Tag Archive for Halachot of Brachot

Fried Foods

August 21, 2013 Brachos, Mitzvot and Traditions No comments

 

 Fried Whiting (fish)

 

By the time I reached my late teens, my family became very health conscious. We decreased our meat intake, ate more fruits and vegetables, had less portions at mealtime, and healthy snacks were encouraged. But it was the fried food that was totally obliterated from the menu, both at home and abroad. Today, unfortunately, I’m not as diligent as I was – with the exception of fried food. There are a number of foods that I missed and occasionally the craving for them is unbearable.

 

Every time when Purim arrived, Mom would make samuseh puryaih (meat and onions wrapped in this delicious dough – deep fried), which would require napkins. Purim is not the same without it. But I must warn you; it’s definitely not a mishloach manot item (traditional special treats put into a nice basket and presented to friends).

 

Another item that is missed is fried whiting (fish) served Friday night at the Shabbat table. Today our families bake the fish and it tastes just as good. According to our sages, it’s important to have fish Friday night. The reason is because G-d rewarded Noach and his family for taking care of the animals in the ark, by giving them the ability to eat meat and chicken. But the fish did not take residence in the ark. Therefore, man was forbidden to eat fish. However, as a reward for receiving the Torah, which was given on Shabbat, fish became permissible for consumption from then on.

 

Another delicacy that is missed is chushcelik served at Bukharian yartzeit dinners. The sweet, soft, fried, thin rounded dough with confectioners’ sugar on top that melts in your mouth, is out of this world. The rounded large Slinky-like shape represents the continuous circle in which G-d runs the world; one life begins and another ends.

 

Another fried food star is falafel. The aroma of falafel is very mesmerizing and therefore hard to resist. I’m sure there are many places to get good falafel. There are a few that come to mind. Moshe’s Falafel on 45th St and Ave of the Americas in New York City is very good. This establishment operates out of a cart. Another highly regarded and famous falafel place is Shlomo’s in Jerusalem. Shlomo also operates out of a cart and one can find him in the Bukarian quarters near Kikar Malchei Yisrael in Geula. The falafel is so good at Shlomo’s that people come from all over Jerusalem go to eat there. Don’t forget to bring reading material because the lines are long!

 

In many Yeshiva high schools, there is an extended Thursday-night program that is mandatory. When I was in Yeshiva, there were not many people who had an interest – as evidenced by the attendance, and the school had a hard time enforcing this rule. But in my junior year, changes were made. The school decided to serve delicious breaded fried chicken with potato salad for a side dish, resulting in an escalation in attendance by 98%. After a few months, some students got smart; they wanted the best of both worlds, and decided to leave through the back way after dinner. But the administration anticipated this move. The principal himself was guarding the front door, while the assistant principal guarded the back. Eat and run doesn’t apply here.

 

We learned last week that if one is in the middle of a meal (after saying the blessing on the bread), and cake is brought on the table, a blessing is required only if he’s eating it as a dessert. If he’s eating it for satisfaction, a bracha is not necessary. In general, if enough cake is eaten to satisfy your hunger, a hamotzi is required. There is an exception to this rule – if the bread was fried. According to Jewish law, frying the bread changes its form and structure, and will lose any potential of raising its status to bread. One can consume as many jelly doughnuts as he wants and the blessing will always be mezonot.

Marble Cake

August 21, 2013 Brachos, Mitzvot and Traditions No comments

 

 Marble Cake

 

 

One of the staples in a synagogue – besides Kiddush wine – is “marble cake”. This is universal, whether it’s Sephardic, Ashkenazi or even Bukarian. We know a hamotzi or mezonot is needed for the requirement of a meal. Therefore, you will always find cake at happy occasions to fulfill this mission. According to our sages, human nature shows tremendous favoritism when we are introduced to something for the first time. Perhaps that’s why childhood experiences are vital in understanding a person’s actions, because the inception makes a huge impression and shapes his future. Possibly, that’s why Jewish law forbids testimony of one party while the other is not present. The judge tends to favor the first words he hears. For me, there definitely is an association between marble cake and childhood, whether it is in synagogue or mom’s weekly shopping indulgence at our favorite bakery. I could not wait to tear open the rectangular white box containing that delicious chocolate frosted marble cake.

