Halacha Orach Chaim 188

In our last post we discussed when it is too late to insert the Bracha in place of Retzei and Yaaleh Viyavo. It is important to note that Benching is only repeated on Yom Tov. On Rosh Chodesh and Chol Hamoed, once the time for reciting the Bracha in place of Yaaleh Viyavo has passed, Birchas Hamazon should be completed, and it is not repeated. The reason for this is because there is no obligation to eat a meal on those days. It is therefore not necessary to repeat Benching.

Based on this reasoning, Rebbi Akiva Eiger rules regarding women that forget to recite Retzei on Shabbos, and Yaaleh Viyavo on the first night of Pesach, that they are required to repeat Benching. This is because women are obligated to eat bread or Matzah at those times. However, on all other Yomim Tovim they would not repeat Benching if it is omitted.

Kaf Hachaim makes a fascinating point regarding this Halacha. We learned earlier that there is a discussion if Birchas Hamazon is an obligation for women based on a Torah law, or Rabbinic law. Since Benching itself is not clearly a Torah obligation for women, even on Shabbos and the first night of Pesach, they would not repeat Birchas Hamazon.

It is interesting to note, that Rebbi Akiva Eiger brought by the Mishna Berura 186, 3, rules that women do not repeat Birchas Hamazon if they are in doubt if it was recited. Here, Rebbi Akiva Eiger requires women to repeat Birchas Hamazon if Retzei is omitted. Obviously the obligation to repeat Retzei is based on whether or not there is an obligation to eat, and it has nothing to do with the nature of Birchas Hamazon being a Torah or Rabbinic obligation. This is not like the Kaf Hachaim.