49 Lessons
Mechayei Hameitim after Long Separation
I will soon see my son-in-law after a more than two year Corona-forced separation. We have been in frequent contact and have seen each other often on Zoom. Should I say the beracha, “… mechayei hameitim”?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Nissan 26 5782
Weak Prohibition Vs. Beracha L’vatala
If someone makes a beracha on a milchig food and then realizes that he is fleishig, should he eat a little of it to avoid a beracha l’vatala?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Adar II 25 5782
Beracha on Vegetable Soup with Soup Nuts
What beracha/ot do I make on vegetable soup into which I put soup nuts?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Adar I 5 5782
Brachos on Good Tidings
What brocha do we recite when it rains? Do we recite a brocha upon hearing of the birth of a new grandson?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Shvat 19 5782
Beracha on Hearing Aids
I am excited to be getting hearing aids, which will improve my quality of life greatly, so that it deserves a Shehecheyanu. Considering that my family will find it easier to speak to me, should I recite Hatov V’hameitiv?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Shvat 18 5782
Hagomel for One Who Became Bar Mitzva after Flight
Our family will be going to Israel for our son’s bar mitzva. We will arrive a few hours before he becomes halachically bar mitzva, and the next morning, he will get his aliya. Should he recite Hagomel after his aliya?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tevet 24 5782
Bring On The Blessing
A Story of Commitment, Faith and Unexpected Reward will Inspire You to Bring Blessing into Your Own Life through the Power of Bentching.
Rabbi Yoel Gold | Tevet 10 5782
Do We Need to Make a Bracha on Chewing Gum?
Rabbi Stewart Weiss | Kislev 6 5782
How much must I Bensch?
I mistakenly recited al hamichyah, when I was required to bensch. Am I now required to bensch?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Av 19 5781
When to Top the Bagel?
I said Hamotzi on a bagel, and after taking a bite, put on cream cheese and lox. A friend corrected me, claiming that Halacha requires that the first bite should be done when it is in its optimal form, so that after the beracha, one should cut open the bagel, put on the toppings, and then eat. Could that be?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Tammuz 18 5781
“Baruch Hu U’varuch Shemo” in Zimun
It is unclear to me whether one is supposed to say “Baruch hu u’varuch shemo” at the end of zimun and if so, who is supposed to recite it. What is proper?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 14 5781
Believing is Seeing
May I be mekadeish levanah now, although I am indoors, and I am also obviously looking at the moon through a window? The brocha of borei me’orei ha’eish on an electric light - could one do this when a lightbulb must be encased in glass for it to burn? What do the above questions have to do with this week’s parsha?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Iyar 4 5781
The Necessity to See the Moon Before Kiddush Levana
Last week clouds covered the moon after some of us began Kiddush Levana. Can the remainder rely on their “testimony” to join the beracha?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Kislev 17 5781
The Basics of Birkas Hagomeil
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Av 13 5780
Reciting Borei Nefashot on Food When One Will Still Drink
When I eat a fruit and drink, if I finish the fruit but will continue drinking for quite a while, when should I recite Borei Nefashot? If I do it after finishing the fruit, should I make a new beracha on the drink?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Sivan 3 5780
DoughNot
At the Shabbat Table
At the Shabbat Table
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Kislev 29 5780
Missing a Key Word from Al Hamichya
Unfortunately, I did not look at a siddur last night when reciting Al Hamichya. I made a couple mistakes along the way, and I remember specifically leaving out the words “al ha’aretz” in the chatimah (end part). Was I yotzeh?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Elul 2 5779
When to Make a Beracha for Inheritance
The executor of my mother’s will is starting to distribute funds. I saw in P’ninei Halacha (online) that the beneficiaries should say Hatov V’hameitiv when they receive the funds. In our case, distribution will be piecemeal. When/how often should I recite the beracha?
Rabbi Daniel Mann | Nisan 27 5779
What Is the Brocha?
Rabbi Yirmiyohu Kaganoff | Nisan 6 5779