All Questions
611 questions
19
votes
3
answers
1k
views
What Bracha should you say on a Hurricane?
What Bracha should you say on a hurricane? Oseh Ma'aseh Vereishis?
You say Birchas Gomel if you travel over the sea; do you also say it if the sea travels over you?
- 2,472
19
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 3,964
18
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse? I will be in Nevada next week and would like to make a blessing over the May 21 Solar Eclipse. Thanks!
- 193
17
votes
2
answers
557
views
Who is worthy of reciting the blessing "שנתן מחכמתו לבשר ודם" on?
On whom does one recite the blessing "שנתן מחכמתו לבשר ודם" (the blessing recited on non-Jewish scientists)?
Does he have to be a Ph.D? Does he have to have inventions to his name?
Did he have to ...
- 40.8k
17
votes
1
answer
498
views
Rainbow in water spray
You can often see a rainbow in a spray of water such as from sprinkler irrigation. Is the brocha for a rainbow applicable in that case?
Also, does a rainbow that comes from a prism get a brocha too?
- 5,540
16
votes
3
answers
1k
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 ...
- 731
16
votes
1
answer
2k
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)?
- 570
16
votes
5
answers
9k
views
What Bracha do you make on Sushi?
What Bracha do you make on Sushi?
Is the rice the main part and therefore a mezonos, or is it just a toful (less-important ingredient) in which case I guess a shehakol?
- 879
16
votes
2
answers
751
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?
- 25.1k
16
votes
3
answers
716
views
How long can you say Asher Yotzar if you forgot?
If you forgot to say Asher Yotzar and remember a while later, is there a time limit as to when you are allowed to say it?
- 140k
15
votes
2
answers
3k
views
What is the bracha on "cookies and cream" flavor ice cream?
I saw here that Rav Belsky holds the following:
One of the flavors of Klein's parve ice cream is "Cookies and Cream" which contains cookie crumbs or bits which are sprinkled through areas of ...
- 8,031
14
votes
3
answers
281
views
Does a sotah make a bracha?
Before drinking the sotah water does the woman make a blessing? If so would it be shahakol or something else?
user6641
14
votes
3
answers
395
views
Relationship between wearing a kippa and reciting a blessing
Before I started wearing a Kippa all the time, the people around me and I had the reflex to cover our head when saying the name of G-d or when reciting anything holy.
Since the mitzvah is to wear it ...
- 2,689
14
votes
3
answers
3k
views
Where did the "different bracha for mishloach manos" idea come from?
Rambam and Shulchan Aruch say you can send two types of meat as mishloach manos on Purim.
Yet somehow I (and many other people, apparently) were taught that the two different items have to be in two ...
- 136k
14
votes
2
answers
612
views
Does one make a Bracha when seeing the Pope?
Is he considered either a king or a great non-Jewish scholar?
- 141
14
votes
3
answers
625
views
Hefsek in being yotzei besamim in havdallah
This past motzei Shabbos, in the Shul where I davened, there were a number of young men who were lining up to be included in the communal havdallah done at the end of Maariv. The person making ...
- 59.1k
13
votes
2
answers
1k
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 ...
13
votes
4
answers
2k
views
Bracha on frozen grape juice
For a cold dessert, I often like to freeze a cup of grape juice and then eat it with a spoon like an Italian ice. What is the appropriate bracha to say before and after eating this delicacy?
- 4,008
13
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Shelo asani goy- converts
When we say shelo asani goy in brachos, we're thanking Hashem for not making us a goy. But what about geirim...are they supposed to say this bracha? Also, what about someone who did a geirus lechumra?...
13
votes
2
answers
928
views
Berachos over food mixtures
My breakfast regularly presents me with a beracha conundrum. It usually consists of a bowl of bran flakes (mezonos), often sprinkled with raisins (etz) and/or sunflower seeds (adama), and ...
- 4,458
13
votes
4
answers
356
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)?
I'...
user1520
13
votes
1
answer
787
views
Bracha after an earthquake
Per the Artscroll Siddur after an earthquake we make a Bracha "Oseh Maaseh Breishis". Up to how long after the earthquake can you make this Bracha? (sources please)
- 140k
13
votes
1
answer
901
views
Should I say "amen" to a malformed bracha?
If I hear somebody substantially mispronounce a bracha, should I say amen anyway (recognizing the intent) or remain silent? I'm not talking about nuances like pronouncing 'ayin or distinguishing ...
- 57k
13
votes
2
answers
543
views
Making a Bracha on disliked foods
If you, for some reason, must eat food you despise and will gain no enjoyment from it do you still need to make a bracha?
- 7,448
13
votes
2
answers
329
views
Should one make a bracha on food if only a child is eating?
I think it is common to make a bracha (blessing) when giving a small child food so that they learn the common brachot and learn to say "amen". Is this appropriate to do if you are not eating the food ...
- 5,587
13
votes
1
answer
616
views
Sheva Brachos when getting divorced
If for whatever reason it was decided that a couple would get married then right away get divorced after the week of Sheva Brachos (believe it or not this happens!) Can they indeed still make Sheva ...
- 16.2k
12
votes
6
answers
4k
views
Why do we say Shelo Asani Goy?
In Birchas HaShachar we thank God for not making us gentiles by saying "shelo asni goi". Why do we use the negative formation instead of thanking God for making us Jews by saying "she-asani Yehudi" ...
