Sunday, January 31, 2016

One Whose Drink Spilled Immediately After Saying the Beracha

One Whose Drink Spilled Immediately After Saying the Beracha
Day: Sunday
Date: January 31, 2016
Parshat: Mishpatim
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


Ideally, when making a beracha on food or besamim it should be held in the right hand. If it is cold out one may be lenient and wear gloves. It is not permissible to say a beracha on food if the food is not present. If a person said a beracha on a fruit and before he could take a bite it dropped and became inedible, he says a new beracha if he eats a different fruit in its place. Likewise, if he said shehakol on a drink and it spilled before he had a chance to taste it, he says shehakol again if he takes a new drink. If the drink was in front of him when he said the original beracha and he intended to have some of it, no new beracha is said.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 29, 2016

One Who Said a Beracha in His Mind Without Articulating the Words

One Who Said a Beracha in His Mind Without Articulating the Words
Day: Friday
Date: January 29, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


Ideally, when saying a beracha one should hear the words. However, even if he did not hear the words he is still considered to have said the beracha as long as he did actually articulate the words. If he was saying the beracha before eating food or doing a mitzvah but did not articulate and instead only thought the words of the beracha, he should think to himself the following words: "baruch shem kevod malchuto le'olam va'ed" and then articulate the beracha. If the beracha that he thought to himself was Asher Yatzar, any (or all) of the morning berachot, or an after beracha, no new beracha is said. One who does not understand Hebrew can say the beracha in any language he understands.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 28, 2016

One Who Spoke After Saying a Beracha but Before Eating the Food

One Who Spoke After Saying a Beracha but Before Eating the Food
Day: Thursday
Date: January 28, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


One who said a beracha on food and before he had a chance to put the food in his mouth heard someone else say a beracha, does not say amen even if the other person said the same beracha that he himself said. Likewise, if after saying the beracha on a mitzvah, such as tefillin, but before doing the mitzvah he heard a beracha, he does not answer amen. If one did say amen after the beracha but before tasting the food however, no new beracha is said. One who after the beracha but before tasting the food said any word other than amen or even one who said amen during the beracha itself needs to say a new beracha.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 27, 2016

One Who Spoke After the Beracha but Before Swallowing His Food

One Who Spoke After the Beracha but Before Swallowing His Food
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 27, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


Ideally, one who says a beracha should partake of the food right away and not say anything until swallowing the first bite. However, if he did speak after tasting the food but before swallowing any of it, no new beracha is necessary. Therefore, it is permissible to say a beracha on a sucking candy and talk after tasting it even though it is still not finished. Along the same lines, one who made a beracha and began chewing and before swallowing heard someone saying kaddish or kedusha should answer. However, if he was about to swallow when he heard the kaddish and he is not able to talk, he should answer in his mind without actually saying the words.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 26, 2016

When to Check Fruit for Bugs

When to Check Fruit for Bugs
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 26, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


After saying a beracha one should eat from the food right away and not wait - preferably not even in silence. Any fruit, such as dates, that may contain worms or bugs needs to be checked before eating any part of it. The fruit should be checked before the beracha is said so that no time will be wasted between the beracha and tasting the food. However, if before checking one said the beracha on a fruit that often has bugs, he should not have any of it until he checks.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 25, 2016

One Who Said Ha'adamah on Ha'etz Fruits

One Who Said Ha'adamah on Ha'etz Fruits
Day: Monday
Date: January 25, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 206


One who said ha'adamah on a ha'etz food has nevertheless fulfilled his obligation to say a beracha and does not need to say a new beracha. Even if other fruits are brought in afterward no new beracha is required. Conversely, one who said ha'etz on a ha'adamah food has not fulfilled his obligation to say a beracha and therefore does need to say a new beracha. Therefore, one who is unable to clarify whether the Beracha on a fruit is ha'etz or ha'adamah says ha'adamah.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 24, 2016

When to Have the Tu Bishvat Fruits

When to Have the Tu Bishvat Fruits
Day: Sunday
Date: January 24, 2016
Parshat: Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: Laws of Tu Bishvat


