questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings")
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 ...
5
votes
1answer
118 views
12
votes
2answers
190 views
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? Why or why not?
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? What about someone who may have been an oved avoda zarah? Someone who is definitely such?
I'm asking because I've seen such discussion ...
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 ...
0
votes
1answer
82 views
Does Baruch HaShem Le'Olam (Ma'ariv; Ashkenazi) count as Birchoth Keriath Shema'?
Does Baruch HaShem Le'Olam have the same Din as Birchoth Keriath Shema' in terms of interruption?
If you are in the middle of the Berachah, do you respond to the same things as you would if you were ...
3
votes
0answers
34 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
115 views
Blessing: who gets first?
A father who wants to bless his family, whom should he bless first? His wife? His oldest son? His oldest child? The oldest among his sons, daughters, sons-in-law, and daughters-in-law? The cohanim? ...
1
vote
2answers
130 views
The Extra Mezonot and Rice
According to Sefaradim, if you make a Beracha one thing you don't make it another with the same Beracha (not for different forms though). What about rice? Rice, as we know has a different ...
1
vote
0answers
31 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
36 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 ...
1
vote
1answer
80 views
Will a “lower” Berachah made MiSafek exempt a different food that requires that Berachah (and vice versa)?
Let's say you aren't sure which Berachah to make on a food before you eat it. Generally the rule of thumb is that you make the most specific Berachah that you know will capture the essence of that ...
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 ...
6
votes
2answers
137 views
Audio/Video Recordings of Tefilloth/Prayers
Is there any concern with listening to audio/video recordings of Tefilloth (prayers)? If someone hears a recording of a Berachah (blessing), does he have to say 'Amen'? Is he prohibited from saying ...
4
votes
2answers
69 views
Specialized Al Hamichya for Eretz yIsrael “Al Michyatah” על מחייתה
We all know the special suffix for Eretz yIsrael products גפנה - "gafna" פירותיה - "peirotiha".
Yesterday I saw על מחייתה "Al michyatah" in an Ashkenazi bencher, but I haven't seen that anywhere else ...
2
votes
0answers
48 views
How can we say “I have not seen a righteous man foresaken . . .”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
“I never saw a tzaddik be abandoned…” - how do we understand this?
Rabbi Emanuel Feldman, shlita, in the January 23, 2013, issue of Mishpacha gave his list of the ten ...
2
votes
0answers
38 views
Continuing to eat in a place that is visible from the initial eating place
The Shulchan Aruch Harav brings in Orach Chaim 178:1
א) היה אוכל בחדר זה ונטל המאכל בידו והלך לחדר אחר לאכול צריך לחזור
ולברך שכיון שעמד והלך למקום אחר עמידתו זו היא גמר אכילתו וזו אכילה
אחרת ...
14
votes
4answers
164 views
How to say go-al Yisroel before Shacharis Amida
When the leader gets to just before the Shacharis Amida, how should he say the blessing
go-al Yisroel: aloud or saying the word Yisroel so the end of it cannot be heard?
4
votes
1answer
69 views
Mistaken shehakol - correct it?
If I make a shehakol bracha and then discover that the correct bracha for the food I am eating is, say, mezonot, should I now make a new mezonot bracha on the remainder of the food? Or does the ...
7
votes
0answers
126 views
Saying a b'racha acharona and continuing to eat (other food)
Suppose someone is eating something that requires a b'racha meen shalosh — for example, noodles — and something that requires a "bore n'fashos" — for example, salad or water. Then he ...
0
votes
1answer
80 views
Looking for more information on the bridal virginity blessing
The blessing on bridal virginity is recorded in the Halakhot Gedolot but dismissed by the Rambam in Teshuvot Harambam, II:364-365, #207. What is the original source for this blessing? Do other ...
0
votes
2answers
68 views
Berachot in Kriat Shema
I'm sorry if the question is too general, but I was just wondering about Berachot Kriat Shema. What exactly are they? What kind of relationship do they have with the Shema? We need to make a Beracha ...
2
votes
1answer
45 views
How many calories are in a KeZayith of flour?
I've often wondered how I can be sure I've eaten a KeZayith of flour when I eat something small but complete - like one cookie - and struggle with the decision of whether or not to eat more in order ...
5
votes
3answers
152 views
Unusual applications of Asher Yatzar
Does the blessing of Asher Yatzar (normally said upon using the bathroom) apply in other situations. For example in passing a kidney or gallstone? A woman who's water breaks or passes her mucus plug? ...
8
votes
2answers
252 views
Polyphasic Sleep and Halacha
I recently read an article on polyphasic sleep and I'm quite interested in experimenting with it. The article advises the Uberman approach which advocates 20-30 minute naps every four hours, meaning ...
5
votes
2answers
110 views
Why Does Hashem Bless Us Like Efraim And Menashe?
I know there are lots of reason's why but What is the main reason Hashem made it so that we get blessed like them?
