by Unpacked
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Why do we bless God? Isn’t He blessing us?
The correct bracha to say for over 500 food items.
Averaged over a typical day, one bracha is said every 10 minutes.
The blessing that thanks God for enabling us to reach a special milestone.
by Rabbi Dov Lev
Special brachot said on the wonders of creation.
Four different blessings said upon enjoying the aroma of trees and flowers.
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons and Rabbi Chaim Gross
One person can say a bracha and exempt another person's obligation.
When another person says a bracha, we answer "amen" as a testament that the statement is true.
What happens of you mistakenly said the wrong after-bracha?
An after-bracha is subject to restrictions of when and where.
When foods are eaten in combination, which after-bracha do you say?
The special after-bracha said following a bread meal.
Grace After Meals requires extra dignity and concentration.
Guidelines for the Three-Faceted Blessing, and the "miscellaneous" after-bracha.
The guidelines for saying bracha after finishing to eat.
by Rabbi Shraga Simmons and Rabbi Yair Spolter
Instances when a bracha remains in effect even after making a shinuy makom.
The difference between enclosed areas and open areas.
Walking outside implies a cessation of this eating session.
Certain actions can signal your intention to stop eating.
Changing locations can terminate a bracha's effectiveness.
When saying a bracha, the surrounding environment must be dignified and clean.
A hodge-podge of ingredients produces some complex rules.
An unnecessary bracha is a problem of "saying God's Name in vain."
How to ensure that brachot are said with the correct spiritual intent.
A mezonot ingredient is always considered primary, even when not the majority.
When two foods have different brachot, which bracha is said first?
A bracha includes whatever foods you intend to eat at the time you said the bracha.
The bracha said at the beginning of the meal covers all foods normally consumed in a meal.
A bracha on the primary food also covers the secondary food.
When eating two foods that have the same bracha, we say the bracha over the more important food.
Fruit can be eaten as a main course, an appetizer, or for dessert.
When you drink during a bread meal, when is a bracha required and when is it not?
Generally, when other foods are eaten with bread, the only bracha recited is Hamotzee.
Altering the state of bread can sometimes "downgrade" the bracha from Hamotzee to Mezonot.
When eaten as meal, cake attains the status of bread and its bracha is Hamotzee.
How bread differs from cake, and how cake differs from pasta.
The special bracha said on satiating and nutritious grains.
Two key conditions for Ha'gafen to cover other beverages.
Juice is considered a separate entity from the fruit.
Altering the state of a food can also change its bracha.
Getting practical: The six basic brachot said on food.
It is worse to eat without a bracha than it is to waste food.
Since eating is an act of pleasure, some situations are exempt from a bracha.
Deconstructing the basic components of a bracha.
The philosophy and inspiration behind the blessings.
Smoothing out solids, and cutting things to size.
Salting and pickling your food.
Actions that cause bleeding or kills a living thing.
Confining the movement of a living creature.
Laws of Blessings (Adv.)
9 min read
23 min read
6 min read
11 min read
Current
History
Jewlish
Lifecycle
Human Interest
Holidays