).
- Rav Hai Gaon and the Aruch learn that pas haboh b’kisnin is a regular dough that has a brittle consistency when baked, for example crackers or biscuits.
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 168:7) rules that all these three classifications are applicable l’halocho; i.e. if a bread-like product fits into any of these three classifications the food item in question is mezonos and not hamotzi.
Let us now analyse wraps: Wraps are a baked bread-like product and therefore the default position regarding a brocho on wraps should be hamotzi[2] – unless they fit any of the aforementioned criteria. Wraps are usually served filled; but are not baked together with their filling. Therefore, they do not fill the parameters of the first criteria. Additionally, wraps consist of a plain unsweetened dough, and when baked are malleable and not brittle. Therefore, there is no reason that they should be mezonos, and they require a hamotzi and netilas yodayim just like conventional bread. They will also require birkas hamozon – provided that one ate a minimum of a k’zayis within k’dei achilas pras.
[1] גר”ז קס”ח סע’ ט’ שממלאין אותה קודם אפייתה
[2] והגם שיש טוענים שדינם כרקיקין (שו”ע או”ח רי”ב ב’) ולכן מברכים רק על המרקחת [כאן המלוי] ולא על הרקיקין, לכ’ כאן רוצים גם הטעם של הwraps ולכן חייבים בברכה
ומפי מו”ר הג”ר אליהו פאלק שליט”א מגייטסהעד שמעתי שאין לwraps תואר לחם (הואיל ואין בהם נקבים בפנים כלחם רגיל) ולכן ברכתם מזונות ועל המחיה