This website is dedicated L’ilui Nishmas R’ Shmuel Yitzchak ben R’ Moshe A”H ר’ שמואל יצחק בן ר’ משה ע”ה
For Halachik questions please contact Rabbi Reingold at q@dvarhalacha.com

Birchos Hodaah

1231 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 16-17) – 30 Day Renewal on Brachos; Entertainment

 We are beginning siman 16. The Chayei Adam writes that one does not repeat a bracha on a sight within 30 days, even if they see a different item of that sighting (e.g., a different ocean). However, if one sees a second king within 30 days, they do recite the bracha again, because the bracha […]

1231 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 16-17) – 30 Day Renewal on Brachos; Entertainment Read More »

1230 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 14-15) – Meshaneh Habriyos; Dayan Haemes – 2

 We are beginning siman 14. When one sees a unique, striking individual, they recite the bracha of meshaneh habriyos. The Chayei Adam brings a midget, a giant, a person with extremely dark skin, and certain types of animals as examples of when this bracha is recited.  In siman 1, the Chayei Adam wrote regarding the

1230 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 14-15) – Meshaneh Habriyos; Dayan Haemes – 2 Read More »

1228 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 12) – Dayan Haemes 1

 We are beginning siman 12. When a person receives bad news, they recite the bracha of dayan haemes. The Mishnah Berurah adds the person delivering the news must be trustworthy and certain of the news, and, in the Shaar Hatziyun, suggests that the person may need to be muchzak b’kashrus (established and verified as halachically

1228 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 12) – Dayan Haemes 1 Read More »

1227 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 4; Minhagim During a Visit to a Kever 2; Washing Hands when Leaving

 We have finished siman 11, which discussed the bracha made upon seeing kevarim of Jewish people. Today, we will discuss the halachos of washing one’s hands after interfacing with a niftar or cemetery.   One who walks between, touches, or accompanies a meis must wash their hands to remove the ruach raah from their hands. The

1227 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 4; Minhagim During a Visit to a Kever 2; Washing Hands when Leaving Read More »

1226 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 3 Minhagim During a Visit to a Kever

 We have finished siman 11, which discussed the bracha made upon seeing kevarim of Jewish people. Today, we will discuss the idea of visiting kevarim, and some of the minhagim associated with it. The idea of visiting kevarim is already discussed in chumash. In parshas Shelach, Calev goes to Me’aras Hamachpela to daven by the

1226 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 3 Minhagim During a Visit to a Kever Read More »

1225 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 2

 We are continuing in siman 10 with the bracha of asher yotzar eschem badin. We left off with a question regarding whether one should make the bracha on a second cemetery within 30 days of having already made the bracha on a different cemetery. Similarly, this question is relevant to the same cemetery in which

1225 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 11) – Bais Hakevaros 2 Read More »

1224 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 10-11) – Bais Hakenesses – 13; Bais Hakevaros 1

 We are continuing in siman 10. The Chayei Adam continues listing various brachos, most of which we no longer recite. If one sees Jewish homes in Eretz Yisroel which have been reestablished after the destruction of the second bais hamikdash, they recite the bracha matziv gevul almanah. Others understand that this bracha is said specifically

1224 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 10-11) – Bais Hakenesses – 13; Bais Hakevaros 1 Read More »

1223 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 9-10) – Toch Kdai Dibbur 12; Various Brachos

We are beginning siman 9. The Chayei Adam begins the siman by repeating that one must make a bracha toch kdei dibbur (1.3 seconds) of an occurrence, and if they pass that time, they cannot make the bracha. This timeframe applies to thunder, lightning, and moving stars.  This limitation does not apply to items which

1223 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 9-10) – Toch Kdai Dibbur 12; Various Brachos Read More »

1222 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 8) – Bracha on a Chacham 11

 We are beginning siman 8. The Chayei Adam writes that if one sees a talmid chacham, they recite the bracha of shecholak mi’chochmaso lireiav. Klal Yisroel are yirei hashem, and Hashem shares His chochma with us. This bracha is specifically recited on one who is a chacham in torah. If one sees a person who

1222 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 8) – Bracha on a Chacham 11 Read More »

1221 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 7) – Winds, Thunder, Lightning, etc. – 10 – Thunder and Lightning 2; Winds; Earthquakes

