1) Is one allowed to read zohar? Is one allowed to read a hebrew translation of zohar? (one who is not allowed to study kaballah, but just reading for its holiness that it imbues)
2) If one saying hamotzi has everyone in mind but one of the group is still washing hands is he/she yotzei?
3) At the end of tefilla one can’t put in persinal prayers before the ‘yehi ratzon’; which ‘yehi ratzon is this? The one right after ‘hamvorech at amo yisreal b’shalom’ or the one before one takes 3 steps back? In addition, which one if these should one also insert ‘his passuk’ ? And should this be before or after personal tefillah?
Answer:
1) It is permitted to read Zohar for the ‘holiness it imbues.’
2) For somebody to be yotzei the berachah of hamotzi, the intention of both the person making the blessing, and the person hearing it, is required. It is hard to imagine that a person still washing his hands has intention to be yotzei with the berachah, and this would mean that the blessing of al netilas yadayim will be interrupting between hamotzi and eating. It is possible that this is not a full hefsek, because washing is required for eating, but it certainly wrong to do this.
3) Personal requests should be made before the final “yehi ratzon,” and they can be recited even if the ‘first’ “yehi ratzon” was not said. Those who say a personal verse can say it after their personal requests, before the final “yehi ratzon.”