- 140k
12
votes
6
answers
2k
views
12
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Peanut butter Bracha
What Brochah or Blessing is said when eating plain Peanut butter? Does the chunky variety (with pieces) versus regular make a difference?
I am referring to a case where it is eaten on a spoon, with ...
- 121
12
votes
3
answers
560
views
Making a bracha on food which is normally assur, but allowed due to pikuach nefesh
In general, one eating forbidden food does not make a bracha.
In certain cases, foods which are usually assur are allowed to be eaten out of a concern of pikuach nefesh -- danger to life. For example,...
- 23.3k
12
votes
5
answers
605
views
No Bracha on Kibud Av Va'eim?
Why do we not make a Bracha (e.g. every morning) on the mitzvah of honoring one's parents?
- 38.8k
12
votes
2
answers
417
views
Why no addition to me'ein shalosh for Purim (and Chanukka)?
We add a paragraph to birkat hamzon for Purim (and for Chanukka). Why is there no phrase added to the me'ein shalosh (the bracha acharona) for Purim (and Chanukka)?
- 8,383
11
votes
9
answers
720
views
When do you say a beracha on a minhag?
When lighting Hanukkah candles in the synagogue, we say a beracha "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav.." on a minhag. Unlike kiddush in shul, and early counting of the omer in shul, nobody would say that one ...
- 8,944
11
votes
2
answers
379
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-...
- 12.2k
11
votes
3
answers
794
views
Saying 100 Berachoth in a day
What is the source for the idea that one should say 100 Berachoth in a day, and how serious of an obligation is this? Is it mandatory, is it laudatory, or is it merely a nice idea?
- 41.9k
11
votes
2
answers
316
views
Bracha levatalah vs waiting between meat and milk
If I make a ברכה on a Hershey bar, and before I eat the food, I realize I am Fleishig, what do I do? (assuming I have no other food around?)
- 319
11
votes
3
answers
480
views
Beracha upon seeing a friend on a webcam
The Shulchan Aruch (OC 225:1) rules:
שולחן ערוך אורח חיים הלכות ברכת הפירות סימן רכה
הרואה את חבירו
לאחר שלשים יום, אומר: שהחיינו, ואחר י"ב חדש מברך: מחיה
מתים, והוא שחביב עליו הרבה ושמח ...
- 3,167
11
votes
1
answer
312
views
Beracha on Intravenous
There Gemara Berachot 35 says "anyone who enjoys from this world without a Beracha is stealing."
Does one make a Beracha on intravenous feeding?
- 16.8k
11
votes
1
answer
515
views
Is there an exhaustive list of astronomical/environmental events for which there are blessings?
Inspired by:
What Bracha should you say on a Hurricane?
What Blessing Does One Make on a Solar Eclipse?
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
What b'racha do you say on seeing the Aurora Borealis (if ...
- 48.6k
11
votes
2
answers
309
views
Bracha for the transit of Venus?
Venus is transiting today for the last time until 2117 (or 5878, if you prefer). Is there a specific bracha that should be made upon witnessing this spectacular event?
- 20.2k
11
votes
2
answers
428
views
Pool and Tzitzis
Do I need to make another Bracha on putting on tzitzis after I get out of the pool?
- 688
11
votes
2
answers
185
views
If you take a COVID "smell test" every day, do you say a blessing on the scent?
Background
Some experts recommend that everyone test their own sense of smell once daily. This can help to screen for the novel coronavirus disease. This is because COVID often (but not always) ...
- 1,589
10
votes
4
answers
892
views
Shehecheyanu on sefiras haomer
Why don't we make a shehecheyanu blessing on counting the Omer? It is a mitzvah which we get to do after a very long break (more than 300 days)?
Some arguments I have heard:
In a similar situation ...
- 3,149
10
votes
2
answers
1k
views
Bracha on thunder and lightning - how often?
If you are in a rainstorm with thunder and lightning - you make the Brachos for them. What happens if the storm ends and then a few hours later (same day) it is raining again. Do you make another ...
- 140k
10
votes
1
answer
422
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 ...
- 103
10
votes
2
answers
467
views
How seriously do we take the finger-inspection in Havdala?
After saying the blessing over fire during Havdala, we do something (customs vary) involving looking at our fingers by the light of the Havdala candle. I'm wondering how seriously we take this part of ...
- 48.6k
10
votes
3
answers
372
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 ...
- 25.1k
10
votes
2
answers
621
views
What Bracha acharona on .5 kezayit of grapes eaten together with .5 kezayit of mezonot crackers?
What Bracha acharona on .5 kezayit of grapes eaten together with .5 kezayit of mezonot crackers?
Do you say al hamichya ve'al haetz or is it boreh nefashot since neither is a kezayit?
Please provide ...
- 13.3k
10
votes
5
answers
1k
views
Is olive oil unhealthy?
The Gemara in Brachot 35b says that the proper bracha on pure olive oil is "Borei Peri HaEtz". However, it says that this refers to when you mixed the oil with some אניגרון which Prof Marcus Jastrow ...
- 101k
10
votes
1
answer
698
views
How come Sepharadim say "Boreh peri haGEFen" but "Shelo Asani AVed"
I think Hacham Ovadia has a footnote in Hazon Ovadia on Pesach (and probably elsewhere) in which he discusses why we don't use the pausal form of gafen instead of gefen. He writes (if i remember ...
- 3,167