15
votes
1answer
309 views
Blessing the Children on Friday Night
I have noticed that many families (including my own) have the custom for the father to bless all the children on Friday night before kiddush.
When and where did this custom originate, and by whom, ...
5
votes
4answers
159 views
What are Brochos differences of Sefardim and Ashkenazim?
For example, according to sefardim the bracha on matzo is mezonos (during the year), while it's hamotzi for Ashkenazim.
What are other differences between Ashkenazim and Sefardim with regards to ...
8
votes
1answer
117 views
Replies to “l'chayim”
The most common responses I've heard to a wish of "l'chayim!" ("life!") is
"l'chayim tovim ulshalom" ("a good life and peace!") except from Lubavitch chasidim and
"l'chayim v'livracha" ("life and ...
7
votes
1answer
190 views
Where does our blessing for daughters come from?
In many Jewish homes on Shabbat, the head of the household would bless his sons to be like Ephraim and Menasheh but would bless his daughters to be like the matriarchs . What is the source, if any, ...
7
votes
1answer
51 views
Do you take challah from something that will be deep fried?
If the requisite amount of dough is made that would require taking challah if it were baked in the oven, should one take off challah with a bracha if she intends to deep fry the dough instead?
9
votes
1answer
141 views
Upon whom would one make this blessing?
Upon whom today would you make the bracha - Baruch Attah Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam She’chalak Mei’chochmaso Li’rei’av, that He bestowed of His wisdom to those who fear Him (Gemara Brachos 58a)? ...
8
votes
1answer
106 views
Making Bracha on Channukah Candles in Jail
Someone who is in jail and is able to light Channukah candles, can/should he make a bracha?
I don't know if being in Jail is considered to be like having a home that someone would have a chiyuv to ...
12
votes
3answers
344 views
Why aren't Purim and Channuka considered a violation of לֹא תֹסִפוּ?
It says in Devarim 4;2:
לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת מִצְוֹת יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם
...
8
votes
2answers
135 views
Does one make a blessing if preparing to die al kiddush Hashem?
If one is reasonably sure that he is about to die al kiddush Hashem does he make a blessing before fulfilling this mitzvah? What would the nusach (text) of this blessing be?
Note: I realize that even ...
2
votes
1answer
87 views
Why does the mohel say the brocha at the bris?
Optimally, a father should circumcise his own sons. Optimally, an aliyah should read the Torah when called up. When we are called up for an aliyah, we say the brocha and the baal koreh reads for us. ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
How long after a Bris of his son can the Father make the bracha?
I'll pose the following scenario in order to ask this question.
During the recent war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza, a man was called up to duty. On one of the days that he was found in the ...
2
votes
1answer
69 views
Benediction to be recited over stuffing?
On Thanksgiving, many have the custom to eat stuffing, which usually incorporates bread as a major ingredient, with their turkey and mashed potatoes and gravy. What bracha should be recited up it? ...
5
votes
1answer
96 views
What bracha would the fruit of a parasitic plant be? (Or the plant itself.)
Parasitic plants do not grow in the ground, instead they grow on other plants. See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasitic_plant
List of examples: http://www.parasiticplants.siu.edu/ParasiteFood.html
...
4
votes
3answers
177 views
Continuing to drink a Beverage after Birchas HaMazon?
Perhaps this is a simple matter that I should be embarrassed not to know (which I am even if it isn't because I need to learn hilchos b'rachos better and always forget to look this question up) ...
4
votes
0answers
60 views
Why does Yakov bless Ephraim and Menashe at the same time?
Why does Yakov bless Ephraim and Menashe at the same time? Why not bless them one after the other?
1
vote
1answer
86 views
Bracha on Dam Basulim
There is a bracha (blessing) made after the first time a Chosson and Kallah have relations in the case that she was a basuleh (when there was a complete bia.) The makor for this Bracha is the Rosh ...
3
votes
1answer
105 views
boreh pri hagafen and hamotzi during the week
On Shabbat and holidays, we say kiddush before hamotzi (I think because hamotzi would normally cover the wine? Is that right?). During the week, what is the proper procedure? Is it to say hagafen and ...
1
vote
1answer
84 views
Responding “Amen” to fanciful blessings and wishes
This is related to this question, but I'm curious about a slightly different angle.
Suppose someone makes a fanciful blessing. I'm not talking about, "May we be Zocheh to a Geulah Sheleimah ...
11
votes
1answer
196 views
Bringing wallet with benscher into bathroom
If someone has one of the small "pocket benschers" that slide into his wallet, is it a problem for him to walk into the bathroom with his wallet in his pocket?
3
votes
3answers
1k views
Meaning and Difference between baruch and bar'chu
I'm sorry, I don't know a word of Hebrew, and I really want to know what these sentences mean:
Bar'chu et Adonai ham'vorach l'olam vaed
Baruch atah Adonai
If I didn't write them correctly, ...
