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Brachot - The Art of BlessingsBuy "Brachot" on an mp3 CD! (All 48 classes for just $24.00+S&H!)Rav Dovid gives a daily halacha at the Wall Street Synagogue in Lower Manhattan. This series covers brachot. |
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| 4 Tamuz 5768 | listen |
Honey-Roasted or Fried Immature Nuts
(15:45)
What is the brachah for an immature, inedible nut that becomes edible when cooked? Concept: natay a'da'ta.
Sources: OC 202:14; MB 14:69-72
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| 30 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Honey-Roasted, Fried, and Raw Nuts
(19:30)
What is the brachah for a nut? Concepts: ikkar and tefel; griuta and maalyuta; tzurato nikeret.
Sources: OC 202:13; MB 202:66-68
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| 29 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Cooked and Fresh Fruits (2)
(11:28)
What is the brachah for a fresh fruit that is better when cooked? A cooked fruit that tastes better when fresh?
Sources: OC 202:12; MB 202:63-65
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| 28 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Cooked and Fresh Fruits (1)
(16:10)
What is the brachah for a fruit that is eaten either cooked or fresh?
Sources: OC 202:2,12; MB 202:20-22,61-62
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| 27 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Brachot on Unripe Fruits
(15:28)
What is the brachah for fruit that is sour, bitter because it is unripe? What if it is so bitter that it is inedible?
Sources: OC 202:2; MB 202:17-19
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| 24 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Brachot on Immature Fruit
(15:46)
At what point during a fruit's maturation process does it become the "main" fruit that receives the brachah borei pri ha-etz?
Sources: OC 202:2; MB 202:11-15
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| 23 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Raisin Wine (2)
(16:36)
Halacha l'ma'aseh: there are four requirements that, if met, make raisin wine pri ha-gefen by all opinions.
Sources: OC 202:11; MB 202:56-60
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| 21 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Raisin Wine (1)
(15:31)
Is the brachah for raisin wine borei pri hagafen or shehakol?
Sources: OC 202:11; MB 202:54-55
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| 20 Sivan 5768 | listen |
When is wine no longer wine?
(14:51)
At some point in mixing wine with other liquids, its brachah changes from borei pri ha-gefen. Just when does that happen?
Sources: OC 202:1; MB 202:7-10
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| 17 Sivan 5768 | listen |
What is wine for the purposes of brachot?
(15:14)
Does wine still get a special brachah if it is concentrated? Mevushal? Pasteurized? Mixed with other flavors?
Sources: OC 202:1; MB 202:3-6
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| 16 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Becoming a Chasid for Brachos; The Importance of Wine and Fruit
(11:58)
Why does wine get a special bracha? Why does fruit from a tree get a different bracha from other plants?
Sources: Shaarei Teshuva 202:19; OC 202:1; MB 202:1-2
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| 15 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Parameters for Brachot on Fruit
(14:03)
The general rules for brachot on fruit -- when the brachah is pri ha'etz, pri ha'adamah, and shehakol. Also: what to do if you don't know what brachah to make -- the answer will likely surprise you!
Sources: OC 202:18; MB 202:83-86
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| 14 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Why do we make brachos prior to eating?
(14:03)
Eating without saying a bracha prior to eating is like stealing from Hashem.
Sources: Brachot 35a
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| 13 Sivan 5768 | listen |
Chinuch and Birkat HaMazon
(15:23)
Chinuch for Birkat HaMazon is unique in that a child can fulfill his father's obligation.
Sources: OC 186:1-2; MB 186:1-7
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| 8 Adar I 5768 | listen |
Review: Shema through Aleinu
(15:10)
A review, summary and overview of halachot of shacharit, from Shema through Aleinu.
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| 7 Adar I 5768 | listen |
Review: Wakeup through Shema
(15:32)
A review, summary and overview of halachot of morning conduct, from waking up through the recitation of Shema.
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| 25 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Reciting the Morning Brachot Out of Order; Other Morning Blessings
(14:55)
If the morning brachot are recited out of order, how should one correct the error, if at all. Also -- some mistaken brachot that were once recited.
Sources: OC 46:5-7; MB 46:20-23
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| 22 Sivan 5767 | listen |
More Morning Blessings; What if the particular bracha doesn't apply to you?
(21:00)
Three more morning brachot; differences in the order of brachot among Sephardim and Ashkenazim. Also: what if the reason for reciting one of the blessings doesn't apply to you?
