Sunday January 16, 2011
Parshat Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: Tu Bishvat
G-d willing this Wednesday evening will be Tu Bishvat. Tu Bishvat is the new year for trees. We do not fast or say tahanun or viduy on this day. Some people have a custom to study special things from the Mishnah and the Zohar in honor of the day. It is very good for one to take advantage of the time study about relevant things, for example orlah, terumah, berachot on fruits, and things like that. Many have a custom to eat lots of fruits on Tu Bishvat eve to acknowledge the day's significance, and that's a nice minhag.
Today's DSH has been sponsored for hatzlaha of Rahel Leah bat Rivka Hava and in memory Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions/sponsorship opportunities call or text 708DSH TORA (376-8672) or email 613dsh@gmail.com
Monday January 17, 2011
Parshat Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: Tu Bishvat
If one is having the Tu Bishvat fruits with a meal, he should have them after he finishes the main part of the meal - before birkat hamazon. When Tu Bishvat falls out on Shabbat, some have a custom to eat the fruits after Kiddush and before they wash. This should not be done because one puts oneself into a safek of whether he should say an after beracha or not (because of safek he doesn't). Likewise on a weekday, the fruits should not be eaten after birkat hamazon. This is because one causes himself to have to say a blessing that he otherwise did not have to say (beracha she'ena tsericha). Therefore, the fruits should be eaten just before birkat hamazon. On Shabbat they can be eaten after birkat hamazon because it helps one get closer to making 100 berachot which is a lot harder on Shabbat.
Today's DSH has been sponsored for hatzlaha of Rahel Leah bat Rivka Hava and in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions/sponsorship opportunities call or text 708DSH TORA (374-8672) or email donate@613dsh.com
Tuesday January 18, 2011
Parshat Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: Tu Bishvat
Some people like to eat candied etrogim or etrog jam on Tu Bishvat, and they should not say shehehiyanu on it. The reason is because on Sukkot we say shehehiyanu when we take the lulav and etrog so we have already said it, and even though on Sukkot we don't eat etrog, seeing it is enough to say the beracha. As we have mentioned any food that needs to be checked for worms must be checked well before one says the blessing. If one made the blessing without checking for bugs, he should not any of the fruit until he does check.
Today's DSH has been sponsored for hatzlaha of Rahel Leah bat Rivka Hava and in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions/sponsorship opportunities call or text 708DSH TORA (374-8672) or email donate@613dsh.com
Wednesday January 19, 2011
Parshat Yitro
Yalkut Yosef: Tu Bishvat
When saying the berachot on the various fruits that one partakes of as part of the Tu Bishvat ceremonies, it is important to make the berachot in the order that is mandated by the halacha. Any fruit that is included in the shivat haminim (seven species) has priority over those that are not, even if one likes the other fruit better. Within the species themselves the order of berachot follows order the Torah writes them in. "A land of wheat, barley, grapes, figs, pomegranates. A land of olive oil, and [date] honey. The closer a fruit is listed to the word "land," the more priority it has in the order of berachot. Mezonot comes before ha'etz even in the species.
Today's DSH has been sponsored for hatzlaha of Rahel Leah bat Rivka Hava and in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. For questions/sponsorship opportunities call or text 708DSH TORA (374-8672) or email donate@613dsh.com