Forced Mezuman, Part III

Hi,

We have said that if three are eating together, and two wish to recite birkat hamazon, the third must remain in order to respond.

This third member should not eat until after he has finished responding to the berachah of "HaZan et haKol".

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:2; Taz Orach Chaim 200:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part II

Hi,

If two men start eating together, and then a third joins them, and the two finish first, the third is not obligated to stay and reply to their mezuman.

(Mishneh Berurah 193:19, 200:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Forced Mezuman, Part I

Hi,

If three men who are eating together are eating food which requires a mezuman [a group-recited birchat hamazon], and two of them decide to conclude their meal, the third must remain present for their mezuman recitation.

The third should stop eating while they recite the mezuman formula, but even if he continues to eat, and he does not respond to their words, they still fulfill their obligation.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 200:1; Mishneh Berurah 200:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Laws of Purim

Hi,

It's time to review laws of Purim.

I have already posted what I believe are the most-relevant laws; please go to the following pages to see them:

Al haNisim

Kriat haTorah (Torah reading)

Matanot laEvyonim (Gifts for the needy)

Megilah reading

Mishloach Manot (Sending food to others)

Purim Clothing

Purim Seudah (the Purim feast)

Taanit Esther (the fast of Esther)

If I am missing anything you would like to see, please email me.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mixed news, Part II

Hi,

We have said that one recites berachot for good news and for bad news in response to events which have mixed results.

However, if the sense of joy entirely overwhelms the sense of sadness, or the sense of sadness entirely overwhelms the sense of joy, then one only recites the blessing for the major reaction.

(Hagahot R' Akiva Eiger Orach Chaim 222:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

What constitutes "bad news"

Hi,

Discovering that one has not received that which he wanted does not constitute "bad news," to warrant a blessing of "Dayyan ha'Emet." For example, if one's field produces weeds rather than grain, that does not warrant such a blessing.

(Biur Halachah Orach Chaim 222 דיין האמת)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

News which could go both ways

Hi,

We have been discussing reciting blessings upon hearing bad or good news. What if one receives news which is good or bad right now, but might lead to the opposite result in the future? Examples include a major windfall which might lead to thieves or a higher tax bracket.

The Shulchan Aruch rules that we concern ourselves only with the moment. If, right now, we are happy, then we recite the berachah for good news, and the same is true for the opposite.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 222:4; Mishneh Berurah 222:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Multiple reports of news

Hi,

We have identified blessings to be recited upon hearing good or bad news. One who hears multiple reports, all of the same type, recites just one blessing.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Mixed news

Hi,

We have identified blessings to be recited for good developments, and for bad developments. One who experiences an event which has good and bad results, such that he feels both great joy and great sadness, should recite both blessings.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

The return of a stolen item

Hi,

One who hears that a thief who stole from him has been caught should not recite the blessing for hearing good news; one does not recite the blessing until the stolen goods are returned, making the news more tangible.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news, Part IV

Hi,

One only recites the relevant blessing (see previous emails) for good or bad news if one personally witnesses the event, or one hears the news from a credible, direct witness of the event.

(Mishneh Berurah 222:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news, Part III

Hi,

Upon hearing news of a bad development, one who feels bad as a result should recite a blessing, "Baruch atah HaShem Elokeinu Melech ha'Olam Dayyan ha'Emet," whether the development is bad only for himself or also for others.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 222:2; Mishneh Berurah 222:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news, Part II

Hi,

One who hears news which is good for himself and for others, and who feels joy as a result, recites a berachah of "Baruch haTov v'haMeitiv," thanking Gd who is good, and who provides good.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 222:1; Mishneh Berurah 222:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Berachot on hearing news

Hi,

One who hears news about a development which is good for him personally - but not for others - and who feels joy as a result, recites the berachah of Shehechiyanu.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 222:1; Mishneh Berurah 222:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Purim Katan

Hi,

Purim Katan is observed on the 14th day of the month of Adar I, the day which would have been Purim had the year been a non-leap year. This year, that will be Friday February 18. The next day is Shushan Purim Katan, which would have been Shushan Purim had this been a non-leap year.

