questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings")
2
votes
1answer
76 views
Why don't we count sefirah without shem u'malkhut
Our current practice is that if you forget to count one day of the omer (morning and night), it is still incumbent upon you to count, but you can't say a bracha.
As far as I understand, the reason ...
2
votes
0answers
34 views
Blessing children together or individually?
When I was a child, my parents would bless my siblings and me on Erev Shabbos. The formulation that they used was "Yesimcha Elokim kEphraim v'ch'Menashe" for each son and "Yesimech Elokim kSarah, ...
1
vote
1answer
27 views
Why is birkas kohanim in the masculine singular?
If the kohanim are blessing the entire people, one would think that it should be worded, "יברככם...וישמרכם" Why is it in the singular form?
On a related note, if a father places this blessing on his ...
5
votes
2answers
39 views
Why must the birkas kohanim be “with love”?
The bracha that the kohanim recite before birkas kohanim ends with "be'ahavah" (with love). I have read that this expresses that the fact that the kohanim are required to feel love when saying birkas ...
3
votes
0answers
43 views
Answering “amen” to “Ahavas olam” in the evening but not in the morning
Mishna B'rura 91:16 cites a difference of opinion regarding whether one should respond "amen" to the shatz's (leader's) blessing immediately before "Sh'ma" or should, on the contrary, finish saying ...
4
votes
1answer
40 views
How to fix incorrect omer count
Suppose someone accidentally counts the wrong day of the omer after making a bracha, and then realizes later that night what he had done. How should he rectify this? Should he count the correct day ...
1
vote
0answers
50 views
The Brakhah 'Ha-Tov ve-ha-Meitiv' and Wine
I think I vaguely remember that one of the occasions when one makes the brakhah 'ha-tov ve-ha-meitiv' is when you have been drinking wine and someone brings out another bottle of wine that is of a ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Segulot for finding a Shidduch
If someone is having a hard time finding a shidduch, what can they do to help the process along?
Are there any recommendations brought in the holy books that will make it easier?
2
votes
1answer
53 views
Amen on a Berachah that may be out of place but isn't false
An answer to another question says that, when a particular modern-day Torah scholar heard someone recite the blessing of "SheHalak" (recited in the presence of only the most eminent scholars of Torah ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
Origin of using priestly blessing on Friday night
I know why we use Ephraim and Menashe when blessing the children on Friday nights, (see: Why Does Hashem Bless Us Like Efraim And Menashe?) but why do we use Birkat Kohanim? Is there any specific ...
2
votes
0answers
45 views
Speaking in the middle of Havdallah
Someone was making havdallah and, after saying the bracha on besamim (spices) and then smelling them, exclaimed "Ah! A mechayah!". Is this considered a hefsek (interruption) in the havdallah? Meaning ...
0
votes
1answer
37 views
other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos?
IS there halachic basis for using other names of Hashem (instead of Ado..) in davenning and brachos, if one chooses?
2
votes
0answers
26 views
Difference between leaving place of eating and place of smelling besamim
We learn in Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 178 the laws if one leaves the place where they were eating if a new bracha has to be made or not when they come back (or if they change to a different place.) ...
-4
votes
1answer
36 views
Why do we not reply to “Mazel Tov” with “Tov Mazel”?
The reply to Sholom Aleichem is Aleichem Sholom.
One reply to Yeyasher Kochacho is Kochacho Yeyasher.
Why then have I not heard the reply to Mazel Tov to be Tov Mazel?
0
votes
1answer
41 views
Challah dough that loses its amount
A theoretical question:
Someone was making a dough and in the process a large piece fell out from the mixture onto the floor. They had made exactly the right amount in order to take challah with a ...
0
votes
0answers
59 views
Hamapil immediately before sleep, but what about undressing?
Generally, we are supposed to say hamapil beracha immediately before going to bed, with no interruption. How do we reconcile this with the idea that we should be dressed appropriately to make a ...
5
votes
1answer
86 views
Is each part of birkat Kohanim a full blessing?
I'm confused as to whether or not birkat kohanim is a true "blessing" in the halachic sense. Part of my confusion arises from how we respond when it is said. In many ashkenazic minyanim outside of ...
5
votes
1answer
53 views
Not mentioning “Pesach” in after-bracha at the Seder (Or “Shabbos” by after-bracha by a Kiddush)
Update: Added an additional case where the same question could be asked.
