Question: Is an םlive a k’zayis? Answer: The term k’zayis means the size of an olive, as an olive in Hebrew is a zayis. Practically though, there are a lot… Read more »
Category: Blessings (brachot)
Women being Motze Man in Brachot
Question: Can a woman be motze a man in brachos? Specifically, if they ate together and both would need to recite al hamichya. Would it make a difference whether the… Read more »
Blessing on Rice
Question: Blessing on Rice? Answer: There is controversy about the bracha on rice, because it is questionable if it is indeed “orez” that the gemora talks about. The minhag is… Read more »
What is the Bracha on millet that is grounded?
Question: Is regular millet the same Bracha for grounded millet? Answer: The bracha on ground foods (unless it is the norm for it to be eaten ground up) is shehakol,… Read more »
Bracha on puffed oats
Question: I learnt that bracha for puffed wheat (cereal) is ha’adama – does this also apply to puffed oats? Thank you Answer: If it is processed the same way, then… Read more »
Benching after bathroom
Question: Is relieving oneself after eating the same as throwing up to be patur from Benching? Perhaps it’s worth washing and making a new brocho? Thank you Answer: The two… Read more »
Nursing Home shinui makom
Question: I work at a nursing home and wash resident certainly pays to stay there similar to an apartment building. However the management is free to change their rooms as… Read more »
Whats the phrase to say when you’re not sure if you may say that bracha?
Question: What’s the phrase to say ad-noi eloikainu melech haoilam in a bracha when you’re not sure if you are allowed to make that bracha? Answer: The text is “…בריך… Read more »
Bracha when seeing a Rainbow
Question: What bracha do you make on a rainbow? Answer: ברוך אתה ה’ אלהינו מלך העולם זוכר הברית ונאמן בבריתו וקיים במאמרו” Sources: Shulchan Aruch 229-1.
Uncooked pasta
Question: What bracha does one make on uncooked pasta? (My kids like to sneak a couple from the bag to munch on while the noodles are cooking.) Answer: Shehakol, because… Read more »
Chosen people to receive the Torah
Question: ברוך אתה ד׳ אלקינו מלך העולם אשר בחר בנו מכל העמים ונתן לנו את תורתו ברוך אתה ד׳ נותן התורה – trans: blessed are you, Hashem, our g-d, king… Read more »
Bracha on gluten free bread
Question: Do you make shehakol on gluten free bread Answer: It depends on what the bread is made of. If it is from corn rice or potatoes, then the bracha… Read more »
Borei nefashos
Question: A lot of times I take a coffee and sip it slowly during the coming hours. During that period, if I eat a fruit, do I make a borei… Read more »
Followup Question To When To Say Birchas Hatorah
Question: To followup this question. If let’s say I went to sleep at 9pm and woke up at 2am to work and then went back to sleep at 5am for… Read more »
What bracha do I make on burgol?
Question: What bracha do I make on burgol? Answer: The bracha on bulgul would be the same as eating barley or wheat kernels. If the kernels are broken and not… Read more »
Benching on Crackers
Question: I like to Bench at least once a day, BLI NADR. I can’t always find bread. How can I be KOVEIA Seudah on crackers? How much must I eat… Read more »
brachan on doughnuts
Question: What bracha do i recite on sufganiot? Answer: The bracha on doughnuts is controversial, but the minhag is to make mezonos on them. Sources: Shulchan Aruch O:CH 168-13
Beracha of ceasar salad
Question: Shalom , what is the beracha for ceasar salad – which includes “crouton” (bread cubes) may be considered tafel to the salad even if the quantity is considerable Thanks… Read more »
When to say birchas hatorah
Question: When does the chiyuv for birchas hatorah start? I work transcribing Torah shiurim and sometimes I work after chatzos at night. Do I need to say birchas hatorah after… Read more »
Steamed bread – mezonot or hamotzi?
Question: There’s a certain type of bread roll made in Asian cuisines called Bao, also known as steamed buns or baozi. They can either be stuffed with something, usually meat… Read more »
Bracha for LICORICE
Question: Licorice is made from wheat. What is the bracha? Many say SHACHOL. Answer: That is true, it is almost universally accepted among the poskim say to say shehakol on… Read more »
Brocho achroneh on mezones and shehakol
Question: Dear Rabbi When one eats something that requires the brocho mezones and also eats something that needs a brocho shehakol, does one need always need to make Al Hamichio… Read more »
Is Tefillas Shmoneh Esrei a hefsek for seudah?
Question: Sometimes I’m working in my office and it gets time for Minchah — because of my location I most often daven in the office. At times I’m b’emtze seudah,… Read more »
Bracha on Almond flour muffins
Question: My wife baked some muffins with the main ingredient being White Almond Flour which is ground Almonds she also puts some Pumpkin puree my question is what bracha do… Read more »
Regarding brachah achrona, at what point is item not considered whole?
Question: If eating a single grape etc and one wants to avoid questions of bracha achrona, does biting the grape in half first suffice to render it not whole? Does… Read more »
What Bracha do you make on an acai bowl?
