The Shulchan Aruch: How a 500 Year Old Book Shaped Jewish Practice

Crash Course in Jewish Blessings

Why do we bless God? Isn’t He blessing us?

44. The Aish Academy Brachot Food Guide

The correct bracha to say for over 500 food items.

43. 100 Blessings Each Day

Averaged over a typical day, one bracha is said every 10 minutes.

40. She'hecheyanu & Other Events

The blessing that thanks God for enabling us to reach a special milestone.

42. Natural Phenomena

Special brachot said on the wonders of creation.

41. Fragrances

Four different blessings said upon enjoying the aroma of trees and flowers.

38. Being Motzi Others

One person can say a bracha and exempt another person's obligation.

39. Answering Amen

When another person says a bracha, we answer "amen" as a testament that the statement is true.

37. Bracha Achrona: After the Fact

What happens of you mistakenly said the wrong after-bracha?

36. Time and Space

An after-bracha is subject to restrictions of when and where.

33. Bracha Achrona on Mixtures

When foods are eaten in combination, which after-bracha do you say?

34. Birkat Hamazon – Part 1

The special after-bracha said following a bread meal.

35. Birkat Hamazon – Part 2

Grace After Meals requires extra dignity and concentration.

32. Which Bracha Achrona to Say

Guidelines for the Three-Faceted Blessing, and the "miscellaneous" after-bracha.

31. Bracha Achrona - Introduction

The guidelines for saying bracha after finishing to eat.

30. Shinuy Makom: Wrap-Up and Review

Instances when a bracha remains in effect even after making a shinuy makom.

29. Outdoor Eating

The difference between enclosed areas and open areas.

28. Leaving the House

Walking outside implies a cessation of this eating session.

26. Terminating a Bracha's Effectiveness

Certain actions can signal your intention to stop eating.

27. Introduction to Shinuy Makom

Changing locations can terminate a bracha's effectiveness.

25. The Right Environment

When saying a bracha, the surrounding environment must be dignified and clean.

21. Special Status of Mezonot

A mezonot ingredient is always considered primary, even when not the majority.

22. Soups & Cereals

A hodge-podge of ingredients produces some complex rules.

23. Unauthorized Brachot

An unnecessary bracha is a problem of "saying God's Name in vain."

24. Honor for Brachot

How to ensure that brachot are said with the correct spiritual intent.

17. Sequence of Brachot – Part 2

When two foods have different brachot, which bracha is said first?

18. Including Other Foods – Part 1

A bracha includes whatever foods you intend to eat at the time you said the bracha.

19. Including Other Foods – Part 2

The bracha said at the beginning of the meal covers all foods normally consumed in a meal.

20. Primary and Secondary Foods

A bracha on the primary food also covers the secondary food.

16. Sequence of Brachot – Part 1

When eating two foods that have the same bracha, we say the bracha over the more important food.

14. Fruit During a Meal

Fruit can be eaten as a main course, an appetizer, or for dessert.

15. Drinks During a Meal

When you drink during a bread meal, when is a bracha required and when is it not?

13. Other Foods at a Bread Meal

Generally, when other foods are eaten with bread, the only bracha recited is Hamotzee.

12. Non-Hamotzee Bread

Altering the state of bread can sometimes "downgrade" the bracha from Hamotzee to Mezonot.

11. The Mezonot Meal

When eaten as meal, cake attains the status of bread and its bracha is Hamotzee.

10. Three Mezonot Categories

How bread differs from cake, and how cake differs from pasta.

9. Introduction to Mezonot

The special bracha said on satiating and nutritious grains.

8. Ha'gafen Covers All Drinks

Two key conditions for Ha'gafen to cover other beverages.

7. Fruit Juice & Wine

Juice is considered a separate entity from the fruit.

6. Altered States

Altering the state of a food can also change its bracha.

5. Six Types

Getting practical: The six basic brachot said on food.

4. Eating without a Bracha?!

It is worse to eat without a bracha than it is to waste food.

3. When is a Bracha Not Required?

Since eating is an act of pleasure, some situations are exempt from a bracha.

2. Text and Meaning

Deconstructing the basic components of a bracha.

1. What is a Bracha?

The philosophy and inspiration behind the blessings.

34. M&Ms - Part 2: Memachaik, Mesarteit, Mechateich

Smoothing out solids, and cutting things to size.

33. M&Ms - Part 1: Mafshit and Me'abeid

Salting and pickling your food.

32. Shochait: Live and Let Live

Actions that cause bleeding or kills a living thing.

31. Tzad: Catch Me if You Can

Confining the movement of a living creature.

EXPLORE
LEARN
MORE
Explore
Learn
Resources
Next Steps
About
Donate
Menu
Languages
Menu
oo
Social
.