 

Furthermore, Bar Mitzvah celebrations in our elementary school consisted of a tradition of going from class to class with a box of marble cake and a bottle of scotch. The proud Bar Mitzvah boy offered a l’chaim to the Rabbi in a little shot glass with a piece of marble cake. We all watched as the rabbi dunked the piece of marble cake into the scotch and ate it. The scent resulting from the cake-scotch combination would make us hungry. Every time there is a Kiddush today, the first order of business is scotch and marble cake. Those of you who were with us last week learned the concept of ikar-main food, and tofel- secondary. The mezonot (cake, main food) is considered more important than shehakol (scotch, secondary). Therefore, one would only say the blessing mezonot. Scotch is considered a precious commodity by many – including yours truly. Regardless of these strong feelings, it is secondary in the case of the dunking.

Today, when we are yearning for that marble cake taste of yesteryear or perhaps when one has developed a more mature taste, one would wonder where they can satisfy that particular craving. For starters, there’s excellent marble cake at Kaffs Bakery in Williamsburg, Brooklyn; Ostrovitsky’s Bakery in Flatbush; or Queens Pita on Main St. Whether chocolate frosting is on their marble cake or not, it is amazing. I’m sure there are many others that we missed. If there are others, an email would be appreciated.

 

My parents often took pride in their Bukarian hospitality as being the best. Visiting other ethnic Jewish communities over the years, I find them also boasting that their hospitality is the best. So much for cultural superiority; for many Jews, hospitality and Shabbat go hand and hand. When the marble cake makes its entrance after a four course Shabbat meal, do we make a bracha on the cake?

 

Cakes serve as a dual function. It could be eaten as a dessert or snack in order to satisfy one’s desire for sweets. However, cakes are also often eaten to satisfy one’s appetite. Accordingly, if cakes are eaten for dessert, a bracha should be required. But if cake is eaten for satiation, a bracha is not required. There is however, another consideration; there are some mezonot that fall under the category of bread, so no bracha is necessary. It is important to note every community has slightly different laws and one should ask their local Rabbi.

Now That’s Deli!

August 20, 2013 Brachos, Mitzvot and Traditions, Uncategorized No comments

 

 Deli Sandwich 

There was a period on Shabbat morning, where I used to pray at the Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim. It was a beautiful, quite inspiring service. I got to know and eventually became good friends with a Rabbinical student named Noam Abramchic. One Shabbat morning, our conversation centered around food. Perhaps the reason the conversation gravitated toward food was because it’s at the end of the prayer services and everybody is hungry. Or perhaps those who know me understand it’s a predictable part of my nature to talk about food. The topic was deli. “I know of the best delicatessen that would beat any of New York’s establishments”, he ranted. “There’s a place in Chicago called Romanian and it’s out of this world.” I did not take Noam seriously, considering I’ve been eating fine deli since I was in diapers. “Do you really think any place on earth will compare to a New York deli?” I said to him. Soon after visiting his parents for the holidays, he brought me packaged pastrami from Romanian Delicatessen. “Try this” he said proudly. So I came home and I tried it. WOW! It’s amazing! This is really, really good pastrami.

 

A few years ago a friend David Bodenhiem said he received Romanian’s famous hotdogs (there are four kinds) from a pal coming back from Chicago. David said numerous friends of his in the Five Towns get packages through friends from Romanian for their special occasions. It reminds me of a particular popular 1970’s TV episode of M*A*S*H. The show takes place in Korea during the war in the 1950’s. The characters are doctors in a medical unit. The main character, Hawkeye gets a craving for “Adams Ribs” located – out of all places – in Chicago, and throughout the half hour episode goes through a lot of red tape to get this anticipated delivery. Finally, the package arrives. He and his companions are in the mess tent anxiously and triumphal opening and smelling the aroma of the food. The final scene has Hawkeye nervously going through the delivery bags in frustration. “What’s wrong Hawkeye?” one of the colleagues asked. Hawkeye replied, “They forgot the coleslaw!”

 

If we appreciate what G-d has done for us and are committed in acknowledging Him before we eat, then we should do it right. We have to try to give the proper blessing. We know if we have pastrami on club or rye, the blessing is Hamotzi lechem min hararetz. Bread is the most significant blessing you can recite. But what about sandwich wraps? One should know, this too is the blessing of hamotzi as well. Even though content of some wraps is mezonot, since you have the intention of having a meal as opposed to a snack, one would require to wash and recite al netilat yadayim and then hamotzi.

