Questions tagged [blessing]
Questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings"), generally said to praise/thank God for specific events.
1,126
questions
0
votes
1answer
50 views
Sefek with brachos
lf I ate olives and I have a sefek by the bracha acronah. Sefek number 1 is maybe I ate a kezayis. Even if I didn’t, maybe a berya (whole item) requires a bracha. By sefirat Ha'Omer , if I have a ...
0
votes
0answers
86 views
What blessing does a midget say on seeing himself?
Following "reciting-the-blessing-of-meshaneh-habriyos-who-makes-creatures-different":
what does a man that falls into that category, e.g. a midget, says upon himself?
Does he have to see himself (...
3
votes
0answers
35 views
Can one say both Meshaneh Habriyot as well as Shekacha .. B'olamo for the same creature, sequentially?
ברוך...שככה לו בעולמו is said upon seeing beautiful trees or creatures (animals or people).
O.C. 228 says (translation copied from this question
for seeing a person with a dark, very red, or ...
1
vote
0answers
34 views
Blessing for indistinguishably unrecognizable corn
Halachic authorities rule that very similar products, such as different brands of Corn Flakes, have different blessings. See, e.g., Rabbi Dovid Haber, writing for the Star-K, and citing Rav Moshe ...
2
votes
1answer
116 views
Reciting the blessing of “Meshaneh Habriyos” (“who makes creatures different”) on human beings
Based off the gemara on Berachos 58b, the Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 225:8-9 writes:
for seeing a person with a dark, very red, or albino white complexion- or a person who is bent over because ...
3
votes
0answers
34 views
May one make a bracha on a secondary rainbow?
A regular rainbow has the red on the "outside" of the bow and violet on the inside.
Occasionally, one may see a secondary, dimmer, "reverse" rainbow where the color order is reversed where red is on ...
7
votes
1answer
64 views
Explaining the borei nefashos brocha
Can someone help me with this? The structure of the brocha is that we are thanking Hashem:
(1) who creates numerous living things with their deficiencies;
(2) for all that Hashem has created (al kol ...
0
votes
0answers
23 views
How do you define “Boruch” in blessings? [duplicate]
The literal translation is: "Blessed are You..." But is that a statement or a blessing?
Is it a statement describing God's greatness, or are we saying "we bless you, God, for..."?
2
votes
1answer
32 views
Why are the number of blessings in the Amidah linked to Psalm 29?
The Gemoro in Berochos 28b asks about the 18 blessings in the Amidah:
גמ׳ הני שמונה עשרה כנגד מי
Corresponding to what were these eighteen blessings instituted?
The Gemoro offers three ...
6
votes
2answers
467 views
Should the Torah be covered or uncovered during the Aliyah blessings?
Some feel that if the Torah is not being read, then it should be covered, while some feel that since the blessing is on this Torah, it should be uncovered during the blessings (but not for the call to ...
2
votes
1answer
73 views
Are birchat hoda'ah on the idea or the thing?
There are brachot said on phenomena and events. According to the instructions in the Artscroll, one says the lightning/thunder and rainbow blessings no more than once each day unless clouds dissipated ...
1
vote
0answers
25 views
Do the works on sacrifices require Blessings to validate the intent?
Disclaimer: this is not a Halachic question and I didn't research much yet.
There's a whole subject of having wrong thoughts when bringing a sacrifice and performing numerous actions by the owner or ...
3
votes
1answer
107 views
Why not fulfill the birchat hashachar with the leader?
In many Shuls, the Shaliach Tzibbur starts the morning service by saying the list of brachot of Birchot hashachar. After that the individuals repeat these brachot to themselves. Why do the ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Women answering “amen” to a bracha over a man's mitzvah [duplicate]
Can/should a woman answer "amen" to a bracha a man makes over a mitzvah specific to men? For example, tzitzis, tefillin, etc.
1
vote
0answers
91 views
Blessing or no blessing before counting the Omer?
When you count the Omer during Maariv, you can say the blessing that precedes the count only if you have not missed a day of counting. If you missed a day, you can say Amen to the blessing said by ...
4
votes
2answers
79 views
Is there a practical difference between different types of Berachos?
Berachos tend to be grouped into different categories, as Berachos on pleasure (ברכות הנהנין), on Mitzvos (ברכות המצות), on events (ברכות ראיה ושמיעה), etc.
As far as I’m aware, the general halachos ...
2
votes
1answer
32 views
Detergent smell during davening
When one realizes during davening that there is a smell of detergent on ones hands (chlorine), even though the hands were washed with water prior to davening, is the prayer void and does the person ...
4
votes
1answer
66 views
Why is the bracha of Asher Yatzar limited only to urination and defecation?
