Questions tagged [blessing]
Questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings"), generally said to praise/thank God for specific events.
1,169
questions
-4
votes
0answers
47 views
Fulfillment of Jewish national superiority in Torah blessings
Many blessing of the Patriarchs and Moses to the Israelites include various forms of national superiority to other peoples. For example Gen 27:
יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ לְאֻמִּים,
...
2
votes
1answer
23 views
Why Itzhak's blessing to Yaakov has to be at Eisav's expense?
יַעַבְדוּךָ עַמִּים וְיִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לְךָ לְאֻמִּים,
הֱוֵה גְבִיר לְאַחֶיךָ וְיִשְׁתַּחֲוּוּ לְךָ בְּנֵי אִמֶּךָ ...׃
Let peoples serve you, And nations bow to you; Be master over your brothers, ...
0
votes
0answers
33 views
implicit intent of blessing for unintended items
What are the main positions and/or halachic consensus regarding the applicability of the appropriate bracha rishona (other than "hamotzi") originally made on a food item / drink without conscious ...
1
vote
0answers
62 views
Can one Reciting bracha “Mechaye Hameitim” at a friend's wedding
I have seen in several Siddurim instructions saying that if one has not seen a close friend for at least 30 days (some instructions said 1 year) s/he should recite Mechaye Hameitim which means "...
11
votes
2answers
138 views
Why doesn't the Chattan say the bracha for Kiddushin?
If Kiddushin is a mitzvah that applies to the chattan only, and the 1st bracha recited under the chuppah (besides the bracha for wine) is a bracha prior to the performance of the mitzvah of Kiddushin, ...
2
votes
0answers
31 views
Shinui Makom Summary Table
Is there available online a summary table, or better yet, a decision tree, that presents the conditional logic of the somewhat complicated laws of hesech hada'ath/shinui makom (diverted attention, e.g....
6
votes
1answer
93 views
Bracha on Chia Seed Infused Water?
Would this be shehakol or boreh pri since the chia seeds are visible in the water even though they are very small? Would the concentration of chia seeds in the water matter?
For those unfamiliar:
9
votes
1answer
190 views
Permissibility of shortening long Brachot for teaching to children
Many children are old enough to learn short brachot (and somewhat understand them, if explained), but don't have the memory/patience for longer brachot.
Frustratingly, many of the brachot that could ...
3
votes
0answers
82 views
Have infants ever been instructed to bless on mothers milk?
This biography of Rabbi Zalman Volozhin, brother of famed Rabbi Chaim, reports that at the age of one year old he was trained by his mother to recite a blessing before suckling her milk.
Is such an ...
3
votes
2answers
100 views
What does it mean to bless anything?
In the first chapter of the Torah G-d Himself blesses various things: people, animals, days.
What does it mean for G-d to bless anything after creating it?
0
votes
2answers
44 views
Why does the Man need a Brachah to multiply?
According to Rashi (Ber 1.20), animals needed a blessing to multiply because humans hunt and exterminate them.
Why do humans need a Bracha to multiply?
8
votes
1answer
73 views
Analysis of an answer to “Why does the Torah begin with the letter bet?”
Why does the Torah begin with the second letter, bet, rather than the first letter, aleph? There are many answers, but let's focus on this one:
Bet is the beginning of the word barukh (blessed), ...
0
votes
0answers
22 views
Ramifications of lack of Brachah for the tribe of Shimon
I have a hard time understanding Moses' Brochos to the tribes and how it correlates to the actual course of history. As I can see, the interpreters felt the same problem and tried to pick single ...
6
votes
3answers
373 views
Is a new blessing required when taking off and putting back on your tallit?
You remove your tallit while services are ongoing (say, to go to the bathroom). When you put it back on, do you have to say the blessing on the tallit again?
0
votes
0answers
21 views
When do we say the blessing for Hallel? [duplicate]
When we recite Hallel in the synagogue for Rosh Hodesh or the holidays, we say a blessing beforehand. We do not say a blessing before Hallel at the seder table on Pessah. Why not?