Many people have a nice custom to eat fruits, especially fruits of the shiv'at haminim, on the eve of Tu Bishvat. This is done to acknowledge the significance of the day, and also to bring blessing to the trees by making berachot on their fruit. If one is having a meal he should not wait until after birkat hamazon to have the fruits, instead they should be eaten before birkat hamazon. The reason is that by waiting until after birkat hamazon he causes himself to require an after beracha which he wouldn't have needed to say otherwise. This is called a beracha she'eno tzericha - an unnecessary blessing. If one forgot to bring the fruits until after birkat hamazon he can still bring them out and he may say an after beracha.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 22, 2016

The Beracha on Stuffed Peppers

The Beracha on Stuffed Peppers
Day: Friday
Date: January 22, 2016
Parshat: Beshalah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 205


The beracha on peppers stuffed with meat or chicken is shehakol. If the peppers are stuffed with rice the beracha is mezonot even if there are pieces of meat in the rice. On regular peppers the beracha is ha'adamah. On fried onions the beracha is ha'adamah as well since the main part is the onion and not the oil.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 21, 2016

The Beracha on Vegetable Soup

The Beracha on Vegetable Soup
Day: Thursday
Date: January 21, 2016
Parshat: Beshalah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 205


The beracha on vegetable soup can vary depending on the circumstances. If the vegetables have not dissolved in the water and one has vegetables in his bowl, ha'adamah is said on the vegetables and no separate beracha is said on the liquid. However, one who has only liquid and no vegetables in his bowl, says shehakol even though there were vegetables cooked in the soup. In that situation, one who said ha'adamah on the soup instead of the proper shehakol does not need to say a new beracha. If the vegetables have disolved in the water creating a thick soup, the beracha on the whole thing is ha'adamah.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 20, 2016

When to Say Shehakol on Vegetables

When to Say Shehakol on Vegetables
Day: Wendesday
Date: January 20, 2016
Parshat: Beshalah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 205


On vegetables that are normally eaten both raw and cooked, such as carrots, celery, and others, the proper beracha is always ha'adamah. On vegetables that are normally eaten cooked, such as pumpkins, the proper beracha is ha'adamah when eaten cooked and shehakol when raw. On vegetables that are normally eaten raw, such as cucumbers, the proper beracha is ha'adamah when eaten raw and shehakol when cooked. One who is not sure how a specific vegetable is normally eaten says ha'adamah, since where possible a specific beracha such a ha'adamah is preferred over a general beracha such as shehakol.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 19, 2016

When Mezonot Require Foods Require Hamotzi

When Mezonot Require Foods Require Hamotzi
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 19, 2016
Parshat: Beshalah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


With the exception of bread, the proper beracha on grain products is mezonot. One who plans on eating more than 216 grams (about seven and a quarter ounces) of certain mezonot foods, such as cakes and pastries, needs to wash and say hamotzi before eating and birkat hamazon after eating. However, if the mezonot foods were cooked by frying or boiling, such as noodles, bulgur, couscous and other such products, mezonot is always said regardless of how much is eaten. One who said hamotzi on such foods needs to say a new beracha since they are not similar to bread. However, since these foods are satisfying, if he said birkat hamazon after eating them no new after beracha is required.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 18, 2016

The Beracha on Chewing Gum

The Beracha on Chewing Gum
Day: Monday
Date: January 18, 2016
Parshat: Beshalah
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


Even though one does not swallow chewing gum, nevertheless the gum's enjoyable taste causes the saliva that is swallowed to taste good and therefore before chewing one must say shehakol. A hazzan or a person with a sore throat who swallows a raw egg does not say a beracha if he does not have any enjoyment from swallowing the egg. However, if he does enjoy it, he may say shehakol. After drinking the egg, no after beracha is said since the liquid volume is not enough to require it. If other foods werre eaten with it and there was enough to require an after beracha, then it should be said.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 17, 2016

The Beracha on Falafel Balls

The Beracha on Falafel Balls
Day: Sunday
Date: January 17, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


