questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings")
1
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1answer
39 views
What's the Bracha Rishona on oatmeal/oat flakes with cold milk?
What's the Bracha Rishona on oatmeal/oat flakes with cold milk? Is it Pri Adama or Mezonot?
Do we need extra Sheakol on milk?
1
vote
2answers
138 views
Blessing on the next American President (or any politician)
If the candidate I supported in a political election wins, does this qualify as good news for reciting the blessing hatov ve-hameitiv (Who is good and beneficent) upon hearing the results?
In my ...
6
votes
1answer
98 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 ...
1
vote
0answers
24 views
Berachah at the zoo?
Should one say the Berachah of משנה הבריות when one goes to the zoo* and sees many animals one would never see outside the zoo? What if one actually sees animals that he has never seen before? Should ...
1
vote
0answers
22 views
How soon do you have to make an asher yatzar?
How soon after using the bathroom must one make an asher yatzar bracha? For example after going to the gym and using the bathroom can you take a shower or do you need to first exit the bathroom area, ...
0
votes
1answer
35 views
Making bracha when passing by a bakery
I've heard before that one should make a bracha when passing by a bakery that has a pleasant smell of what's being baked. What is the source for this halacha? What is the custom in this, do we yes ...
3
votes
1answer
293 views
5
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1answer
114 views
Is the midrash about the moon and sun being the same size intended literally?
The Rambam in his introduction to perek Chelek discusses midrashic literalist, and classifies different approaches of different groups to midrash. He writes:
You should know that as to ...
7
votes
0answers
77 views
Borrowing a talis and wearing a talis katan. Say a b'racha?
The common and accepted practice among married Ashk'nazim, at least, is that they don a talis katan in the morning without saying a b'racha for the mitzva, and, later, when donning the talis gadol for ...
3
votes
2answers
109 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 ...
8
votes
1answer
147 views
Minimal Body Covering to say Blessings
Can a man say a brachah with just boxer shorts on, or does he need to be fully dressed, for example with a "double covering" like pants, and/or wearing a shirt, when I wake up and want to wash netilat ...
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Brachot with no shirt on [duplicate]
Can a man say a bracha when not wearing a shirt? In the morning, for example, before getting fully dressed, one might wash his hands, put on pants and a kippa, say 'al netilat yadayim,' 'asher ...
2
votes
1answer
76 views
When to say the Bracha on Tallit Katan
I was recently wondering if I am saying the bracha on my tallit katan at the right time (I'm not married and don't wear a tallit gadol). When should the bracha on the tallit katan be said? Before it ...
3
votes
1answer
83 views
What's the bracha for a circumzenithal arc?
Upon seeing a rainbow, we say,
זוכר הברית, ונאמן בבריתו, וקים במאמרו
...who remembers the covenant, is faithful in his covenant, and fulfills his word.
I recently witnessed a natural event ...
10
votes
4answers
313 views
Shehecheyanu on new website
If one launches a new website, can he recite Shehecheyanu? Or perhaps Hatov Ve-Hametiv, if others derive benefit from it?
2
votes
1answer
68 views
Bracha Achrona with a little pasta and a lot of rice
Suppose someone makes a borei minei mezonos bracha on pasta (whose bracha achrona is al hamichya), and exempts rice (whose bracha achrona is borei nefashos) that he is planning on eating as well. If ...
0
votes
0answers
32 views
What is significant about being eight days old from birth?
We make a bris on the eighth day. A korban has to be eight days old before being brought on the mizbeach. The new moon according to many has to be eight days old from when its 'born' again till me ...
7
votes
2answers
690 views
Bracha on Food for Life Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread
Food for Life manufactures a bread under the Hashgacha of the Kaf-K called Ezekiel 4:9 Sprouted Grain Bread
This bread is flourless and has the following ingredients. Organic Sprouted Whole Wheat, ...
4
votes
3answers
213 views
1
vote
1answer
39 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
31 views
What consititutes a “complete interruption” between talis katan and gadol?
This page references an uncited location in the Mishneh Berura and says that "[O]ne only makes separate berachos if there is a complete interuption between the talis katan and gadol. Just walking to ...
7
votes
1answer
61 views
Does an unnecessary brocho pesucha on Hallel necessitate a brocho siyuma?
We had an interesting question arise in our Shul this past Yom Yerushalayim. Our shul has a minhag of saying Hallel without a brocho in Shacharis. At one of the minyanim, the chazzan said a brocho at ...
3
votes
3answers
87 views
How to say mizonos first on an ice cream cone
Normally when faced with eating two foods where one takes a "mizonos" blessing for grain products, and another takes an all-encompassing "shehakol" blessing, we try to eat the mizonos food first. How ...
2
votes
0answers
32 views
Sofek in Bircas HaTorah — why not say all of the brachas?
The M"B brings in the beginning of Siman 47 from the Shagas Aryeh (Siman 24-25) that if one is in sofek (doubt) if they said Bircas HaTorah then they should go back and say the bracha however only the ...
2
votes
1answer
77 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 ...
5
votes
2answers
42 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
37 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
32 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 ...
3
votes
0answers
46 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
47 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 ...
4
votes
2answers
57 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?
1
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0answers
56 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
97 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?
4
votes
2answers
161 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.
...
2
votes
1answer
57 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 ...
3
votes
3answers
238 views
Rainbow, telling a friend
We know The rainbow is a bad Omen. Is one allowed to tell a friend when he sees one, in order to allow him to make a Bracha or should he hold back as it is a bad sign?
5
votes
1answer
98 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 ...
2
votes
0answers
52 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
46 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
39 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
29 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
44 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
43 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
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0answers
72 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
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" ...
11
votes
3answers
179 views
I heard not to say “Good Shabbos” after mincha. Is it true, and what defines mincha?
I heard from somewhere that, on Shabbos, one does not say "Good Shabbos" after mincha. I am not sure whether it's in a halacha sefer somewhere (I tried looking) or just a minhag.
First of all, is ...
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
56 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 ...
3
votes
1answer
94 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
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 ...
