Rabbi Weinstock Parsha Shiur- CLICK to listen

     HALACHA INSTITUTE Q&A 

     By Rabbi Yehuda Kraft

Q: When a person goes to a restaurant, the waiters fill the glasses of water before the food comes out. Drinking the water before washing for the meal poses a question regarding the after bracha. Do we say that since eventually you will recite Birchas Hamazon on the meal, the water does not require a separate Borei Nefashos, or is the water not considered part of the meal and would require a separate Borei Nefashos. 

A: Technically speaking any food eaten before the meal should require its own bracha achrona. However, under certain circumstances food eaten before the meal will be considered as part of the meal if there is some connection. In our case, some poskim consider the water one drank as part of the meal, because the drinking before and during the meal is considered “one large drinking.” 

Additionally, according to the opinions that require a shehakol on drinks during the meal, the water before the meal can function as a “meal necessity” as the shehakol recited over it will exempt the drinks during the meal. 

The Mishnah Berurah in siman 174 s’’k 37 brings the Magen Avraham that is uncertain if a Borei Nefashos is necessary in this case, therefore the recommended practice is to not drink more than a rviis of water before the meal. 

However, in the event that one drank a rviis (3.3 ounces), a Borei Nefashos should not be recited as it is a safek and we say safek brachos lehakeil. It should be noted that some sefardic authorities argue on this and rule that a Borei Nefashos is required in the event that a rviis was drunk.

In the event that someone needs to drink more than a rviis and wants to avoid the safek, an eitza is to eat something after the meal that would necessitate a Borei Nefashos, in order to cover the drink they had before the meal. 

Additionally, the Chayey Adam rules that if one is drinking, then the drink before the meal is considered part of the meal and will be covered by the birchas hamazon. 

Lastly, Rav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, ZT’Ll says that if there is a dessert at the end of the meal that requires a shehakol, then the shehakol recited over the drink before the meal will exempt the dessert, if one had specific intent for the shehakol to cover the dessert. In this event, the shehakol will connect the drink to the meal and allow it to be covered by the Birchas Hamazon, and no separate borei nefashos is required. 

KIDDUSH LEVANA

The latest time to do Kiddush Levana for the month of Adar is Purim night (Monday, March 2nd).

PARSHAS ZACHOR

This is the second of the four special Maftir readings during this time of the year. It is from the end of Parshas Ki Seitze that is in Devarim 25:17. It is an obligation for all males above 13 to hear this, and according to some opinions, women as well. It will be read at LINK at approximately 9:55am. 

TAANIS ESTHER/PURIM

This Monday is Taanis Esther and Purim is Monday night and Tuesday. Please consult the schedule nearby for all the relevant Halachic times and Megillah Leining times.

MATANOS L’EVYONIM

Rabbi Brander is collecting for the local poor, national poor (that is Ezras Yisroel), and the poor in Yerushalayim (Od Yosef Chai). Checks for the local poor should be made out to LINK, and it should say Matanos L’Evyonim in the Memo. Please give all funds for Matanaos L’Evyonim to Rabbi Brander by 10 a.m. Purim morning in the appropriate envelopes in the shul.

ZMANIM FOR MARCH-APRIL

The weekday and Shabbos Davening times for the month of March and April are now available in the front lobby.  

Click here to print Shabbos Davening times:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1iz4l_7nvNGq3CKi8AVwrD3b-SFgjASBoP0JmiZs5QKc/edit?gid=0#gid=0

Click here to print Weekday Davening times:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1syGS9VITTtFJotqQe-dL9AHc5HvBjHDKqeGv7NS3tMU/edit?gid=0#gid=0

BARUCH DAYAN HA’EMES

With profound sorrow, we regret to inform you of the passing of Rena Tennenberg, Z”L, Beloved sister of our member, Dr. Daniel (Eileen) Wohlgelerneter.

SHIVA:

Shiva will be observed in Jerusalem, Israel, until Thursday morning, March 5.  Shiva will take place at Lenorado Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem, Room 823

VISITATION HOURS AS FOLLOWS:

Thursday, Sunday, Monday - 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM & 3:00 PM - 5:00 PM. Please note there are no Shiva visitations on Purim or Shushan Purim (Tuesday and Wednesday). There will be no Minyanim held at the Shiva location

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CONTACTING DR. WOHLGELERNTER:

Dr. Wohlgelernter can be reached either by phone or on WhatsApp at 310-729-2202 or via email at: drdan@iheartdrdan.com. (Please remember when calling that Israel is ten hours ahead of Los Angeles)