In viewing the words of Asher Yatzar, there is no mention of waste elimination, excretion or anything even indicating a specific bodily activity. All it mentions is the wonders of the bodily structure ...
2
votes
1answer
55 views
Converting in the middle of the omer [duplicate]
If a non-Jew converts in the middle of the omer, would they count the omer that night with a bracha?
3
votes
1answer
56 views
Why aren't shoes, belt, and head covering included in the bracha of “Malbish Arumim?”
The Shulchan Aruch in Orach Chaim 46:1 (codifying the gemara on Berachos 60b) lists the morning brachos that one makes upon waking up.
Among them:
Getting dressed
"כשלובש יברך "מלביש ערומים
...
1
vote
1answer
35 views
Why isn't the bracha of “אשר נתן לנו תורת אמת” included in the daily Birkas HaTorah?
For Birchos HaTorah in the morning we recite (at least acc to Minhag Ashkenaz):
1) "לַעֲסוק בְּדִבְרֵי תורָה" followed by "וְהַעֲרֶב נָא"
2) "נותֵן הַתּורָה"
Question:
Why don't we also make ...
0
votes
0answers
24 views
What is the source for the bracha “enwrap ourselves”? [duplicate]
Where are we commanded to enwarp ourselves in a tallis (לְהִתְעַטֵּף בַּצִּיצִית)?
5
votes
1answer
76 views
'Tadir' and Brachos
There is a rule 'תדיר ושאינו תדיר, תדיר קודם'. Loosely translated: When faced with two mitzvos, one must first perform the one which occurs more frequently.
Q: When it comes to bracha achrona, we ...
7
votes
2answers
122 views
Are there any brachos for “touching” something?
4 of the 5 senses explicitly have berachos:
Taste- Shehakol food, blessings on fruits & vegetables etc (see: OC 202-207)
Smell- Pleasant fragrances (OC 216)
Hearing- Thunder (MB 227:5)
Seeing-...
4
votes
1answer
98 views
How long does the bracha “lashev b'sukka” last?
On Succos, how many times a day does one say "lashev b'sukka"?
- Once a day at the onset of daylight?
- Once at day and once at night"?
- Every time one enters the succa to eat?
- Other?
And why?
5
votes
1answer
131 views
What is the logic behind the Maharil's explanation of why we don't say שעשה ניסים on Pesach?
My Haggadah cites the Maharil in Minhagim, Hilchos Hahagadah as having asked why we don't say שעשה ניסים on Pesach. He rejects the explanation brought by others that it's because we say לפיכך חייבים ...
6
votes
1answer
43 views
Why is the beracha of Shehechiyanu phrased in the plural?
The Bracha of Shehechiyanu reads as follows:
ברוך...שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה
...that He kept us alive and sustained us and brought us to this time.
Why is Shehechiyanu phrased in the ...
1
vote
1answer
36 views
Birkas haTorah: Can you read any piece of Torah?
When we make birkas haTorah in the morning, we follow it up with Bemidbar 6:24-26 (יברכך...), followed by the beginning of Peah in the Mishna and Tosefta. Do those sections need to be read? If I ...
3
votes
0answers
28 views
Who decides whether it's normal to eat something in a certain fashion?
The Shulchan Aruch in several places writes that if something is eaten in an abnormal fashion, it gets a Shehakol rather than its usual bracha.1
What defines whether something is a "normal" way of ...
3
votes
1answer
73 views
What berachos should be made when Moshiach comes?
I supose shehecheyanu or hatov vehameitiv, but I'm not sure about this. Are there something more specific than that? What are the mekorot dealing with berachos to be made when Moshiach comes?
1
vote
1answer
31 views
Can one smell orla tree blossoms?
Follow-up to Can I make a bracha on smelling roses that may be orla?
As per SA YD 294:1, orla only applies to trees which were planted for eating.
Can one smell the blossoms of a tree planted for ...
3
votes
0answers
44 views
B’racha achrona on sunflower seeds?
If one eats a k’zayit of sunflower seeds including the flavored shell, which he spits out, but less than a k’zayit of the seeds themselves, which he swallows, does he need to say an after b’racha?
2
votes
1answer
38 views
Can I make a bracha on smelling roses that may be orla?
Roses are considered "Atzei Besamim" so does orla apply to them and if so do I make a bracha on smelling orla roses?
1
vote
1answer
69 views
Do i make bracha on smelling vapor from herbs?
There some vapors in electronic cigarettes made with natural herbs like chamomile (and other). So do i do brachot when smelling them?
Is there a common practice to smell natural things, is this kind ...
3
votes
1answer
56 views
Why does Hallel at the Seder not get a Bracha, according to the second opinion cited by the Tur?
