BIRKAT HA'COHANIM Sukkot 5773 / 2012 at the Kotel (Western Wall)

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I also took some videos at the Kotel this morning and have already started uploading them into Youtube. However, this video (not from me) was taken on the men's side during the Birkat Ha'Cohanim. A spot where I cannot go to.:-)

Jerusalem is celebrating Sukkot and thousands of Jews keep on streaming down to the Old City. It is so crowded that you can hardly walk through the narrow alleyways in the Jewish Quarter. I went, took a few photos and videos and was glad when I escaped the masses. 

The weather has been strange though. After 16 years or so, it was my first time seeing rain on Erev Sukkot this year. While sitting in the Sukkah, the thunder started and soon after it began to rain. There is actually more rain being expected during Sukkot. 

At the moment, the sun is out and Jerusalem is suffering from a Tel Aviv - like humidity. However, the weather forecast is predicting temperature to fall. Looks like winter is finally ahead.

Going to the restroom after Ha'Motzi

Photo: Miriam Woelke

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It concerns all of us: What is happening to Netilat Yadayim and the HaMotzi Blessing when you need to go to the restroom during the meal ? 

By the way, I was also always wondering until I got an explanation from a Rabbi:

The question is whether I have to do another extra Netilah and say again "... al Netilat Yadayim" after saying the blessing "... Asher Yatzar" ?

The answer is that first you say "... Asher Yatzar" and then you separately wash your hands again with the Natlah but without saying "... al Netilat Yadayim".  

Changing location after making a Bracha

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Photo: Miriam Woelke

An interesting issue showing us that we Jews never stop learning. I don’t know about you but I have never thought about a cup of coffee, it’s Bracha (blessing) and me changing the location. However, I know about the topic from saying the Birkat HaMazon. When Benching, one should sit on this particular chair where he first said HaMotzi. 

There is a great site telling you all kinds of Halachot and the particular blessing issues. Lets say you are drinking a cup of coffee in your office and take your cup to a different location after making the Bracha at your office. Is the Bracha then still valid ? Generally speaking NO because a new location requires a new Bracha unless you may finish your cup of coffee in your car. There are exceptions you can look up HERE !

Blessing for Miracles

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The Talmud Tractate Berachot 54a teaches: 

“One who sees a place where miracles were performed on behalf of the Jewish people recites the blessing “Baruch … she asa Nissim le’Avoteinu ba’Makom ha’zeh – Blessed … Who performed miracles for our ancestors at this place - ברוך ... שעשה ניסים לאבותינו במקום הזה”. 

Rashi explains that such places would be the crossing point at the Red Sea or Jordan River. 

This is from the Mishna in Berachot and there is a difference between miracles performed before masses and individuals.

Lightning & Thunder

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Judaism has special blessings for lightning and thunder: 

Lightning: ….Oseh Ma’aseh Bereschit 

Thunder: …she Kocho u’Gvurato maleh Olam 

As soon as we see a lightning or heard the first thunder, we say those blessings. In case the two appear together, we only say …Oseh Ma’aseh Bereschit. 

The Talmud Tractate Berachot (Blessings) 59a asks what exactly causes thunder or even an earthquake. The answer of the following Gemara (rabbinic discussion) is that the causes are either G - d's tears, G - d clapping His hands, G - d putting his foot down or pushing His feet under His throne. 

It goes without saying that the Gemara is here using symbolic language ! 

Rabbeinu Chananel interprets the Gemara: Noise is an expression of G - d's satisfaction that the Jews are still in exile (Diaspora). G - d would love to bring them back to Israel but the time has not yet come. 

Although expressions such as “G – d's Feet” etc. cannot be understood literally but symbolically, the deeper meaning is that G - d may cause nature catastrophes in order to teach us something. Giving us a hint that we should find our way back to Him. This may sound like something weird apocalyptic but the Kabbalah as well as the Talmud give proof this theory. Let us take the generation of Enosh when G - d was punishing the people due to their idol - worship practices. Suddenly parts of the mainland disappeared into the sea and became part of it.

Birkat HaCohanim at the Kotel (Western Wall)

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It should be tomorrow (Sunday) morning during Shacharit when the famous Sukkot event is taking place at the Western Wall (Kotel). The Synagogues in the Diaspora only say "Birkat HaCohanim - Blessing of the Temple Priests" on holidays, in Israel, however, it is said on a daily basis. 

The great Birkat HaCohanim with hundreds of Cohanim down at the Kotel during Pessach and Sukkot is very famous and popular. Those of you who want to participate and are Cohanim, don't forget bringing your papers proving who you are !

What Bracha do we say over cookie ice - cream ?

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Photo: Kwarnke

I like it very much; the cream ice – cream with the cookies inside. The question is “What kind of Bracha do you make over it ?”

“She HaKol” for the cream + “Mezonot” for the cookies or anything else ?

In fact, the answer is to take a cookie piece first and say “Mezonot”. Afterwards take some cream and say “She HaKol”. Please note that the Mezonot – Bracha has to be said first !

The Bracha Achronah depends on how fast you eat a Kzayit of cookies. It says that if you eat a Kzayit of the cookie portion within four minutes, you have to say “Al HaMichiya”. If you eat cream and cookies totally mixed together and there is less than a Kzayit within the four minutes, “Boreh Nefashot” is being said.

I don’t know if this is halachically accepted but, personally, I would say “Al HaMichiya” and afterwards “Boreh Nefashot”.

Link:

A Bracha Guide from the OU

http://www.ou.org/publications/brachot/default.htm

Thousands join today's BIRKAT HACOHANIM at the Kotel in Jerusalem

"Blessing of the Cohanim - Birkat HaCohanim" Pessach 5771

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Tomorrow morning, during Shacharit, the traditional "Birkat HaCohanim" is going to take place at the Kotel (Western Wall) in Jerusalem. The blessing will be said at about 9am.

A new Creation in the Morning

Photo: NASA

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Every morning after waking up, Jews say a special blessing thanking G – d for returning their soul (Neshama) back into the body. According to the “Kitzur Shulchan Aruch”, the blessing “Mode Ani …” is said even before washing one’s hands.

Every morning, our life begins anew. Just like a new creation. The kabbalistic ZOHAR teaches that our souls leave our bodies when we sleep in order to rise to the upper spiritual worlds. However, this doesn’t mean that the soul is undergoing only positive experiences. Sometimes the Neshama has difficulties going up and gets stuck in some lower impurity levels. This may cause us bad dreams.

As soon as the soul leaves our body while we sleep, the body itself is regarded as “dead”. Dead always means “Tumah – Impurity”. This is the reason why we first wash our hands after waking up. When we wake up, our soul is immediately returned into the body but the former Tumah remains until we wash our hands. Chassidim take this Halacha very seriously and place a bowl of water next to their beds. Other people usually get up and go to a sink in order to wash their hands ritually (with a Natlah).

In the morning, the alarm clock rings and we are upset. We are either still tired, in a bad mood, not in the mood to go to work or the opposite. However, who is thinking about the new creation just taking place ? G – d decided to give us our Neshama back. We wake up and this alone is like a total new creation.

Who of us is thinking about the great miracle just taking place ?