questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings")
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Having dessert “in mind”
This has always confused me. One is not supposed to make unnecessary Berachoth, so one should "have in mind" to eat all of the foods that will be served in the meal when one begins the meal and makes ...
5
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1answer
56 views
Birkot HaTorah and Typing
Shulhan Aruch (Orah Haim 47:3) as well as Yalkut Yosef (47:14) write that before one writes down words of Torah, he must recite Birkot HaTorah (because people that write sometimes voice their ...
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1answer
237 views
When to make a bracha on lightning
The general practice is to make a bracha on the sky illuminating from lightning without actually seeing the bolt.
Does anyone know a source for this? Is this the most appropriate practice?
Also, ...
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1answer
54 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" ...
5
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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 ...
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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
...
5
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1answer
56 views
Tefillas Haderech in Shacharis
I once heard of a concept of saying tefillas Haderech in שמע קולינו during shemonah esrei by Shacharis of that day. Has anyone here heard of it, and if so, what's it about?
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89 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 ...
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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 ...
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6answers
119 views
Al Hamichyah - Wide land?
In the Brocho after eating grains which are not bread we say:
על ארץ חמדה טובה ורחבה
Translated very loosely as: On the Land (ISRAEL) that is desirable good and WIDE.
Now, anyone with a ...
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6answers
668 views
What's with Kiddush Levana?
In general Kiddush Lavanah has always seemed to me to be akin to "Avodas Kochavim" - so does anyone know of a satisfying answer that works with Occam's razor?
More specifically:
We say Just as I can ...
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3answers
206 views
“Amen” to informal blessings and wishes
There are various strict rules regulating the manner and timing of saying "Amen" following a blesing. In fact, the Gemara (Berachot 47a) lists some pretty severe punishments for people who violate ...
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3answers
134 views
History of Birkas haMinim
What is the history behind the bracha of v'lamalshim?
Was there a specific ideology or
group that the baracha was targeting?
Why would someone davening to Hashem
and saying the rest of the barachos
...
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votes
2answers
71 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 ...
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2answers
103 views
How does “וקשרתם לאות” become “להניח תפלין”?
Every day, when donning my tefillin, I (being Ashkenazic) recite two b'rachos, the first one of which is אשר קדשנו במצוותיו וצונו להניח תפלין, said whilst I tie down the shel yad onto my bicep with ...
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3answers
153 views
Pesach Matzo Brochos Change
According to the Sefardim, why is the Brocho on Matzo Hamotzi on Pesach, if it's Mezonos the entire year? What changes?
(for why mezonos a whole year see here)
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1answer
52 views
Acher Kain Versus Acher Kach
It seems there are two Versions of Al Hanissim one says Kain one says Kach which one is right and what is the underlying logic for each?
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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.
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1answer
144 views
Beracha on lighting yom tov candles : before or after?
There are two minhagim concerning the time the beracha should be said on lighting yom tov candles for a woman, before or after (like shabbos neros).
I've read arguments like these :
before, because ...
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2answers
100 views
causeless hagomel
Rambam, Maase Hakorbanos 9:5, indicates that a toda is just another kind of sh'lamim. In perek 14 he mentions that a sh'lamim needs no special circumstances, as opposed to a chatas which can only be ...
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2answers
166 views
sameach vs. samach
Nusach S'farad, in the amida ("sh'mone esre") of holidays and Shabas, has "וְשַׂמַּח נַפְשֵׁינוּ בִּישׁוּעָתֶךָ" ("v'samach..."), but in sheva b'rachos it has "שַׂמֵּחַ תְּשַׂמַּח" ("sameach...").
...
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315 views
B'rachah on Shiluach HaKen
In many, if not most, cases where we fulfill a positive commandment Chazal instituted a blessing (B'rachah) over fulfilling that command.
Looking through Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 292, and other ...
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1answer
70 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 ...
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1answer
81 views
What is the significance of “white glass”?
In the bracha to Yissachar and Zevulun Moshe mentions that
For by the riches of the sea they will be nourished, and by the treasures concealed in the sand.” (Devarim 33:18-19)
Rashi explains ...
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2answers
233 views
Brachot on Tzitzit
As a continuation of this question (Tallit Katan and Tallit Brachot):
My understanding is that when one takes off a Tallit Katan and then puts it back on, the bracha is not said again. What is the ...