The Tur (OC 473) cites two approaches regarding making a blessing on Hallel at the Seder:
בענין ברכת ההלל איכא פלוגתא דרבוותא ריצב"א היה מברך עליו ב"פ אחת קודם אכילה ואחת אחר אכילה וכן היה נוהג ה"ר ...
-2
votes
1answer
72 views
If a person forgot whether they have already recited krias shema al hamita are they permited to say hamapil and should they do so?
based on the idea of sufek derabanan lekula (a doubt in regards to a rabbinical ruling results in a leniency) and sufek d'orysa lechumra (a doubt on a Torah ruling results in a stringency) being that ...
0
votes
0answers
31 views
She'asa Nissim Lavoseinu | שעשה נסים לאבותינו - what did they say back then?
What was the second blessing mentioned by the Jews right after the miracle of Purim took place? If the second blessing on reading the Megillah mentions:
"בימים ההם בזמן הזה"
"... in those days at ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
Shehechyanu levatala on Purim
Before the morning reading of Megillat Esther, the reader says 3 brachot including Shehechyanu (according to Ashkenazic practice). This applies, to some degree, and in some way to that morning's ...
2
votes
2answers
97 views
Meaning of Zekher Livracha (ז"ל - Of blessed memory)
The literal translation of ז"ל is "of blessed memory"
What does it mean to bless memory? How does it help the soul?
5
votes
0answers
40 views
We need ten consolers; why not ten mourners?
The mishna, M'gila 23 amud 2 as described by Rashi, says we don't say the mourners' outdoor blessing without the presence of ten people, and the mourners themselves don't count toward the requisite ...
4
votes
1answer
165 views
Netilat Yadayim - Ritual hand washing in the morning
A question about netilat yadayim (ritual hand washing) upon waking up in the morning. Where does the custom with the bowl and cup by one's bed come from?
In modern homes with clear running water, is ...
7
votes
1answer
388 views
Can a gentile pronounce a blessing for a Jew? Are there songs I can sing that will bring peace?
As a chaplain I sing Christian hymns for those who are dying and for the family after death, while still present with the one who died. There is also a final blessing. It brings a deep peace for the ...
1
vote
2answers
40 views
Why not say סברי before the blessing on wine at a wedding ceremony?
The Rema in O Ch 174(8) says
ויאמר סברי רבותי ר"ל סוברים אתם לצאת בברכה זו ולא יאמר ברשות רבותי
(מו) וכן כל מקום שמברכין על היין משום ברכת היין שבתוך הסעודה אין
אומרים ברשות אלא סברי מטעם ...
3
votes
2answers
43 views
Blessing Over Kiddush Covering Future Drinks
This past Shabbat, my Rabbi's father-in-law was over and they disagreed over whether or not to say a blessing.
After Shacharit, my Rabbi said kiddush over wine, ate mezonot, and then (as always) ...
4
votes
1answer
43 views
Ramifications of eating (or forcing to eat) food one doesn’t like
Avos D’Rebbi Nassan 26:5 says (translation is from Artscroll, and brackets are from their footnotes):
הוא היה אומר האוכל אוכלין שאינם עולים על גופו עובר משום ג' לאוין שביזה את עצמו וביזה את האוכלין ...
4
votes
2answers
82 views
At what point should one recite Bracha asher yatzar
Having washed one's hands after excusing oneself, Does one say the bracha asher yatzar after drying our hands or before? Some guy taught that we're to say the bracha before drying the hands.
I ...
6
votes
1answer
84 views
Why is א-להי נשמה not א-להי הנשמה?
In the morning blessing of א-להי נשמה the first few words read א-להי ,נשמה שנתת בי.
To me this literally translates as 'My G-d, soul that you put in me...'
It sounds strange.
Why not say, א-להי ,...
4
votes
1answer
69 views
bracha on unflavoured seltzer if one's not thirsty
It's well known that a bracha isn't made on plain, unflavoured water if one isn't [that] thirsty, the question is: what about plain seltzer (e.g. refreshe from Vons)?
Is the addition of the bubbley ...
4
votes
0answers
51 views
What's the difference between making a blessing in vain and wearing a four-cornered garment without tzitzit vis-a-vis checking the tzitzit in advance?
R. Joseph Karo (Shulchan Aruch O.C. 8:9) codifies the following law:
קודם שיברך יעיין בחוטי הציצית אם הם כשרים כדי שלא יברך לבטלה
Prior to making the blessing [on the tzitzit] he should look ...
3
votes
1answer
132 views
Three faceted blessing after public kiddush on Friday night
Fortunately I had the honour on multiple occasions to do public kiddush on Friday nights in different synagogues. A few of them were keen on asking me to recite the three faceted blessing after it, ...