 We are continuing in siman 7. In the previous shiur, we learned that the proper time to recite the bracha on thunder or lightning is toch kdei dibbur of the occurrence, and if the thunder and lightning occur toch kdei dibbur of each other, one bracha covers them both. The Mishnah Berurah adds that bedieved,

1221 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 7) – Winds, Thunder, Lightning, etc. – 10 – Thunder and Lightning 2; Winds; Earthquakes Read More »

1220 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 7) – Winds, Thunder, Lightning, etc. – 9 – Thunder and Lightning 1

 We are beginning siman 7. The Chayei Adam discusses items which receive the bracha of oseh maaseh beraishis. Previously, we learned about items which received this bracha due to the item having remained in the same place since maaseh bereishis, therefore reminding us of the original creation (see shiur 1214). The items discussed in this

1220 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 7) – Winds, Thunder, Lightning, etc. – 9 – Thunder and Lightning 1 Read More »

1219 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 6) – Bracha on Melech HaMoshiach 8

 We have finished siman 6 and there is a point we need to discuss. We mentioned yesterday that there is a bracha made on melech hamoshiach. In truth, there are a few brachos which will need to be made.  The first is the bracha made on a Jewish king, shecholak mi’kevodo lireiav. Additionally, we will

1219 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 6) – Bracha on Melech HaMoshiach 8 Read More »

1218 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 6) – Bracha on Non-Jewish Kings 7

 We are beginning siman 6. If one sees a non-Jewish king, they recite the bracha of she’cholak chochmaso le’basar vadam. There is a separate bracha for a Jewish king (she’cholak chochmaso lireiav), and for melech hamoshiach. The bracha is only made on an absolute monarch, who has the power of life and death.  The Chayei

1218 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 6) – Bracha on Non-Jewish Kings 7 Read More »

1216 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 4) – Zocher Habris 5 – Rainbows

 We are beginning siman 4. The Chayei Adam writes that when one sees a rainbow, they recite the bracha of zocher habris ve’ne’eman bivriso vekayam bema’amaro.  The Shulchan Aruch writes that one only makes the bracha on a rainbow which appears after rain in the clouds. If one sees a rainbow in a waterfall or

1216 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 4) – Zocher Habris 5 – Rainbows Read More »

1215 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 3) – Oseh Maaseh Bereishis 4; Rivers, Seas and Mountains 2

 We are continuing in siman 3. We learned yesterday that the correct bracha on a sea is oseh maaseh bereishs. The Mishnah brings the opinion of Rav Yehuda that the correct bracha on the yam hagadol is she’asah es hayam hagadol. Many meforshim understand that Rav Yehuda is not coming to argue on the first

1215 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 3) – Oseh Maaseh Bereishis 4; Rivers, Seas and Mountains 2 Read More »

1214 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 3) – Oseh Maaseh Bereishis 3; Rivers, Seas and Mountains 1

 We are beginning siman 3. On oceans and mountains which are renowned for their height, one makes the bracha of oseh maaseh bereishis. Examples of such mountains include the Rocky Mountains,the Alps, and the Himalayas.   The Mishnah which teaches us about this bracha also lists rivers as an example of a natural wonder upon which

1214 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 3) – Oseh Maaseh Bereishis 3; Rivers, Seas and Mountains 1 Read More »

1213 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 2) – Shelo Chisar B’olamo Klum 

We are beginning siman 2. When one sees fruit trees in their first stage of budding, which is when the flower which precedes the fruit emerges from the branch, one recites the bracha of shelo chisar b’olamo klum. The Gemara says that the bracha is generally made in Nissan. However, Nissan is not a hard

1213 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 2) – Shelo Chisar B’olamo Klum  Read More »

1212 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 1) – Shekacha Lo B’olamo – 1

 We are beginning Klal 63, which discusses various birchos hashevach. Birchos hashevach are defined as brachos made on scenarios which arouse appreciation of the chesed of hashem, or the power of hashem, in the world.  The Chayei Adam begins with the bracha of shekacha lo b’olamo. This bracha is made on extraordinary natural phenomenon or

1212 – Birchos Hodaah – (Klal 63 Siman 1) – Shekacha Lo B’olamo – 1 Read More »

Generic selectors
Exact matches only
Search in title
Search in content
Post Type Selectors