Sources: OC 46:4,8; MB 46:15-19,24-26; Baer Heitev 46:8
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| 21 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Morning Blessings (Part 3): The Order of the Blessings
(15:48)
Why are the blessings we recite today in a different order from those in the Shulchan Aruch? And when is the proper time for the bracha al netilat yadayim?
Sources: OC 46:1-2; MB 46:10-13
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| 20 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Morning Blessings (Part 2)
(14:48)
The blessings over dressing, stretching, opening your eyes, walking, wearing shoes, and more.
Sources: OC 46:1; MB 46:5-9
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| 19 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Morning Blessings (Part 1): Elohai Neshoma and Daybreak
(19:18)
The brachot Elohai Neshoma and asher natan l'sechvi vina are recited each morning. What if you didn't sleep? What if you didn't hear a rooster crow?
Sources: OC 46:1,8; MB 46:1-4
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| 18 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Introduction: 100 Brachos per Day
(15:47)
Why do we have so many different brachot? An introduction to the history of brachot.
Sources: OC 46:3; MB 46:Introduction,14; Men. 43b
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| 15 Sivan 5767 | listen |
The Prohibition on Reciting Pasukim Prior to Birkat HaTorah
(15:28)
Not only is there a requirement to recite Birkat HaTorah prior to learning, there is a reciprocal prohibition agasint reciting pasukim prior to reciting Birkat HaTorah -- even if the pasukim are said as tefilla.
Sources: OC 46:9; MB 46:29-32
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| 14 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Birkot HaTorah -- The Gemara and Tosefot
(16:42)
This shiur goes through the Gemara and Tosefot in detail as an illustration of how the pilpul of the Rishonim results in all of the different halacha l'ma'aseh categories in Birkot HaTorah -- the l'chatchila and b'dieved halacha, kavanah, the requirement to learn after the bracha or after ahava raba, etc.
Sources: Brachot 11b; Tos. Br. 11b d.h. SheKvar Niftar
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| 13 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Learning after Birkat HaTorah; Women's Obligation for Birkat HaTorah
(16:32)
It is best to learn immediately after reciting Birkat HaTorah. Also: all agree that women too are obligated to recite Birkat HaTorah, though their obligation may or may not be the same as men's obligation.
Sources: OC 47:9,14; MB 47:19-21; Beur Halacha d.h. "Nashim"
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| 12 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Fulfilling the Obligation for Birkat HaTorah via Ahava Raba
(15:58)
How is it that Ahava Raba fulfills the obligation to recite a bracha over Torah learning?
Sources: OC 47:7-8; MB 47:13-18
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| 8 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Daytime Sleep and Other Interruptions in Learning
(13:32)
Most brachot are only valid so long as one keeps focused on the action over which one made the brachah. So what happens if you take your mind off your learning?
Sources: OC 47:10-11; MB 47:22-25
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| 5 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Staying Awake All Night; Awakening before Dawn
(15:56)
If you are awake all night, does one say Birkot HaTorah the following morning? What if you slept a little? What if you wake up to learn in the middle of the night -- are brachot required prior to learning? Halachah l'ma'aseh for Shavuot.
Sources: OC 47:12-13; MB 47:28-33
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| 4 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Thinking Thoughts of Torah
(11:57)
Is a brachah required prior to thinking thoughts of Torah? If so, how can we do a mitzvah -- any mitzvah -- without first making Birkot HaTorah?
Sources: OC 47:4; MB 47:5-7; Beur Halacha d.h. "HaKotev"
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| 1 Sivan 5767 | listen |
Does writing words of Torah require a blessing?
(7:51)
When writing or copying words of Torah or pasukim one is not learning Torah. Does writing require a blessing?
Sources: OC 47:3; MB 47:4
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| 28 Iyar 5767 | listen |
The Importance of Birkot HaTorah
(15:30)
We are obligated to make birkot HaTorah with joy over the gift that Hashem has entrusted to us. Failure to do so brings serious consequences
Sources: OC 47:1; MB 47:1-2
Dedicated as a zechut for a refuah shleimah for Sara Chanah bat Rachel Devorah.
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| 27 Iyar 5767 | listen |
The Requirement for Birkot HaTorah
(15:25)
Birkot HaTorah are required prior to any Torah learning -- including both the Written and Oral Torah, Midrash, Halacha, and even Musar.
