Crash Course in Jewish Blessings

1. What is a Bracha?

The philosophy and inspiration behind the blessings.

2. Text and Meaning

Deconstructing the basic components of a bracha.

3. When is a Bracha Not Required?

Since eating is an act of pleasure, some situations are exempt from a bracha.

4. Eating without a Bracha?!

It is worse to eat without a bracha than it is to waste food.

5. Six Types

Getting practical: The six basic brachot said on food.

6. Altered States

Altering the state of a food can also change its bracha.

7. Fruit Juice & Wine

Juice is considered a separate entity from the fruit.

8. Ha'gafen Covers All Drinks

Two key conditions for Ha'gafen to cover other beverages.

9. Introduction to Mezonot

The special bracha said on satiating and nutritious grains.

10. Three Mezonot Categories

How bread differs from cake, and how cake differs from pasta.

11. The Mezonot Meal

When eaten as meal, cake attains the status of bread and its bracha is Hamotzee.

12. Non-Hamotzee Bread

Altering the state of bread can sometimes "downgrade" the bracha from Hamotzee to Mezonot.

13. Other Foods at a Bread Meal

Generally, when other foods are eaten with bread, the only bracha recited is Hamotzee.

14. Fruit During a Meal

Fruit can be eaten as a main course, an appetizer, or for dessert.

15. Drinks During a Meal

When you drink during a bread meal, when is a bracha required and when is it not?

16. Sequence of Brachot – Part 1

When eating two foods that have the same bracha, we say the bracha over the more important food.

17. Sequence of Brachot – Part 2

When two foods have different brachot, which bracha is said first?

18. Including Other Foods – Part 1

A bracha includes whatever foods you intend to eat at the time you said the bracha.

19. Including Other Foods – Part 2

The bracha said at the beginning of the meal covers all foods normally consumed in a meal.

20. Primary and Secondary Foods

A bracha on the primary food also covers the secondary food.

21. Special Status of Mezonot

A mezonot ingredient is always considered primary, even when not the majority.

22. Soups & Cereals

A hodge-podge of ingredients produces some complex rules.

23. Unauthorized Brachot

An unnecessary bracha is a problem of "saying God's Name in vain."

24. Honor for Brachot

How to ensure that brachot are said with the correct spiritual intent.

25. The Right Environment

When saying a bracha, the surrounding environment must be dignified and clean.

26. Terminating a Bracha's Effectiveness

Certain actions can signal your intention to stop eating.

27. Introduction to Shinuy Makom

Changing locations can terminate a bracha's effectiveness.

28. Leaving the House

Walking outside implies a cessation of this eating session.

29. Outdoor Eating

The difference between enclosed areas and open areas.

30. Shinuy Makom: Wrap-Up and Review

Instances when a bracha remains in effect even after making a shinuy makom.

31. Bracha Achrona - Introduction

The guidelines for saying bracha after finishing to eat.

32. Which Bracha Achrona to Say

Guidelines for the Three-Faceted Blessing, and the "miscellaneous" after-bracha.

33. Bracha Achrona on Mixtures

When foods are eaten in combination, which after-bracha do you say?

34. Birkat Hamazon – Part 1

The special after-bracha said following a bread meal.

35. Birkat Hamazon – Part 2

Grace After Meals requires extra dignity and concentration.

36. Time and Space

An after-bracha is subject to restrictions of when and where.

37. Bracha Achrona: After the Fact

What happens of you mistakenly said the wrong after-bracha?

38. Being Motzi Others

One person can say a bracha and exempt another person's obligation.

39. Answering Amen

When another person says a bracha, we answer "amen" as a testament that the statement is true.

40. She'hecheyanu & Other Events

The blessing that thanks God for enabling us to reach a special milestone.

41. Fragrances

Four different blessings said upon enjoying the aroma of trees and flowers.

42. Natural Phenomena

Special brachot said on the wonders of creation.

43. 100 Blessings Each Day

Averaged over a typical day, one bracha is said every 10 minutes.

44. The Aish Academy Brachot Food Guide

The correct bracha to say for over 500 food items.

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