It says in Shulchan Aruch 208:12 that when one makes an after-bracha after eating food for which the fore-bracha was "mezonos" ...
3
votes
1answer
50 views
Can one say “Hazak u'Baruch” to both men and women? If not, is there a female equivalent?
When returning from an Aliyah la'Torah, I am commonly met with "Hazak u'Baruch". I have encountered this saying in other situations when someone does something praiseworthy.
Can one say "Hazak ...
4
votes
0answers
54 views
Why do we make a blessing on the blossoming of fruit trees (birkat hailanot)?
What is the reason that we make a blessing on fruit trees which are about to blossom, known as birkat hailanot? Is there something unique about the potential blossoming of fruit trees versus any other ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
What does one do if he makes a mistake in Brachos before Birkas HaTorah?
If one makes a mistake in saying a Bracha (like he started saying a bracha and remembered that he shouldn't say it) after saying "Baruch Atah Hashem", he should finish it off with "lamdeini chukecha" ...
1
vote
1answer
26 views
Why say “שבת היא מלזעוק”?
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 287:
יכולים לנחם אבלים בשבת וכן יכולים לבקר את החולה ולא יאמר לו כדרך שאומר לו בחול אלא אומר לו שבת היא מלזעוק ורפואה קרובה לבא ורחמיו מרובים ושבתו בשלום הגה וי״א דאין ...
5
votes
2answers
71 views
Shehecheyanu on sefiras haomer
Why don't we make a shehecheyanu blessing on counting the Omer? It is a mitzvah which we get to do after a very long break (more than 300 days)?
Some arguments I have heard:
In a similar situation ...
3
votes
2answers
117 views
Correct response to tizku l'mitzvot
What is the correct response to someone saying, "tizku l'mitzvot" after you do a mitzvah, or something helpful? For example, after helping someone make an Eruv Chatzeirot they might say "tizku ...
3
votes
1answer
47 views
Bracha on Hallal Chol HaMoed Pesach (in regards to Sephardim)
I know that according to the psak of the Shulchan Aruch the Sephardim (among others -- The Gra, many Kehillas in Yerushalayim including Chassidei Karlin, Chassidei Biyan I think, and Chassidei Chabad ...
5
votes
2answers
61 views
Thought about Sefirah but did not say it verbally
I thought (in the middle of Shemona Esray of mincha) that I must count the first day of sefirah after I finish; but did not do it verbally. Should I continue on to make the brocha from the second day? ...
3
votes
1answer
92 views
What does “שבת היא מלזעוק” refer to?
Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chayim 287:
יכולים לנחם אבלים בשבת וכן יכולים לבקר את החולה ולא יאמר לו כדרך שאומר לו בחול אלא אומר לו שבת היא מלזעוק ורפואה קרובה לבא ורחמיו מרובים ושבתו בשלום הגה וי״א דאין ...
4
votes
2answers
56 views
Where are the brachot written down?
I hope this isn't an ignorant question, but I wonder if there is one place that all the b'rachot are written down, and if so, where is it? Are they all in the Mishnah?
5
votes
2answers
99 views
“גוט שבת, גוט שבת”
My father, passing someone on the street on שבת, says "גוט שבת, גוט שבת" (Yiddish, "good sabbath, good sabbath"): that is, he repeats himself. I thought it might be his own idio-custom — until I ...
3
votes
2answers
102 views
Missing part of a bracha - yotzee b'dieved?
If one made a bracha (for example an woman by tevillah) "Baruch Atah HaShem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam al ha-tevillah" (and forgot to say "asher kidashanu b'mitzvosav vitzaivanu…") are they yotzee ...
5
votes
1answer
97 views
Saying Baruch Dayan HaEmeth when you don't know the person
Is it appropriate to say "Baruch Dayan HaEmeth" when you hear of sad news about a person you don't know, or a person you have corresponded with but haven't met?
Does it make a difference if you've ...
3
votes
1answer
44 views
Beracha Achronah on milk
We say a special Beracha Achronah on the seven species that Eretz Yisroel is praised in the Possuk Eretz Zeis Shemen etc.
My question is, since Eretz Yisroel is also praised with milk (albeit in ...
0
votes
0answers
57 views
Should a parent bless a child resting one hand or both?
When a parent gives the traditional blessing usually done on Shabbat evening should the parent place one hand on the head of the child or two?
7
votes
2answers
131 views
When can I speak after eating?
After making a Berachah on food, it is considered a Hefsek to speak before eating said food.