The basic ingredients in falafel balls are ground chick peas, spices, and bread crumbs. Since the ground chick peas are the main ingredient and the other ingredients are only present to improve the taste and consistency, there are some poskim who maintain that the proper beracha when eating them on their own is ha'adamah. However, since due to the added ingredients, the taste and look have both completely changed and the product now has a different name and it has been cooked, the proper beracha is shehakol. Likewise, the beracha on fruit leather is also shehakol since generally other things have been added and the mixture has been cooked, thereby creating a completely new product.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 15, 2016

The Beracha on Cashews

The Beracha on Cashews
Day: Friday
Date: January 15, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


The proper beracha on cashews is ha'etz. Interestingly enough, the beracha used to be ha'adamah but it changed a number of years ago. Cashews grow on a tree and are really only a small part of a lesser known fruit called a cashew apple or cashew fruit. It used to be that the cashew trees were planted for the fruit, while the nut was largerly ignored. Today however, the commercial trees are generally grown for the nut while the cashew fruit itself is used in some places in the world as a flavoring for drinks. Since nowadays the cashew nut has become equally or maybe even more important than the fruit, the beracha on the nut has become ha'etz.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 14, 2016

One Who Said Ha'etz on Coffee

One Who Said Ha'etz on Coffee
Day: Thursday
Date: January 14, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


There are some poskim who maintain that the Beracha on coffee is ha'etz since in the coffee there are grinds which grew on a tree. However the prevalent custom is to say shehakol since the main part of the drink is the water and the coffee is there only to add flavor. Nevertheless, one who accidentally said ha'etz on a cup of coffee and didn't remember in time to correct his mistake does not say a new beracha since after all there are those who maintain that the one he said is correct. One who has in front of him coffee to drink and fruits to eat should say shehakol on the coffee first and have in mind that the shehakol is not going to cover the fruits.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 13, 2016

The Beracha on Vitamins and Medication

The Beracha on Vitamins and Medication
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 13, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


No beracha is said on vitamins or medicines unless they are pleasantly flavored, in which case the beracha is shehakol. A Holeh Sheyesh Bo Sakana who has been instructed by his doctor to eat non kosher food does not say a beracha on the food. However, if the food itself is permissible but the Holeh is not permitted to eat it at this time, such as on Yom Kippur, a beracha is said. One who is forced to eat food does not say a beracha even if the food is enjoyable. Likewise, even if he ate enough bread to require him to say Birkat Hamazon, he does not say it.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 12, 2016

Situations Where no Beracha is Said on Water

Situations Where no Beracha is Said on Water
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 12, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


A person who drinks water to satisfy his thirst says shehakol before and boreh nefashot after. However, if he is not thirsty and is only drinking the water to wash out his mouth or help take a pill or even just to stay hydrated, no beracha is said either before or after since there is no taste and therefore no real tangible enjoyment. However, one who drinks any other drink does need to say a beracha before and after even if he is not thirsty at all, since generally there is an enjoyable taste.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 11, 2016

The Beracha on Candied and Coated Nuts

The Beracha on Candied and Coated Nuts
Day: Monday
Date: January 11, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


All plain uncoated nuts are ha'etz except for peanuts, which are ha'adama and doughnuts, which are mezonot. Ideally, one who is eating sugar coated nuts should separate the nut from the sugar part and say the beracha on the nut. However, because it is very often not practical to do so, the custom is to say shehakol on the whole thing since generally the candied part is the main part. Ideally, when eating beer nuts, or any other nut with a coating made from flour, the coating should pulled off and mezonot should be said on the coating while having in mind that the nut will be included in the beracha, since mezonot can cover any food except for water and salt. However, if that will be difficult, mezonot can still be said while the nut is inside of the coating.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 10, 2016

The Beracha on Coconut Water and Chocolate

The Beracha on Coconut Water and Chocolate
Day: Sunday
Date: January 10, 2016
Parshat: Bo
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