 

Bread and mezonot are considered in the category of important foods. The Torah attributes significance to the mezonot grain, wheat, and barley (INCLUDED IN WHEAT IS SPELT, INCLUDED IN BARLEY IS OATS AND RYE). These grains have an intrinsic importance because of their role in sustaining human life. There are rare times where one would eat bread and not recite hamotzi. These examples require the understanding of the concept in Jewish law called Ikar-main food and Tofel–secondary. Let’s say I’m sampling a taste of hot chili, one eats a bit of bread for no reason other than to soothe the harsh taste in his throat. Since the bread was not eaten to satisfy his hunger nor for his enjoyable taste, he is not required to make a hamotzi on the bread. The bread is included in the ha’adama blessing made on the chili.

 

Another example is with ice cream.  Most people eat ice cream cones to enhance the taste of the ice cream. Therefore, the ice cream would require a shehakol and the cone (even though it is tofel) will require a mezonot. However, if one were to use an ice cream cone merely in place of a cup rather than enjoy the flavor, the cone will not require a separate blessing.

 

The mechanics of ikar and tofel are: Even though the tofel is subordinate to the ikar, the tofel is not considered to be so insignificant as to not require a bracha. Rather, we consider the bracha made on the ikar to extend to ‘cover’ the tofel as well. According to this approach, when a blessing of the ikar cannot be applied to cover the tofel, a separate bracha on the tofel will be required.

 

There is an art in the preparation of certain deli meats. Who out there remembers Bernstein’s on the Lower East Side? I would always put sweet red peppers on my big shmulk which consisted of four different kinds of meats on club or rye and, in addition, potato salad and coleslaw as sides. We always had a certain pride going to Bernstein’s because it was named, one year by the New York Times, as the best deli in the city. New Yorkers as well as Chicagoans take their deli very seriously.

Parshat Masei

May 5, 2013 Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Uncategorized No comments

“A Cup of Coffee 

 

&

A Quick Thought”
Steaming Cup of Coffee
Spark Of Jewish Experience
 
 Masei

July 28, 2011
26 Tammuz, 5771
Dear Friends,

 

In appreciation to the staff of The Afikim Foundation for all their help, and to Torahanytime.com for giving us the mic.

 

We are now displaying business ads in our newsletter. If you are interested in placing an ad, please email me or call 917-804-7692. It’s completely tax deductible and the proceeds go to teaching people Torah. Be a part of the Mitzvah!
In This Issue
How Do You Like to Travel?
Blessings for a Newly Married Couple
Breakfast Cereals: Shredded Wheat & Granola (Parts 5 & 6 of the 6 Categories)

How Do You Like to Travel?
 wandering jew

          How many readers out there like to travel? Some people consider it fun. In fact, the word “vacation” means ‘to vacate one’s premises’. The idea of a vacation is to have a change of pace. A different scenario from our everyday, sometimes, monotonous life could be very therapeutic. When one returns from a vacation he should be refreshed and ready to continue his consistent, habitual existence. But traveling could be a bit overwhelming; packing and unpacking is a chore. One of the best comedy routines (and it was clean) of the famous comedian of the 70’s, George Carlin, was about ‘stuff”, in which the entire meaning of life is to find a place for your stuff. He makes fun of how one goes traveling and is a little frantic taking stuff from one place to another. His reaction plays on our fears of traveling.
          We read in this week’s parasha the detailed description of where our ancestors traveled in the desert. Rabbi Noach Olbaum asks ‘why is it necessary to go through every juncture of their travel routes?” The Torah is not a history book nor is it a GPS. Presumably, there must be a lesson to be learned for the Torah to emphasize their travel itinerary.
          If one thinks about it for a moment, one would realize how difficult it must have been for our ancestors to schlep all their bags, tents, belongings, and let’s not forget, some had small children. Moshe’s instructions to the Israelites were to move immediately when the clouds of glory moved. There was no warning in advance; sometimes they camped at a certain destination for months; sometimes the cloud of glory would move after only two days. It was very unpredictable; this kind of tours would drive anybody nuts.
          Apparently, with all the Israelite’s inconveniences, we do not find any mention in the Torah and the sages, that they complained; there was not one utter of displeasure; that’s incredible! We should be proud of our ancestors for not moaning and groaning and rolling their eyes and screaming ‘again?!’, every time the clouds move.
          The children of Israel showed great restraint and a very strong belief in G-d, and it is no wonder why they’re called the greatest generation that ever lived. We should learn a lesson and be very proud of their tremendous sacrifice of going on the spur of the moment when they were instructed and not losing their cool.
           One of the fates in which our people inevitably fall into is ‘the wandering Jew’. We must be careful with our journeys because sometimes traveling makes us forget who we are. Our values are compromised because we get frantic of our new temporary environment, the new people that we meet and the pressure of constantly watching over our belongings. The schlep can make us develop thin skin and intolerance. It’s important to stop and take a deep breath and focus briefly on our principles. The Torah is trying to teach us to be yourself outside of your home and not to lose sight of what we build as respectable Jews. This is an important lesson that we should learn from this week’s parasha.

