Questions tagged [blessing]
Questions about short prayers called b'rachos ("benedictions" or "blessings"), generally said to praise/thank God for specific events.
1,386
questions
25
votes
6
answers
5k
views
Washing hands for eating pizza
How many slices are required to make you responsible to wash on Pizza?
- 33.1k
24
votes
10
answers
896
views
All the many, many details
I understand a number of reasons why the Jewish community keeps so many rules to the level of minutiae. But why SUCH a level of intricacy in some of these laws?
I looked through a large book on the ...
- 1,920
24
votes
4
answers
1k
views
תהלת ה' ידבר פי - what's the origin?
In between the 'Shir HaMaalot' that precedes birchat hamazon and the the blessings themselves, there are a few psukim beginning תהלת ה' ידבר פי . Some people add these, and some don't. What's the ...
- 777
23
votes
3
answers
8k
views
21
votes
1
answer
1k
views
Blessing the Children on Friday Night
I have noticed that many families (including my own) have the custom for the father to bless all the children on Friday night before kiddush.
When and where did this custom originate, and by whom, ...
- 28.5k
20
votes
3
answers
2k
views
Should you say HaGomel after a flight?
Should someone say the HaGomel blessing after taking an airplane flight? I seem to remember this being the practice, but honestly the average commercial airplane flight these days is 10 times safer ...
- 1,398
19
votes
4
answers
1k
views
A rabbi asked me to light candles before weekday Mincha/Ma'ariv. Is this customary? Is there a bracha?
Last night, I was pulled in off the street to help an unfamiliar shul make a minyan for Mincha/Ma'ariv. The rabbi greeted me, and when he learned I do not speak Hebrew, he gave me a very nice blessing ...
- 1,497
19
votes
3
answers
2k
views
December 25 Greetings
Is it permitted say any of the following to a Christian colleague:
1) Merry Christmas
2) Happy Xmas
3) Happy Holidays
I am specifically referring to initiating a greeting not responding to such a ...
- 3,817
18
votes
3
answers
806
views
Why are there two different forms of the mitzvah brachot ("l-" and "al")?
Some mitzvah brachot are of the form ...vitzivanu "l'X" ("to X", infinitive verb), and others are of the form "al X" ("upon X", gerundive verb). I particularly noticed this during Sukkot with two ...
- 56.4k
18
votes
4
answers
38k
views
Proper recitation of Hamakom Yenachem
Is the proper phrase to console a mourner always the plural המקום ינחם אתכם בתוך שאר אבלי ציון וירושלים or should it be changed depending on whom it is said to (singluar, feminine, etc.)?
user1552
18
votes
2
answers
2k
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
18
votes
4
answers
1k
views
Why aren't Purim and Channuka considered a violation of לֹא תֹסִפוּ?
It says in Devarim 4:2:
לֹא תֹסִפוּ עַל הַדָּבָר אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם וְלֹא תִגְרְעוּ מִמֶּנּוּ לִשְׁמֹר אֶת מִצְוֹת יְ־הֹוָ־ה אֱלֹהֵיכֶם אֲשֶׁר אָנֹכִי מְצַוֶּה אֶתְכֶם
Translated:
Do ...
18
votes
3
answers
970
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?
- 2,462
18
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 ...
- 3,894
17
votes
2
answers
545
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 ...
- 40.3k
17
votes
6
answers
3k
views
Why don't we thank God for making us men/women?
In the brachos we say every morning, men thank God for "not making them a woman" (and women thank God for "creating them according to their needs").
Why don't both men and women just thank God for ...
- 2,664
16
votes
7
answers
3k
views
Am I a body with a soul or a soul with a body?
I've always thought that our true essence, who we actually are, our personalities are our souls. To me, bodies are just temporary "homes" for the soul. My body can perish, but my soul will continue ...
- 4,576
16
votes
4
answers
419
views
How to say go-al Yisroel before Shacharis Amida
When the leader gets to just before the Shacharis Amida, how should he say the blessing
go-al Yisroel: aloud or saying the word Yisroel so the end of it cannot be heard?
- 47.2k
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
2
answers
640
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?
- 24.7k
16
votes
3
answers
655
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?
- 139k
16
votes
1
answer
446
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?
- 5,398
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Do we say a mitzvah bracha before reading Kohelet? What about other (non-Purim) megillot?
I had been under the impression that for all five of the megillot you say a bracha before the reading, and this is the practice I've observed. When preparing for Shabbat chol hamoed Sukkot this year ...
- 56.4k
15
votes
4
answers
8k
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?
- 829
15
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Shalom Aleichem in Kiddush Levanah
Why do we say Shalom Aliechem in Kiddush Levanah? And what should one do if there are no other people around (or not enough people around)?
- 38.5k
15
votes
2
answers
552
views
Can anyone explain the meaning of this amulet / inscription?
Right before my grandfather went away to fight in WWII, a rabbi in Munkács (מונקאטש) gave him a small cloth container that had a piece of parchment in it, as a kind of amulet. The piece of paper has ...
- 151
15
votes
2
answers
2k
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 ...
- 7,873
14
votes
3
answers
659
views
"שליט״א" only for certain people
Living people sometimes have "שליט״א" added after their respective names. This means, roughly, "may he live a good, long life". That seems like a nice blessing for anyone; yet, in my experience, only ...
- 73.5k
14
votes
3
answers
266
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
357
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 ...
- 2,609
14
votes
2
answers
3k
views
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? Why or why not?
Is it inappropriate to say Baruch Dayan Haemes on a Ben Noach? What about someone who may have been an oved avoda zarah? Someone who is definitely such?
I'm asking because I've seen such discussion ...
- 2,241
14
votes
2
answers
569
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
563
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 ...
- 58.4k
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
2
answers
814
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 ...
- 4,330
13
votes
4
answers
4k
views
What bracha do you make on smoothies?
If I put grapes, apples, strawberrys, watermelons, and other fruits and vegetables, as ingredients, in a smoothie, what bracha do I make, because its filled with foods of different brachos?
- 1,405
13
votes
4
answers
344
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
409
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)
- 139k
13
votes
3
answers
2k
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 ...
- 131k
13
votes
5
answers
531
views
Maple syrup bracha
What is the bracha on maple syrup and why?
Being that the trees are probably planted specifically for the purpose of the syrup, it's not so far off to think it might be ha'eitz. After all, I've ...
- 131
13
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Why do we say Pesach seder brachot both nights?
During the Pesach seder, but not during the rest of Pesach, we say b'rachot for the mitzvot of matzah and maror. (I mean the "asher kidshanu b'mitzvotav" b'rachot.) So it seems that we are only ...
- 56.4k
13
votes
2
answers
417
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?
- 7,418
13
votes
2
answers
297
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 ...
- 5,263
13
votes
1
answer
580
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 ...
- 16k
12
votes
4
answers
1k
views
What Bracha did they make on the Mahn?
Did the Jews make a Bracha on eating the Mahn? Which Bracha did they make?
- 139k
12
votes
3
answers
515
views
Earliest source for "Baruch Hu U'Baruch Sh'mo"
What is the earliest source for saying "Baruch Hu U'Baruch Shmo" when hearing someone say the Name of HaShem in a blessing?
- 16k
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" ...
- 139k
12
votes
6
answers
2k
views
12
votes
6
answers
1k
views
How to Resolve Kiddush Levana and Celestial Worship, (Avodas Kochavim)?
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 ...
- 2,279