Halocho #735 - What Bracha to make on fruit pits?

If one eats fruit pits that are bitter and inedible, one does not make a Bracha when eating them.

If one improved bitter pits by roasting them (or otherwise), one says the Bracha of "Shehakol".

If one eats fruit pits that are naturally edible, one says the Bracha of "HaAdama".

If one eats the pits while eating the fruit , then they are included in the Bracha of HaEtz that one made on the fruit.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 52:10

- Danny
Sunday, 25 Shvat 5771

Halocho #733 - Bracha on truffles and mushrooms

The correct Bracha before eating truffles and mushrooms is שֶׁהַכּוֹל נִהְיָה בִּדְבָרוֹ

Even though they usually grow on the ground, they do not grow from the ground; they get their nourishment from the air.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 52:3

- Danny
Wednesday, 21 Shvat 5771

Halocho #376 - Havdala without wine?

Yesterday we learnt that the custom is to not eat meat and chicken and to not drink wine during the 9 days except on Shabbat.

How does one make Havdala this week?

One makes Havdala as usual this week using wine (and spices and a candle).

If there is a small child who can drink most of the cup of wine, then one gives it to him to drink. If not, then the person making Havdala drinks the wine.

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:8

Some people have the custom of using beer for Havdala this week. If one uses beer for Havdala then the first Bracha needs to be "Shehakol" instead of "Borei Pri Hagofen".

Source: Halachos of the 3 weeks by Rav Shimon Eider zt"l page 7

My Rosh Yeshiva - Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l - always used wine for Havdala and always drank it himself.

Shabbat Shalom,

- Danny Thursday, 2 Av 5769

Please daven for a complete recovery for Tamar bat Naama - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #136 - The teetotaler 9 days and Havdala

Rosh Chodesh Av is tomorrow - Shabbat. When the month of Av begins, one diminishes joy. Yesterday we learnt that the custom is not to eat meat and chicken and not to drink wine during the 9 days except on Shabbat. How does one make Havdala this week? One makes Havdala as usual this week using wine (and spices and a candle). If there is a small child who can drink most of the cup of wine, then one gives it to him to drink. If not, then the person making Havdala drinks the wine. Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 122:8 Some people have the custom of using beer for Havdala this week. If one uses beer for Havdala then the first Bracha needs to be "Shehakol" instead of "Borei Pri Hagofen". Source: Halachos of the 3 weeks by Rav Shimon Eider zt"l page 7 My Rosh Yeshiva - Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt"l - always used wine for Havdala and always drank it himself. Chodesh Tov and Shabbat Shalom, - Danny Erev Rosh Chodesh Av, Shabbat Mas'ei, 29 Tamuz 5768 --> Don't forget to say Ya'ale Veyavo tonight and tomorrow during Amida and Birkat Hamazon!

Review Halocho #131 to find out which Haftara we read this week.

Please daven for a little girl - TAMAR bat NAAMA - תמר בת נעמה

Halocho #28 – Blessing before eating fruits

The blessing "Ho'Etz" is only made on fruit that grows on trees which retain their branches in winter and then leaves grow again from these branches. Otherwise a "Ho'Adomo" is made on the fruit. These blessings are only said if the fruit (or vegetable) is normally eaten raw. If the fruit is normally eaten cooked then on the raw fruit one says "Shehakol". On fruit pits that are sweet one says "Shehakol"; if they are bitter one doesn’t make any blessing on them. Fruit eaten during a meal as desert do require a blessing. If the entire meal is a "fruit meal" then the HaMotzi blessing covers the fruit too. Source: KSA 52:1, 4, 10, 43:3-4

Ho'Adomo ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, בורא פרי האדמה. Ho'Etz ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, בורא פרי העץ. Shehakol ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, שהכל נהיה בדברו. HaMotzi ברוך אתה ה' א‑לוהינו מלך העולם, המוציא לחם מן הארץ.