Blessings for a Newly Married Couple
 sheva brachot

          When a couple marries, they are treated like royalty for seven days. They are not permitted to work, and friends and family throw a festive meal daily in their honor for a week. When my wife and I were a chatan and kallah, we felt it was a lot of fun having parties thrown on our behalf. This is very different than western culture where couples go on their honeymoon right after the wedding. However, more and more couples are realizing the importance of shevah brachot and schedule the honeymoon for a later date. If one is sensitive enough, he’ll realize that Jews like to make many brachot. In fact, they have a blessing for almost everything. The Zohar teaches us never to be skimpy on brachot. When one recites a blessing and an angel in the heavens says amen, it’s as good as gold.

There is a concept in our Torah where the inception or the beginning of something is the most crucial, most pleasurable and most potent; the first few seconds of smelling a nice odor is powerful, then it loses its scent. Similarly, taste and feel also have the same powerful beginning affect.  Perhaps that is why when one wants to understand himself or others, they explore his or their childhood. Many things we like and don’t like results from childhood experiences. Marriage is the same way. We shower the chatan and kallah with brachot in the beginning of their marriage, hoping the positive vibe will turn to actuality.

In sheva brachot (seven blessings), the chatan and kallah sit in the front table similar to a king and queen. They are the focus of the meal and it’s an obligation on the guests, similar to the wedding night, to make the couple happy. At the end of the meal, after birkat hamazon (grace after meal), the seven brachot are recited.

There is an interesting scenario when the last day of sheva brachot (seventh day) falls on Shabbat, and seuda shleshit (the afternoon meal) is the chosen meal for the festivities. Although it seems like an optimal time to celebrate, problems could arise. Meals can be alarmingly long. Of course everyone wants to say a few words on behalf of the couple, his relatives, her relatives, and some in between. (Since it is Shabbat and no one is driving, it’s safe to have a little extra Vodka or Scotch!) Singing is a must, especially as a tribute to the chatan and kallah. Before you know it, it is already nighttime.

Do we still have the Mitzvah (commandment) to say sheva brachot after dark? One has to understand in Jewish law, the day starts at night. Therefore, do we say a new day (yom rishon) had begun already and we missed the opportunity for the ceremony or however we go by the ruling that if one did not finish the meal, one can prolong the Shabbat well into the night (which is the next day) and therefore the last day of sheva brachot is also extended?

Presumably one might think you can, because we frequently prolong the Shabbat, but Rabbi Eliyahu ben Haim, as well as Rabbi Itzhak Aminov site a source (Rebbi Akiva Eiger). One cannot recite the sheva brachot since it is considered the next day. Also, many blessings are recited at a sheva brachot; a bracha consists of some heavy-duty names of G-d, which complicates the matter in this questionable state. If one just prolongs the Shabbat, he is only adding the prayer of retzai, which is found in the grace after meal and has no bracha. So, it’s not such a big deal. A remedy is to start earlier. This way one would have significant time for a fun and memorable time spent with the new couple.

Breakfast Cereals: Shredded Wheat & Granola (Parts 5 & 6 of the 6 Categories)
granola cereal

 This week we conclude our breakfast cereal series. It can be very confusing which blessing one makes on any given cereal. Actually, some would proclaim it’s an adventure because of the complex ingredients found.

Before we discuss the last two categories, I would like to ask the readers what feelings come to mind when reading this? “My dad was so awesome. My neighbor and I wanted to collect the Pokémon toys in the box of Fruit Loops. So my dad bought an entire shelf of fruit loops in the supermarket so the two of us could eat through the cereals for the toys. Eventually, we figured out that we didn’t have to eat the cereal. We just dug down into the boxes for the toys”.