Sources: Brachot 11b; Tos. Br. 11b d.h. SheKvar Niftar; OC 47:2; MB 47:3
Dedicated as a zechut for a refuah shleimah for Chedva Tzippora bas Sarah.
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| 26 Iyar 5767 | listen |
Birkot HaTorah - Introduction
(14:53)
An overview of the blessings made over learning Torah. How many blessings are there?
Sources: OC 47:5-6; MB 47:8-12
Dedicated as a zechut for a refuah shleimah for Ariella Rivkah ben Devora Pessel.
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| 11 Nisan 5767 | listen |
Blessings on the Four Cups of Wine
(14:34)
Does each of the four cups require its own brocha rishona? Brocha achrona? Why or why not?
Sources: OC 474:1; MB 474:1-5
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| 12 Adar 5767 | listen |
Al HaNissim in Birkat HaMazon for Purim
(15:47)
What if you forget al hanissim in birkat hamazon? Also: what if Purim falls before or after shabbos and your meal begins in the day and continues into the night -- can you say both al hanissim and r'tzei?
Sources: OC 695:3; MB 695:15
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| 27 Kislev 5767 | listen |
Al HaNissim for Chanukah
(13:42)
Why doesn't al hanisim mention the nes of the oil? Adding al hanissim to birkat hamazon and the amidah; what if you forget al hanissim?
Sources: OC 682:1-2; MB 682:1-4,6
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| 1 Tamuz 5766 | listen |
Mentioning Rosh Chodesh in Birkat HaMazon and Korbonot
(8:27)
Part of the observance of Rosh Chodesh includes adding ya'aleh v'yavo in Birkat HaMazon. What if it is forgotten? Also: mentioning the Rosh Chodesh sacrifices as part of korbonot.
Sources: MB 419:2; OC 424:1; MB 424:1-2; OC 421:1; MB 421:1
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| 13 Iyar 5766 | listen |
Morning Brachot
(1:00:58)
An introduction to the Morning Blessings, based on Brachot 60b.
Sources: Brachot 60b
|
| 27 Adar 5766 | listen |
Who should check for chometz?
(13:40)
Who is trusted to check for chometz? If multiple people are checking or if you are checking more than one place, do you make more than one brocha?
Sources: OC 432:2; MB 7-12
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| 24 Adar 5766 | listen |
The Blessing for Checking for Chometz
(13:28)
What is the blessing before checking for chometz and why? When is it recited?
Sources: Pes. 7a-7b; OC 432:1; MB 1-6
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| 15 Shevat 5766 | listen |
Putting on Tefillin
(8:28)
The order of putting on Tefillin.
Sources: OC 25:3-5; OC 32:42,52; MB 25:12,13,18,21
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| 11 Shevat 5766 | listen |
Tefillin: One Mitzvah or Two?
(10:59)
Are Tefillin one mitvah or two mitzvot? Do they require one blessing or two? What should you do if you only have one tefilla?
Sources: OC 25:5; OC 26:1; Men. 36a; Men. 38a-b
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| 11 Tevet 5766 | listen |
Borrowed Tallesim
(6:15)
Is a blessing made on a borrowed tallis? What about one that belongs to the shul? What if I just put it on for an aliyah?
Sources: OC 14:3; MB 14:9-11
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| 4 Tevet 5766 | listen |
Brachot for Tallis Gadol and Tallis Katan
(7:00)
What is the bracha on the tallis gadol? On the tallis katan? Do we make brachot on both? What if the tallis katan is donned before sunrise?
Sources: OC 8:1,17
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| 29 Kislev 5766 | listen | Birkat HaMazon - Grace after Meals (1:20:30) |
| 21 Kislev 5766 | listen |
The Blessings Over the Chanukah Candles
(9:11)
What blessings are recited over the Chanukah candles and why?
Sources: Shabb. 23a; OC 676:1; Shaarei Teshuva 676:1; MB 676:1
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| 1 Cheshvan 5766 | listen |
Saying Ya'aleh v'Yavo in Birkat HaMazon
(6:03)
Ya'aleh v'Yavo is added to Birkat HaMazon on Rosh Chodesh. What do you do if you forget to add it in?
Sources: OC 424:1; MB 424:1,2
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| 9 Elul 5765 | listen |
The Brocha when Checking Chometz - Advanced
(1:20:33)
Kollel-level shiur on Rosh, Pesachim, Chapter 1, Part 10
Sources: Rosh Pesachim 1:10 and related Talmud references
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