To celebrate these days of would-be Purim, we increase our meals and invite guests, celebrating the miracle of Purim.

(Code of Jewish Law Orach Chaim 697:1; Mishneh Berurah 697:5)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush Levanah through a window

Hi,

It is preferable to see the moon directly for Kiddush Levanah, and not through a window. However, it appears that one who is ill may do so through a window.

One certainly may recite Kiddush Levanah while wearing glasses.

(Birkei Yosef to Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:4; Shaarei Teshuvah Orach Chaim 426:1)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush Levanah under the stars

Hi,

Because Kiddush Levanah is viewed as a time to greet Gd, one should step outside to do this, making the extra effort, even if no obstacle prevents him from seeing the moon clearly from the spot where he is now. One should not remain under a roof or overhang, assuming that it is safe for him to be out in the open.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:4; Mishneh Berurah 426:21)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Latest time for kiddush levanah

Hi,

Kiddush Levanah may be recited as long as the moon is in its growing phase - for 15 24-hour periods after the molad [the ceremonial time when the moon's new phase is said to begin].

(Mishneh Berurah 426:17-18)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Earliest time for kiddush levanah

Hi,

Kiddush Levanah is meant to be recited at the point in the month when the moon's growth is clear.

There is some debate as to how long one must wait before this point is reached, but the consensus is that one may recite Kiddush Levanah after 72 hours from the time of the molad (the ceremonial point at which we consider the moon to have begun its new cycle).

(Mishneh Berurah 426:20)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dancing at Kiddush Levanah, Part II

Hi,

We have already discussed one type of dancing which takes place during Kiddush Levanah.

Additionally, we dance after kiddush levanah in the style of a wedding dance, because the blessing's call for the renewal of the Jewish people, and their reunion, like a wedding, with Gd.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Kiddush Levanah and the Davidic Dynasty

Hi,

As part of Kiddush Levanah, we recite, "David, King of Israel, is alive." This may be because the Davidic dynasty will be renewed, as the moon is renewed.

Perhaps related: The Talmud (Rosh haShanah 25a) records a situation in which a code message, "David, King of Israel, is alive," was used to convey news that the new month had been declared. Rashi there notes that King David is compared to the moon.

(Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 426:2; Biur Halachah Orach Chaim 426 ונוהגין)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

"One who performs truth, whose deeds are true"

Hi,

The berachah of Kiddush Levanah includes praise of "פועל אמת שפעולתו אמת, One who performs truth, whose deeds are true." The Avudraham offers two explanations for this passage:

1. It refers to Gd, and His deeds are true in that they are enduring. Alternatively, the "true deed" is the decision to shrink the moon from its original status as one of "two great luminaries" to "the minor luminary" (Bereishit 1:16).

2. It should read "פועלי אמת, performers of truth," and refer to the luminaries Gd created, who perform exactly what Gd instructs them to do, without variation.

(Avudraham, Birchat haRe'iyyah, haShevach v'haHodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Dancing at Kiddush Levanah

Hi,

There is a practice of dancing during (and after) kiddush levanah, and reciting the phrase, "Just as I dance opposite you [the Moon] and I cannot touch you, so my enemies should be unable to touch me, to harm me."

According to Avudraham, the term "dancing" is not specifically about joyous dance, but movement, and aggressive moment in particular. As he puts it, "So, too, if others dance against me to harm me, they should be unable to touch me."

(Avudraham, Birchat Re'iyyah, Shevach v'Hodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Baruch Yotzreich,Baruch Oseich, Baruch Koneich...

Hi,

During Kiddush Levanah we address the moon and say, "ברוך יוצרך, ברוך עושך, ברוך קונך, ברוך בוראך," which are all forms of blessing the moon's creator. This comes from Masechet Sofrim, Chapter 19. Avudraham explains that these words are used because the acronym of the titles used for Gd is יעקב [Jacob].

(Avudraham, Birchat haRe'iyyah, haShevach v'haHodaah)

Have a great day,
Mordechai