Brochos Archives - AskTheRav

I just closed on a house. Do I make a Shehecheyanu?

The halacha is that Shehecheyanu is recited upon building or purchasing a home. If one has loans to pay due to the purchase, there is a dispute whether to…

What Brocho does one make on frozen grape juice ices?

This is a machlokes. However, according to most poskim, it would be hagofen and al hagefen. See here and here. #5207

If someone eats plain salt, does he need to make a Brocha?

Yes, Shehakol nih’yah bidvaro. Sources: Brachos 36a. Shulchan Aruch and Alter Rebbe's Shulchon Aruch O.C. 204:1; Seder Birchas Hanehenin 7:1. #6383

Which Bracha does one make on a meat barley soup?

1. Even if there is no meat in a soup but it was cooked with meat, the taste of the meat overrides the taste of the vegetables and the…

On Shabbos when we wash hands for Hamotzi, do we need to say the Bracha Hamotzi or just say Amen to Baal Habayis? Do we have to say Amen or is it an Hefsek since we have already washed?

According to Halacha it is sufficient to respond Amen to the Bracha of the Baal Habayis and there is no need to say your own Hamotzi. Nonetheless, many have…

Should someone make the Brocha שנתן מכבודו לבשר ודם on President Trump?

There are several opinions among the Poskim regarding this matter. Generally, the Brocha is recited upon seeing a ruler who has power over life and death. Many Poskim maintain that…

Is there anything wrong with living across the street from an old non Jewish cemetery?

It's OK to live near a non Jewish cemetery. Upon seeing a non-Jewish burial site one recites the following Passuk (ירמי׳ נ, יב): בּ֤וֹשָׁה אִמְּכֶם֙ מְאֹ֔ד חָפְרָ֖ה יֽוֹלַדְתְּכֶ֑ם הִנֵּה֙…

What is the Bracha on Puffed Kamut?

האדמה. There is a doubt about the proper ברכה אחרונה. Therefore, When eating a shiur, eat only within a meal of המוציא. For explanation, see here. #5470

What do you have to see in order to make a Bracha on lightening? Is it enough to see the flash or you have to see the actual lightening strike?

Seeing the flash is sufficient to make a Bracha. ראה שו״ת מנחת שלמה ב, ד, לד. אז״נ ו, כג. הנסמן בס׳ שער העין אריאל ד, ד. …

Which Brocho does one make on a pie with a crust (the crust is here for holding the pie and not for the taste, but it has a taste)?

If the purpose is purely to hold the pie without intending to taste the pie, it would be the Bracha of the pie. Usually, if the crust is sweet…

When one had a baby boy and did not say הטוב והמטיב immediately, what is the time limit to making this Bracha? (Same question with regard to שהחיינו for a baby girl).

So long the Simcha is still fresh and strong. טעמים ומקורות: כמה שיטות בדבר, ראה בהנסמן לקמן. וההכרעה כבפנים: ראה מו״ק להיעב״ץ רכד. פמ״ג בא״א רכג, ג. משנ״ב…

Do you make a Bracha on lightening or thunder if you only see or hear one? Meaning if I see lightening can I make a Bracha? Or do I need to hear thunder and make two Brachos together?

One can make a bracha on lightening or thunder if they only see or hear one. Source: סדר ברכת הנהנין יג, טו. #4287

If your using the bathroom very frequently do you say Asher Yatzer after each time?

Yes. If he forgot to recite the first time, he recites it only once later. However, if one is taking a medication causing him to urinate frequently, is different,…

מחר הבר מצוה של אחי הצעיר והוא בע”ה יעלה לתורה ב-770. אבא שלי לא יכל להגיע. בנוגע לברכת ברוך שפטרני – האם אפשרי לברך באמצעות הטלפון?

האב אינו צריך להיות נוכח בשעת העלי׳. ויברך ממקומו. אבל, עליו לומר בשינוי קצת ״מעונשו של בני״, או ״בני פלוני״. וכדאי שיהיו עשרה במקומו. אבל אינו מעכב. ואם רוצה…

Is a non Jewish family who will soon be going through conversion allowed to say Brochos on lighting the Menorah? And are there a group of Brochos they are not allowed to say in general?

They may not say Brachos on Mitzvos or Brachos which contain content which isn’t applicable such as "שלא עשני גוי" or ״אלקי אבותינו״. They may say Brachos on food.…

I bought peaches a few days ago. Forgot that we don’t say Shehechiyanu during Sefira. Can we make one on Lag BaOmer for new fruit?

Yes. מקור: סה״ש תשמ״ט ב ע׳ 745. Does it matter that I already bought the fruit and they would go to waste otherwise? In such a…

האם מברכים שהחיינו על טלית או סירטוק חדש? והאם מברכים ברכת הטוב והמטיב על יין משובח?

מפורסם מנהגנו שבדרך כלל אין מברכים על בגדים חדשים ואפילו על טלית, כ״א על פרי חדש, אלא אם יש סיבה אחרת המחייבת (ראה לדוגמא שאלה #1533). בנוגע לברכת הטוב…

Is our Minhag to say or not to say Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo by the Birchos Hatorah? What about Birchos Haftarah? If yes, what about when a person is relying on listening to these Brachos for the account of 100 Brachos required daily?

The custom is to answer Baruch Hu Uvaruch Shemo in all these cases. Sources: שקו״ט בכ״מ באמירת ב״ה וב״ש בחזרת הש״צ כשיוצא יד״ח ק׳ ברכות, וכן בקריה״ת. ולהעיר…

If someone needs to change a baby diaper after Kiddush, would it be better to do it between Kiddush and washing or after washing where then another washing would need to take place to eat more bread?

After washing, provided that the pamper does not give off smell which makes it problematic to recite Brachos. Sources: הנה, בשו״ת מהרי״ל החדשות במה שצ״ל קידוש במקום סעודה…

If one washed and ate only a tiny piece of bread (they did not like the bread) is one supposed to say Birchas Hamazon? If not, what does one Bentch? (They ate other foods in this meal as well).

All articles of food combine to make up a Kazayis. So, if you ate half a Kazayis of something that requires the after-Brachah, Borei Nefashos Rabbos, and then you ate another half a Kazayis…