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If one knows that he will need to leave the meal early, and he does not want to have to wait for a zimun, what should he do?
The obligation of zimun is only if three or more men are kovea (establish) themselves to eat together. This means that the men deliberately sit down to eat together, or they finish eating together. However, if one sits down with two that already began eating (i.e. he was not present at the beginning of the meal) and he finishes eating early (i.e. he is not present at the end of the meal), he is not obligated in zimun because he was never kovea himself to be part of the group.
The Igrot Moshe (O.H. I:56) writes that even if one sits down together with a group, if he says explicitly that he does not intend to join together with the others, then likewise there is no “kevi’ut” and therefore no obligation to wait for a zimun. Nevertheless, it is considered proper if possible for all three to finish together so they can form a zimun, since one should try to form a zimun whenever possible.
If three men ate together, and one of the men needs to leave before the end of the meal, what should he do?
Maran in Shulhan Aruch (O.H. 200:1) writes that if two men want to end their meal and recite Birkat HaMazon, but the third still wants to continue eating, the third member must temporarily stop his meal and participate in the zimun. After the leader finishes the first Beracha of Birkat HaMazon, if the third man wishes to continue his meal, he may do so. However, if only one man wants to end his meal, and the other two wish to continue eating, they are not obligated to accommodate him. The rule is that one must accommodate two, but two need not accommodate one. However, they are permitted and it is even praiseworthy for them to pause their meal and answer the zimun. The Mishna Berura (200:5) writes that if the one who needs to leave will suffer a financial loss if he waits, he can recite Birkat HaMazon without a zimun. But it would be more appropriate for the others to pause and answer.
If two men ate bread and a third only had a drink of juice can they join together for a zimun?
The Shulhan Aruch (O.H. 197:2) writes that one may form a zimun even if one of the participants only drank a Revi’it (approx. 3.3 ounces) of juice or any other beverage except for water. Since one who drinks a Revi’it of juice within the time span of K’de Shetiyat Revi’it (time it takes to drink a Revi’it, i.e. a few seconds) is required to recite a Beracha Aharona, he may join together with those who are benching and form a zimun. The one who drank should listen to the leader recite the first Beracha and answer Amen. Afterward, he should say the appropriate Beracha Aharona for his drink.
The Be’ur Halacha (197:2) writes that even if the third participant only drank a majority of a Revi’it (aprox. 1.7 ounces) of juice, he may also join in the zimun, because of a Safek Sefeka (double doubt). Some opinions hold that to join a zimun the third participant need not be obligated in a Beracha Aharona, and some opinions hold that one becomes obligated in a Beracha Aharona if they drink a majority of a Revi’it. Though we do not follow either of these opinions by themselves, one may rely on this combination to join a zimun.
If two men ate bread and a third joined them for dessert can they join together to form a zimun?
Yes, the third member may join to form a zimun, provided that he ate enough cake, fruit, or any other food, such that he became obligated in a Beracha Aharona. This means he needs to eat a KaZayit (half the volume of an egg) of food, within a time span of K’de Achilat P’ras (approximately 3 minutes). Even if the men who ate bread already finished their dessert, so long as they potentially could still eat more, (e.g. they did not yet wash their hands for Birkat HaMazon [Mayim Aharonim]), a third man may eat a KaZayit and join them to form a zimun. Moreover, it is considered meritorious for the two who ate bread to offer food to a third person so that they can create a zimun even though they themselves finished eating.