Question: Hi, What Bracha do you make on an acai bowl? Here’s a link for reference: https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/food-network-kitchen/acai-breakfast-bowl-3363448 Thanks! Answer: It seems that this bowl is made of pureed fruit, therefore… Read more »
What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup?
Question: What Bracha do you make on pureed butternut squash soup? Answer: The bracha on any pureed soup if there aren’t any pieces will be shehakol, this is because the… Read more »
Bracha on Essential oils
Question: Does smelling essential oil require a bracha Answer: When we smell fragrances, or even oil that has fragrances mixed into it or fragrant plants soaking in it, and it… Read more »
Whats the beracha of a baked home made protien bar
Question: ingriedients:5 cups oat flour – 700g 2 cups peanut butter 100% – 500g 1 cup silan 100% – 340g ½ cup almonds – 50g ½ cup walnuts – 60g… Read more »
After blessing when drinking
Question: After eating or drinking you normally say an after blessing. Some people informed me that when you had a drink, for example coffee, that after a certain ammount of… Read more »
Lifnei Iver non frum or off the derech
Question: If one generally says brachos out loud, is it better to say a bracha silently when in front of a non frum or off the derech person if one… Read more »
Eating and Drinking while extended cycling
Question: While on extended bike rides lasting 2 hours or more without stopping , sometimes over 4 hours, we are constantly eating dried fruits or other sources of carbs including… Read more »
הנחת מקצת חברים with a גוי
Question: With regard to the הלכות of הנחת מקצת חברים; 1) Would this concept apply if the person waiting there is a גוי? 2) Would this concept apply if the… Read more »
Nectarines are not a Hybrid
Question: I asked this question Do we say Shehechianu on Nectarines? You answered “Therefore we do say shehechiyanu on a peach, and most other fruits because of this reason.” I’m… Read more »
Do we say Shehechianu on Nectarines?
Question: Do we say Shehechianu on Nectarines, or are they a hybrid of a peach and something else? Are all hybrid fruits patur from Shehechianu? Today, all fruits are being… Read more »
Untiol when can one say Birchas Hamazon
Question: Washed For breakfast at 9:00 finished eating at around 9:30 and got busy in managers office until now. Am I still allowed to Bentch? Thank you Answer: The rule… Read more »
Birkas Ha’Ilanos
Question: Do you make a Bracha on a Crab apple tree..? Thank you very much! Answer: We don’t say birkas ilanos on the fruit of ilaney srak (non fruit bearing… Read more »
timeframe for al hamichya
Question: if i ate a mezonos, or a fruit that requires al haetz, and then ate and drank on and off for several hours, may i still make the brocha… Read more »
Tov U’Metiv
Question: Would one say a bracha on passing a test that they have failed numerous times, and which gives a strong sense of joy? If it also benefits one’s family… Read more »
Edible flowers
Question: What bracha does one make on edible flowers (like orchids)? Answer: If it is a normally eaten item then it would be hoadomo, however I don’t think that this… Read more »
Birkas Ilanos versus Sitting in Sukkah
Question: The Talmud specifies Nisan, but in the southern hemisphere there are no blossoms in Nissan, so it is logically inferred (as poskim indicate) that one could say the bracha… Read more »
What is the Bracha recited on Bagel Chip
Question: What is the correct Bracha to say on Bagel chips Answer: Please see the following post where your question is discuused. https://dinonline.org/2015/10/27/bracha-for-melba-toast-and-bagel-chips/ Best Wishes
Blessing on coffee
Question: If I make a shehakol on a coffee in shul and then walk out side to my car or even walk down the block do I have to make… Read more »
After Brocho on a Cholent
Question: If I ate a cholent, which consisted of vegetables and barley, but did not eat a כזית of barley כדי אכילת פרס, although I did eat a כזית of… Read more »
Blessing over unusual looking people
Question: Should one recite the blessing over seeing a picture of a very unusual looking person? KS”A 60″13 Answer: As a general rule for all Birkas Hariyah, we don’t say… Read more »
Blessing recited upon seeing Jewish graves
Question: When visiting Poland to visit the site of camps, ghettos, graves, where all and how often should the blessing over seeing Jewish graves be recited? Thank you Answer: When… Read more »
Bracha on doughnuts
Question: If I use my challah dough to make doughnuts and then eat lots of the fried doughnuts, what bracha would I make on those doughnuts? Answer: The bracha on… Read more »
Desert Items in course of meal
Question: For Seudat Shlishis on Shabbos we usually have a “Seuda matakim”, A seuda of Nush. After making a hamotzei, the only items served during the meal would be bissli,… Read more »
Ezekiel tortillas (sprouted grain tortillas)
Question: Can I said mezonot or shehakol for this tortilla?? I normally eat this as a wrap Answer: I spoke with the Chof-K, the agency that gives the hashgocho in… Read more »
Bracha on candy
Question: If I washed for a sandwich and at the end of the meal before I say Birkas Hamazon I want to eat a piece of jellyfish candy and want… Read more »