The fifth category is shredded cereals. Shredded wheat cereal is made from cooked wheat kernels, which are shredded and then baked. The bracha is mezonot.

Granola cereal is our last category of the series. Granola cereals are made from rolled oats and other ingredients, which are toasted. We have learned that grains which are roasted (without being cooked) are subject to the bracha of ha’odama.

Ah yes, who can forget the breakfast cereals, the cheap prizes, sugary milk left over, crossword puzzles and mazes found on the box. In grade school, we’d play Sigmund Freud by going over to people and trying to figure out their personalities by asking them what cereal they eat in the morning. Cereal is part of our culture; it’s part of our lives.

 
Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience

Parshat Mattos

May 5, 2013 Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Uncategorized No comments

“A Cup of Coffee 

 

&

A Quick Thought”

 

 
Steaming Cup of Coffee
Spark Of Jewish Experience
 
 Mattos

July 21, 2011
19 Tammuz, 5771
Dear Friends,

In appreciation to the staff of The Afikim Foundation for all their help, and to Torahanytime.com for giving us the mic.

We will soon be starting to display business ads. Anyone who would like to submit a business ad, please email me or call 917-804-7692. We hope to put up ads B’H next week. It’s completely tax deductible and the proceeds go to teaching people Torah. Be a part of the Mitzvah!
In This Issue
Mattos – Anger
Murder of an Innocent Hassidic Little Boy
Planning A Trip To Israel
Breakfast Cereals: Extruded Dough (Part 4 of the 6 Categories)

Mattos – Anger
 anger

          Anger is terrible; anger is horrifying! Our Sages described countless times in our holy scriptures the shortcomings and the consequences suffered by a person who becomes angry or enraged. Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz z’l believes the most striking and eye-raising effect of anger is that one loses all of ones’ wisdom and spiritual stature, an example we find in this week’s parsha, where Moshe forgot the law as a result of being angry (bamidbar31,14).
The Or Hachaim explains that Moshe had known the laws of mourning just minutes before he became angry, and then forgot them. This aspect of the effect of anger is puzzling. We can readily understand how anger affects a person so that after the fact he is of a lesser stature and wisdom then before. But how does anger make one’s previously acquired knowledge disappear? A minute ago he gave over a lesson teaching two plus two equals four, how can he now forget it? How does one lose wisdom which one already possesses?
The answer is that the mechanics of Torah wisdom works differently than other wisdoms. Other forms of wisdom do not relate to the personality or character of its possessor. A person may be wicked or obnoxious, and yet retain a storehouse of knowledge and wisdom. Not so with Torah wisdom. Torah is based on character development and it feeds the individual the sensitivity towards others and towards himself, hovering around the person until he internalizes it. Everyone hears the same message, but it doesn’t come through the pipes the same way to each. Apparently, the message received is tailor-made for that individual’s understanding and unique personality.
Dr. Goldman, the psychologist of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim, says a fundamental aspect of life is intellectual growth; however not by feeding a computer. We are not some logical emotionless Vulcan circuit machine, like Mr. Spock, who will solve and rattle off any difficult equations backwards and forwards. Apparently, one should focus more on how to control his emotional nature and to be ready for every situation he’s confronted; this is a sign of strong character. By working on himself, a person’s internal vessel can hold and absorb the Torah with the proper character traits, which he developed through Torah study.
However, when there is a flaw in the personality, like anger, it chases away the Torah wisdom and spirituality. A person who becomes unfit to retain Torah, loses it; even the knowledge he already acquired leaves him. It’s not the knowledge itself that is affected but rather the individual that ceases to posses it.
Rav Chaim Shmuelevitz says, we can explain this further by drawing a parallel from the acquisition of prophesy to the acquisition of Torah. When Eliyahu, the prophet, ascended to the heavens in a fiery chariot, his disciples came to Elisha (who was very close to Eliyahu) and suggested that they search for the missing Eliyahu. Rashi (one of the mainstream commentaries) asks, ‘is it possible that these same prophets, who had foretold that Eliyahu would be taken, would forget as to his whereabouts? This teaches us that from the day Eliyahu was taken, spirituality left them. Rashi asks how did they forget that which they already knew? The answer is, a person must be a prophet in order to know these things. If he falls in stature, he no longer knows these facts of which he was aware only yesterday.
This is true of prophecy and it is true of Torah as well. It is the knowledge that must be integrated into itself into a person. But if a character becomes blemished, his Torah will vanish as well.