4
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1answer
152 views
Shehechiyanu at Bris
Why is it that some make a Shehechiyanu at a Bris and some don't? And an identification of those who do and do not would be appreciated.
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3answers
210 views
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108 views
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57 views
May a child make a Berachah on a Pasul set of 4 species?
May a child make a Berachah on a Pasul set of 4 species that their parents gave them to learn how to make the Berachah and do the Mitzvah?
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3answers
196 views
Humming as an interruption during Birkat Kohanim
Is the humming by the kohanim during birkat kohanim considered a hefsek of their bracha? Please be clear what halachik reasoning allows or disallows this humming.
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1answer
94 views
What b'rachot do you say (and when) if you drink intermittently all day?
I know people who drink water, tea, or coffee intermittently all day long, not just as part of a meal. In that situation, when would you say what b'rachot? Assume you made shehakol before the first ...
4
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1answer
112 views
Do I have to know what brucha I'm making before I begin saying the brucha?
If I'm eating an apple, can I say "Baruch atah Hashem elokenu melech haolam" before I decide that the brucha I'm making is a Haeitz, and not Mezonot, Shahakol, or Haadamah?
4
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1answer
214 views
How much of a minimal sized kiddush cup must be consumed?
If someone uses a kiddush cup that is exactly (or close to) the bare minimum (see this question) needed to fulfill the obligation, how much of that cup must he drink?
Do the different times one must ...
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2answers
158 views
What are Brochos seforim for Sefardim?
There are many Hilchos Brochos (on food) seforim for Ashkenazim such as Halachos of Brochos, The Laws of B'rachos, etc.
What are examples of English Brachos seforim that sefardim could use? (in other ...
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2answers
105 views
Is checking the parshios a hefsek?
Are you required to make another bracha on your tefillin if you take them off to check the parshios?
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2answers
215 views
If you're really thirsty (e.g. breaking a fast), do you make a bracha first on the water or solids?
I know generally speaking, when prioritizing brachos, if you have food and drink, the food goes first; also, shehakols tend to rank low.
But what if you're really, really thirsty (e.g. breaking a ...
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1answer
444 views
Bracha on Lightning without Thunder
Does anyone have a modern day psak on lightning without thunder colloquially known as "heat lightning"? The Chaye Adam says it's caused by heat and he suggests that maybe is not what the gemara was ...
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1answer
1k views
Last time for Kiddush Levanah
How can I calculate the last possible time to say Kiddush Levanah for a given month?
4
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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 ...
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2answers
159 views
What's the difference between LaZman and LeZman?
In the Mishnah Brurah (676:1) it says:
והגיענו לזמן הזה הלמ"ד בחיר"ק ולא בפת"ח
That in the Bracha of Shehechiyanu, the Lamed in the word Lazman should be said with a Hiriq and not with a Patach.
...
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1answer
66 views
Why dictate Birchas Kohanim, but not the Bracha before?
In Birchas Kohanim, the Chazzan says each word of the actual Birchas Kohanim and the Kohanim repeat after him. On the other hand, when it comes to the bracha that's said before Birchas Kohanim, the ...
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2answers
189 views
What is the Brocha one says on Quiche
If one makes a Quiche with bread-dough, does it become Pas Habaah Bkisnin and the Brocha would be mzonos or not?
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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?
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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 ...
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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
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1answer
133 views
Should one say amen to an unnecessary bracha made by a child on the autism spectrum?
If a very verbal (often too verbal) 12 year old child on the autism spectrum has trouble speaking appropriately and particularly likes to say a bracha when he wants to and not necessarily when it's ...
4
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1answer
46 views
Lighting the menora in shul and at home. How many brochos need be said?
Our shul has a minyan for mincha before sunset and for maariv after sunset. Between the two, the chanuka lights are kindled. There is a later maariv minyan; the chanuka lights are again kindled before ...
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1answer
114 views
Al Netilas Yadayim in morning and after bathroom
Are you supposed to say the bracha al netilas yadayim after doing negel vasser after waking up or going to the bathroom?
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1answer
98 views
Why make a bracha on an earthquake but not on an eclipse?
According to this page, Chaza"l intentionally omitted solar and lunar eclipses from the list of natural phenomena upon which we make a bracha. The following explanation is given:
"The Hebrew term ...
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1answer
60 views
Do blessings and curses affect the dead?
Do blessings and curses have any effect on the dead?
We say things like, " may his memory be a blessing," "may the Neshamah have an 'Aliyah," etc.
What effect does it have?
