One Who Left Hashem's Name Out of a Beracha

One Who Left Hashem's Name Out of a Beracha Day: Thursday Date: June 30, 2016 Parshat: Shelah Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 214 Any beracha that does not have the name of Hashem mentioned is not considered to be a proper beracha. Therefore, one who said a beracha but left out the name of Hashem needs to say the beracha again. If one left out the word "Hashem" but said "Elokeinu" or vice verse he still has fulfilled his obligation and does not say a new beracha. However, there is a disagreement among the poskim whether one who left out even just the word "ha'olam" needs to say a new beracha or not. Our custom follows the opinion of those poskim who require a new beracha and therefore one who left out even just the word "ha'olam" needs to say the beracha again. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Concept of Af All Pi Sheyatza Motzi

The Concept of Af All Pi Sheyatza Motzi Day: Wednesday Date: June 29, 2016 Parshat: Shelah Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 213 On Shabbat it is permissible for a person to say kiddush for others even if he already said kiddush on his own or heard it elsewhere (Y"Y O"H: 271). This concept is called "Af all pi shayatza, motzi" meaning, even though he already fulfilled his own obligation, he can still fulfill others' obligations. This is only the case with regards to berachot on mitzvot. However, regarding berachot of praise to Hashem, such as the berachot of Kriat Shema, thunder, lighting, or gomel etc. once one has said the beracha, he cannot subsequently say it for others. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Saying a Beracha for One Who Is Unsure If he Needs it

Saying a Beracha for One Who Is Unsure If he Needs it Day: Tuesday Date: June 28, 2016 Parshat: Shelah Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 213 One who is unsure whether or not he needs to say a certain beracha may listen to and have in mind to fulfill his obligation with someone else's beracha if the one saying the beracha has in mind for him as well. In this situation there is no concern of saying an unnecessary beracha since it is as if the one listening has in mind to only be a part of the beracha if he is obligated. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Changing One's Mind After Hearing Someone Else's Beracha

Changing One's Mind After Hearing Someone Else's Beracha Day: Monday Date: June 27, 2016 Parshat: Shelah Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 213 If a person listened and said amen to another person's beracha on food, and the one saying the beracha had in mind to cover the listener, he may not change his mind at that point and decide not to partake of the food. At that point he also may not say his own beracha. Since by listening he is considered to have said the beracha, changing his mind would be a beracha levatala, a beracha said for no reason which is not allowed. However, if he did not say amen to the other person's beracha he may change his mind and say his own beracha or decide not to eat at all. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

Saying Berachot for Others

Saying Berachot for Others Day: Sunday Date: June 26, 2016 Parshat: Shelah Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 213 Since all Jews are responsible for one another, it is possible for a person to say a beracha and another person will be considered to have said the beracha as well. In order for it to work, the ones not saying the beracha much hear every word from beginning to end, must have in mind to fulfill their obligation to say the beracha, and the one saying it must have in mind to fulfill the others person's obligation as well. One can only say a beracha on food for others if he is eating or drinking with them. Even if the others don't say amen to his beracha, as long as they are all eating or drinking they do not need to say their own beracha. When one is saying a beracha for others, the ones listening need to be seated. Therefore it is important when listening to havdala on motzei Shabbat, that everyone be seated. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Beracha When Eating Cake and Fruit Together

The Beracha When Eating Cake and Fruit Together Day: Friday Date: June 24, 2016 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 212 One who is eating fruit together with cake says a beracha on the cake only and not on the fruit even if he also eats some of the fruit without any cake. This is true if he's having the fruit only to add to the cake. However, if he is having the fruit separate from the cake a separate beracha is said on the fruit as well. The same is true with regards to one who eats fish or meat with crackers or some other food such a tortilla. As long as the fish or meat is only there to make the cracker or tortilla more palatable, no separate beracha is said. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Beracha on a Dish of Rice and Meat

The Beracha on a Dish of Rice and Meat Day: Thursday Date: June 23, 2016 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 212 In memory of Hannah bat Shelomo. One who is eating a dish of rice mixed with meat or chicken says mezonot on the rice and no separate beracha on the meat. This is especially true if the foods were cooked together. However, if the meat and the rice are not mixed together and they will each be eaten separately, then the meat does get its own beracha. By the same token, one who has a mixture of rice and peas or rice and carrots etc. says a beracha on the rice and nothing on the peas or carrots. However, if they are separate and are being eaten separately, each gets its own beracha. Obviously, if any of these are eaten as part of a meal with bread, no beracha is said on these foods. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Beracha on Ice Cream Sandwiches

The Beracha on Ice Cream Sandwiches Day: Wednesday Date: June 22, 2016 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 212 In memory of Hannah bat Shelomo. The beracha on ice cream sandwiches depends on the intent of the one eating the sandwich. One who has no specific desire to eat the cookie part of the sandwich and is only eating the cookies because they're there or to keep his hands clean says shehakol on the ice cream and no separate beracha on the sandwich part. However, if he specifically wants the cookie part and the ice cream is there to compliment that part, he should say mezonot on the cookies and no separate beracha on the ice cream. If he wants to eat the cookie and ice cream parts separately he may say mezonot on the cookie first and afterward say shehakol on the ice cream. It is important to know what the cookie part is made of since if it was made from potato or corn starch the beracha is shehakol regardless. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Beracha When the Tafel Precedes the Ikar

The Beracha When the Tafel Precedes the Ikar Day: Tuesday Date: June 21, 2016 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 212 In memory of Hannah bat Shelomo. There are some poskim who hold that an ikar food exempts the tafel food from a beracha even if the tafel is eaten before the ikar. Other poskim hold that if the tafel is eaten before the ikar one says shehakol on the tafel regardless of what kind of food it is. Still other poskim maintain that if the tafel is eaten before the ikar the proper beracha is said on the tafel and not necessarily shehakol. Our custom follows the last opinion and therefore one who eats from the tafel before eating from the ikar says the regular beracha on that food. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org

The Beracha on Crembo and Ice Cream Cones

The Beracha on Crembo and Ice Cream Cones Day: Monday Date: June 20, 2016 Parshat: Biha'aloticha Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 212 In memory of Hannah bat Shelomo. Crembo is a popular chocolate covered treat that consists of a cookie on the bottom and a marshmallow fluff like substance on the top. It is best to say shehakol on the crembo and eat the cookie part together with the marshmallow fluff part. However, even if one ate the parts separately, the beracha remains shehakol and no separate beracha is said on the cookie. Likewise, when eating an ice cream cone, shehakol is said on the ice cream and no separate beracha is said on the cone even if it is eaten after the ice cream is finished. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at sephardichalacha.org