15
votes
1answer
1k views
Why don't we say a blessing before giving charity?
Before doing many mitzvos (commandments), we are required derabanan to say a blessing. Why is this not the same for giving tzedakah (charity)?
3
votes
0answers
47 views
B'racha on oat milk
Oat milk is a popular dairy-free, vegan-friendly milk substitute. It's made by soaking and blending steel-cut or rolled oats with water and then straining them through cheesecloth to separate the milk ...
6
votes
1answer
86 views
Why don't we make a bracha on the sense of hearing?
Why don't we make a bracha on the sense of hearing, like we make on seeing פוקח עורים ?
0
votes
0answers
15 views
Does one need to see the area they ate if the after-blessing is said in a dark room?
If one is bentching in a dark room, do they still need to "see" the area that they ate (assuming that if the lights were turned on, the area is visible)?
For example, if on Friday night the lights go ...
1
vote
0answers
28 views
Is it right for the Baal Koreh to greet the oleh before the reading
Why I am asking: I was called up to read from the Torah. The Baal Koreh when I came there, said “Good Morning”. It felt wrong to answer him, just before opening the sefer to make the brocho.
The ...
5
votes
2answers
204 views
Selichot and blessing on Torah study
There are at least two views on the placement of the blessings on Torah study in the morning prayer. German rite places it right before the verses about the laver, and they don't really consider Torah ...
2
votes
0answers
28 views
Reason behind making a new Bracha when walking into another room [duplicate]
I remember once hearing that if you’re eating & change rooms you have to repeat the bracha. Is my memory right? And what’s the logic behind this Halacha?
6
votes
1answer
386 views
Does adding a different liquid to a pre-existing drink require a new Shehakol?
Suppose one makes a "shehakol" on the water, and doesn't have in mind any other drinks.
When there's a third of the glass left, the person refills the glass with seltzer/soda (the glass is now 1/3 ...
5
votes
2answers
61 views
Why no bracha on the four cups of wine
Most of the time when doing a mitzvah, we say a bracha on the performance of the mitzvah itself (eating matza, lighting hanukkah candles, etc). On seder night, one of the most famous mitzvot is ...
-2
votes
1answer
67 views
Contesting the line between Torah and secular knowledge [closed]
Isn't it the case that the Rambam, for one, thought that astronomy, medicine, mathematics, for examples, were a part of Torah knowledge? At least the line for him is not simple and clear cut (eg see ...
3
votes
0answers
30 views
Sucking a citrus fruit: Kaf Hachayim
The Kaf Hachayim, OC 202:63:
ומיהו המוצץ משקה מן הפרי חשוב אוכל ומברך ברכתו הראויה לו ושיעורו בכזית לברך ברכה אחרונה. פר״ח בספרו מים חיים סימן ז׳ חס״ל אות י״ד. והיינו דוקא במוצצם ע״י לעיסה שנותנם ...
3
votes
0answers
57 views
Don't rely on rov for general blessings, but do for tevila
The Mishnah Berurah (215:20) brings from the Chayei Adam (Kelal 5) and Pri Megadim (Pesicha LeHilchos Berachos) that even if there's sfek sfeka (a double doubt) telling you to make a blessing, we don'...
2
votes
2answers
104 views
Forgot to say the brocho on teffilin can I say it now?
Theoretically:
If one puts on teffilin and forgot to say the brocho can he say it now?
What should he do if he already took them off?
Sources please!
4
votes
1answer
94 views
Besamim on a Cinnamon Bun or Danish
Motzei Shabbos when making Havdala one realizes he has no cloves, cinnamon sticks or any other spice to make the Beracha (blessing on fragerences) Borei Minei Besamim. Can the person take a cinnamon ...
5
votes
0answers
28 views
Kiddush levana – intensity of moonlight required in areas of light pollution
The answer to this question
came from Mishna Berura 426:3 which defines the light from the moon on which one can make the blessing as follows:
ג) ונהנין מאורה - דהיינו בעת שזריחתה ניכרת ע"ג קרקע. ...