Murder of an Innocent Hassidic Little Boy
 Leiby Kletzky

             It was extremely disturbing to see pictures taken by a store video surveillance camera of a lost boy with a knapsack on his back walking the streets of Boro Park; knowing that a little while after, he will be killed. How can any human being do such an act? How can he face his maker, when the time comes? I’m ashamed that he’s considered part of the human race. If you ask his neighbors, most will agree they’re not surprised he did such an act. They considered him a creep and would instruct their kids to stay away from him.
            Everything in life is a learning experience and there are some valuable lessons one can learn from this horrifying episode. Firstly, appreciate what G-d has given you. As the father of the murdered boy said at his son’s funeral, sobbing, ‘G-d gave me a gift for nine years’.
Another crucial lesson: in every neighborhood, in every synagogue; in every social arena, in the workplace, lies a creep just like that one. If you would think about it for a moment, we all have encountered creeps, regardless of the gender, they’re everywhere. But the question lies, what are we doing about it?
We asked the opinion of Doctor Goldman, the psychologist of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim. Surprisingly, I thought he would chastise the communities for not doing enough against these problematic individuals. However, he only suggested avoiding these people as much as possible; even a Shabbat invite should not be extended to them. People might say Shabbat is the exception; Shabbat hospitality is supreme (Shabbat invite is the ultimate kindness and one can reach great heights spiritually with showing hospitality). But, he said do not give them any opportunity to get friendly with your family. One should give them money if they ask, but that’s it.
Dr. Goldman said there are quite a number of emotionally damaged individuals; however, 99% of them are pathetic and harmless. So I asked what about that 1%? One never knows when the loose cannon will go off? He mentioned that although extensive therapy will help, it’s enormously expensive, and besides, to get them to commit to enter a mental facility is practically impossible.
The doctor said this was a bizarre and unique case. We should teach our kids never talk to strangers whether they’re wearing a kippa or no kippa. The good doctor was more concerned with child molestation by authority figures such as teachers and counselors. Although most are good people, there is the minority, and parents have to be careful and a little more aware what happens in school. Unfortunately, a minority of the authoritative figures likes to prey on helpless defenseless children and the dangerous thing is that they look and act perfectly normal. We have to educate our kids and make them aware of the possible evils , which are lurking in our midst.
             The notion that New Yorkers are unfriendly is something I always thought was an unfair description. We are warm and friendly, but for the most part, cautious. It’s very important to be cautious. We should make sure to implement this New York unfriendliness to our children; better safe than sorry!!

Planning A Trip To Israel
israel trip

One of the primary vacation spots for Jewish travelers is Israel. It’s a yearly tourist attraction, whether it is summer vacations or any of the holidays. One of the major questions that arise, is whether to keep one or two days of the major holidays. We are referring to the holidays of Pesach, Shavuot and Succot. Outside of Israel we keep an extra day of Yom Tov (no turning on lights, etc). However, in Israel, they keep only one day. How many days should one keep if he lives outside the Holy Land and he comes to Israel for an undisclosed amount of time? Would time spent there matter? If he wants to extend his trip over thirty days, or six months or maybe over a year? At what point if any, could he keep one day? Would one be able to convince their Israeli relatives to sit with them while you conduct a second Seder?

There are a number of opinions. Many Sephardic and Ashkenazim agree that in order to keep one day, one has to not only seriously consider residing there for the rest of his life, but actually have to have made arrangements for residence and even the pursuit of job opportunities; then and only then may one be permitted to keep one day.

Rav Ovadia Yosef categorizes this further by stating that singles who go to Israel for an extended time to study, only keep one day because they might meet their mate and get married and make aliyah (move there permanently). Otherwise, married couples hold 2 days, like we discussed. Others are a bit more stricter. The decision to keep only one day does not lie solely on the bachur (single young man), or bachura (single young woman), but the parents have input as well. If they feel that he should not stay in Israel past a year, then that would indicate that he keep two days, not one.

Ashkenazim, for the most part, and other Sephardim do not hold like Rav Ovadia Yosef. However, there is yet another opinion. There are people who hold, like the Chacham Tzvi (like Lubavitch), who are much more lenient. Some interpret his opinion that it depends where the person’s family is currently stationed. If he is with his family in Israel, then they keep one day, and if not, two. This is a minority opinion.