At what point after beginning to eat is it permissible to speak?
After the first bite?
After the first ...
3
votes
1answer
94 views
Why do Ashkenazim say a b'racha for each of the four cups?
Normally if you have wine and refill your glass during the meal you don't make a new borei p'ri hagafen. Why do we (at least Ashkenazim) say a new b'racha for each cup at the seder? I think I've ...
7
votes
2answers
86 views
Maple syrup bracha
What is the bracha on maple syrup and why?
Being that the trees are probably planted specifically for the purpose of the syrup, it's not so far off to think it might be ha'eitz. After all, I've ...
4
votes
1answer
80 views
What does 'בציצית' mean in 'להתעטף בציצית'?
When we don the טלית גדול, we say:
ברוך אתה ה׳ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו להתעטף בציצית.
I'm wondering about the meaning of the last word of the benediction. (Not midrash-like ...
4
votes
1answer
25 views
Southern Birkas Ha'ilanos
I've seen Saying Mashiv HaRuach in the Southern Hemisphere. Similarly, is Birkas Ha'ilanos (ברכת האילנות) said in Tishrei in the southern hemisphere? That's when the trees bloom.
6
votes
3answers
118 views
Meat right after Milk… make a new bracha?
Suppose someone is planning on having some dairy food just before a meat meal. May the person make a bracha to cover the entire dairy/meat meal, or must he finish his dairy, make a bracha achrona, and ...
1
vote
0answers
33 views
What Bracha do we say on bread baked with evaporated mei peiros?
If one bakes bread made out of flour and pure fruit juice, it becomes pas haba bekisnin and the bracha is (at times) mezonos.
What if one distilled fruit juice (to produce water) and baked bread out ...
2
votes
2answers
66 views
What bracha is made on Seaweed?
If seaweed would be eaten by itself, what bracha is made on it?
It's defined as, "Large algae growing in the sea or on rocks below the high-water mark."
See Wikipedia here for more.
It's not ...
1
vote
0answers
47 views
Why is it necessary to make a HaAdamah on Karpas?
Why is it necessary to eat a vegetable that requires HaAdamah for Karpas? Why not an onion, parsley, or other herb that might require SheHaKol (for not being normally eaten that way), or a fruit that ...
3
votes
0answers
33 views
Should I only make one Berachah, or should I make one on each different food?
When I was in "Pirchei" boys' youth groups as a child, at snack time I was taught to make a "Mezonos" on my cake, "Shehakol" on my drink, and "Haetz" on my sliced fruit. Then, at the end, the group ...
1
vote
0answers
30 views
What is the difference between the blessing of Ga'al Yisrael preceding Shemoneh Esrei and the blessing of Go'el Yisrael?
Before we begin the Shemoneh Esreh each morning, we say the blessing, "Blessed are You, Hashem, Who redeemed Israel (Ga'al Yisrael)." Then within the Shemoneh Esrei itself, in the "Re'eh va'ahneynu" ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Bracha Achrona with a little pasta and a lot of rice
This question is kind of related to this one.
Suppose someone makes a borei minei mezonos bracha on pasta (whose bracha achrona is al hamichya), and exempts rice (whose bracha achrona is borei ...
5
votes
0answers
83 views
Hefsek between hagafen and drinking during havdallah
Why does everybody (at least that I have ever seen), say "borei pri hagefen" first of all during havdallah, but not drink the wine until all of the other brachos have been said? Is saying the other ...
6
votes
3answers
97 views
Which comes first, borei nefashot, or me'en shalosh?
Which berachah acharonah should one say first: borei nefashot, or me'en shalosh?
(Please cite your sources.)
1
vote
1answer
34 views
Source in the Aruch HaShulchan to not motzi (exempt) others with after-bracha on mezonot foods
The Aruch HaShulchan has an opinion on whether one person can motzi (exempt) a crowd with a bracha acharona (after-bracha) on mezonot foods. It is along the lines of it is better not to have one ...
5
votes
2answers
64 views
Bracha on giving Machatzis HaShekel
In the times of the Beis HaMikdash when the Machatzis HaShekel was given was a bracha recited?
1
vote
1answer
64 views
Ha-Gommel before or after Kaddish?
If the one reading from the Torah (whether it be on Mondays, Thursday, Shabbos, etc) has to say the bracha of "Ha-Gommel" when should it be recited? Is it ok to say it after the last aliyah before he ...