3
votes
1answer
87 views
Does one make a shehecheyanu on “used” jewelry?
If someone is going to be wearing a "used" piece of expensive jewelry for the first time (as in, it was previously worn by a different person as opposed to being new from the store), do they make a ...
5
votes
1answer
41 views
What happens if an individual accidentally says Aneinu before Re'eh instead of during Shema Koleinu?
Let’s say that a congregant, who’s normally supposed to say Aneinu in Shema Koleinu instead of before Re'eh, accidentally says it as a stand-alone Beracha before Re'eh. He doesn’t realize until well ...
1
vote
1answer
126 views
Can a husband and wife recite the Grace After Meals?
I was taught that Jews do Grace After Meals (birchas/birkat hamazon) and that it is only done if there are three or more men.
But what if it’s just the husband and wife, in public or at home? Are we ...
2
votes
0answers
16 views
Saying bracha on dairy product before 6 hours have run? [duplicate]
Is there an accepted practice on what you are supposed to do if you thought 6 hours had run and say a bracha on a glass of milk but then you realize right before drinking it that it has not been 6 ...
3
votes
0answers
42 views
Said the wrong brocho, now what?
If someone was putting on his tallit and instead of saying the brocho on the talit he said the brocho on teffilin.
Then 10 seconds pass
What should he do (theoretically)?
Possible answers:
Take ...
2
votes
1answer
78 views
Birchas Ha'Gomel and probabilistic dangers
There are many questions of the type "Is Bh"G said after X". The simplified understanding of the Gemmorah in Brochos 54b (see Rash"i "צריכין להודות - כשיוצאין מן הסכנה:") is that the 4 cases present [...
5
votes
1answer
100 views
Minimum amount of food to eat after bracha before speaking
My understanding is that after making a bracha, one should eat the food without a "hefsek" (interruption). Is there a minimum amount of food that one is required to eat after the bracha and before ...
6
votes
4answers
248 views
Translate the beginning of the blessing “Asher Yatzar”
The blessing said after leaving the rest room begins:
אשר יצר את האדם בחכמה
Who created man with wisdom
Does "with wisdom" mean:
1 - G-d used His wisdom when creating man? or
2 - G-d ...
11
votes
1answer
261 views
Why do we make a Brocho on Pidyon Haben
At the Pidyon Haben ceremony, the father makes a blessing:
ברוך אתה ה׳ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר קדשנו במצותיו וצונו על פדיון הבן
There is a famous rule from the Rashba (Shu"t, V1 §18) that we do not ...
-1
votes
2answers
72 views
How Shelo Asani Goy - We Are! [duplicate]
How do we say Shelo Asani Goy when we are referred to as a nation - albeit a holy one - in Shemos 19:6
וְאַתֶּם תִּהְיוּ־לִי מַמְלֶכֶת כֹּהֲנִים וְגוֹי קָדוֹשׁ אֵלֶּה
הַדְּבָרִים אֲשֶׁר ...
6
votes
1answer
75 views
Source for blessing “Livnot Bayit Ne'eman B'Yisrael” [duplicate]
A classic blessing for a bride and groom is they should merit to build a לִבְנוֹת בַּיִת נֶאמָן בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל - a reliable house in Israel.
The only source I could find for this expression is the Mi ...
-1
votes
2answers
78 views
Why fight the Midianites with such a huge army?
G-d promises the Israeli Nation that (Lev 26,6):
וְרָדְפוּ מִכֶּם חֲמִשָּׁה מֵאָה, וּמֵאָה מִכֶּם רְבָבָה יִרְדֹּפוּ
וְנָפְלוּ אֹיְבֵיכֶם לִפְנֵיכֶם לֶחָרֶב׃
Five of you shall give chase to ...
0
votes
1answer
65 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
98 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
36 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
43 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
135 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
43 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
65 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
24 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..."?