The beracha on coconut water is shehakol but one who accidentally said ha'etz does not need to say a new beracha. A person who is eating a coconut, on which the berach is ha'etz, and drinks the water does not say a new beracha. The beracha on chocolate is shehakol. Even though the cocoa beans are grown specifically for chocolate, nevertheless, since they have been so drastically changed and mixed with other ingredients and the mixture has been cooked, the beracha becomes shehakol. Nevertheless, one who said ha'etz on chocolate has not done anything wrong and therefore does not need to say a new beracha.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Friday, January 8, 2016

The Beracha on Hydroponically Grown Fruits and Vegetables

The Beracha on Hydroponically Grown Fruits and Vegetables
Day: Friday
Date: January 8, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


Fruits and vegetables grown in a planter retain their original beracha regardless whether the planter has holes in the bottom or not. The proper beracha on fruits and vegetables that were grown hydroponically is shehakol since they do not receive their sustenance from the ground. However, a person who said the usual beracha on such fruits or vegetables instead of shehakol does not need to say a new beracha. Since in general commercially sold fruits and vegetables are grown from the ground and not hydroponically, one should should say the normal beracha and not assume they were grown hydroponically.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Thursday, January 7, 2016

The Beracha on Mushrooms

The Beracha on Mushrooms
Day: Thursday
Date: January 7, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 204


On milk, meat, fish, eggs, cheese, salt, and anything else not grown from the ground the beracha is shehakol. One who said ha'adama on these is as if he said no beracha and therefore needs to say shehakol. Even though mushrooms grow in the ground, nevertheless, since they are a fungus and do not receive their sustenance from the ground the proper beracha is shehakol. However, one who said haadama does not need to say a new beracha.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Wednesday, January 6, 2016

The Beracha on Sesame Seed Candies and Halva

The Beracha on Sesame Seed Candies and Halva
Day: Wednesday
Date: January 6, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 202


The beracha on sesame seeds is ha'adama. Even if the sesame seeds have been mixed with sugar or honey, as are sesame seed candies, the beracha remains ha'adama. However, if the mixture contains mostly sugar or honey with only a small amount of sesame seeds and it has been cooked into something new, as is the case with halva, then the beracha becomes shehakol. Nuts that are coated with honey retain their original beracha. Likewise French fries also retain their beracha of ha'adama even though they have been fried.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Tuesday, January 5, 2016

The Beracha on Bamba and One Who Said Ha'etz on a Banana

The Beracha on Bamba and One Who Said Ha'etz on a Banana
Day: Tuesday
Date: January 5, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 202


One who accidentally said ha'etz on a banana, instead of the correct ha'adama, does not need to say a new beracha. The proper beracha on popcorn and on sweetened wheat puffs is ha'adama, however a person who said shehakol has what to rely on. The correct beracha on the popular Bamba snack is ha'adama since the corn is grown specifically for the Bamba and it is chopped and then puffed, not ground. Many people are not aware of the process and mistakenly say shehakol, however in reality the beracha is ha'adama.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Monday, January 4, 2016

The Beracha on Sour Lemons

The Beracha on Sour Lemons
Day: Monday
Date: January 4, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 202


One who chooses to eat a sour lemon does not say a beracha if it is overly sour to the point that most people wouldn't eat it. However, if he put sugar on such a lemon the beracha is ha'etz. If the lemon is sour but not too sour to eat the correct beracha is shehakol. On sweet lemons the correct beracha is ha'etz.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Sunday, January 3, 2016

The Beracha on Date Spread, Applesauce, and Purées

The Beracha on Date Spread, Applesauce, and Purées
Day: Sunday
Date: January 3, 2016
Parshat: Va'era
Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 202


Fruits and vegetables that are fried, such as french fries or fried banana slices, retain their original beracha. Baked and boiled fruits, such as baked apples or compote, also retain their original beracha even if they have been chopped into small pieces. However, if the fruit was boiled to the point that it was turned to liquid and the pieces are no longer discernible, the beracha is shehakol. Date spread, pure apple sauce, and purées that don't contain other ingredients all retain their original berachot, even if the fruit or vegetable is no longer recognizable. Likewise, they also retain their original after beracha.


DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org