I read an interesting halacha (law) given by Rav Ovadia Yosef, which I thought, was mind-boggling and I’d like to share this with you. Apparently, if one is a resident outside of Israel and has a business in the Holy Land, he must not reap any profits from the second day of Yom Tov, which the Israelis don’t hold, since it’s still a holiday for him outside of Israel because he is not residing there. Rabbi Chaim Wagner mentions, one can make arrangements with his partner (if he has one) that he (the partner) will solely benefit from the second day.

For most Jews living outside the Holy Land, every opportunity we have, one tends to make the choice to travel to Israel. We tend to feel and have a certain connection there and automatically gravitate to this spiritual source. If one does take advantage of this opportunity then one should follow the laws accordingly.

Breakfast Cereals: Extruded Dough (Part 4 of the 6 Categories)
Michael Jordan Wheaties box

It’s amazing how much manipulation Madison Avenue’s ads have on us, the American consumer. Americans buy two and a half billion packages of the 250 different types of cereal a year. What a business! There was a clever ad campaign by the cereal called, Wheaties, which actually is still running successfully today. It’s ‘The Breakfast of Champions’. If you eat this cereal with all its abundance of healthy nutrients, then you’ll be a champion. The finest athletes promoted this cereal. Apparently, the athletes were proud to be featured on the cover of the cereal box, while the sports fans flocked to buy these Wheaties because of the connection with their heroes.

In this article, we will discuss cereals, which contain extruded dough. Many cereals are made from extruded dough, which is squeezed (extruded) to form a shape, then oven puffed, gun puffed, baked or toasted. Extruded dough cereal is made from wheat, corn, rice or oat flour, alone or in mixtures. The dough is extruded into shapes like little o’s, alphabets, animals, bite size squares, rippled flakes, etc.

If it’s made from wheat, oat flour, or rice, the bracha is mezonot (such as Wheat Chex, Cheerios, Rice Chex). If it is made from corn flour, corn starches, or wheat starch, the bracha is shehakol (such as Corn Chex, Corn Pops, Ripple Crisp, Cocoa Puffs)
If the cereal has a substantial percentage of oat and/or wheat flour (multi grain) the bracha is mezonot.

If the cereal is made from bran only, which is the outer shell of a grain, the bracha is shehakol. If the cereal consists of bran, wheat, or oat four (Bran Flakes, with raisins) the bracha is mezonot.
Although, we are drawn to buy these cereals, the general consensus that most cereals, by in large, are healthy. If an ad campaign makes one feel good about eating the cereal and about himself, then by all means ‘Lets be like Mike’ (Michael Jordan).
Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience

Parshat Pinchas

May 5, 2013 Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Uncategorized No comments

“A Cup of Coffee 

 

&

A Quick Thought”

 

 
Steaming Cup of Coffee
Spark Of Jewish Experience
 
 Pinechas

July 14, 2011
5 Tammuz, 5771
Dear Friends,

 

 

In appreciation to the staff of The Afikim Foundation for all their help, and to Torahanytime.com for giving us the mic.
We will soon be starting to display business ads. Anyone who would like to submit a business ad, please email me.

In this issue, there is a recipe for delicious Rice Krispies treats.
With profound regret and sorrow, we mourn the loss of Leiby Kletzky, the boy who was murdered in Brooklyn.
In This Issue
Pinechas
Breakfast Cereals: Gun Puffed Whole Grain (Part 2 of the 6 Categories)
Rice Krispies Treats Recipe

Pinechas
 moderation

The women of Midyan were on a special mission, as advised and encouraged by the wicked Bilam, to seduce the Jewish men, especially the high-ranking Israelite leaders. One of these leaders who fell victim was none other than the head prince of the tribe of Shimon, Zimri. He was so smitten by the seductress, Kozbi, where he showed a shocking display of brazenness, he brought her directly to Moshe and the elders at the entrance of the tent of Assembly, and sinned in public view. Moshe and the authorities were frozen, unable to make a decision, figuring that every effort was futile because of the heat of passion the Jewish men were subjected to, due to the Midyanite women. The quick-thinking Pinchas grabbed a spear and, with divine help, marched through 24,000 loyalists to Zimri and killed both Zimri and Kozbi in their act of sin.

Between the holidays of Pesach and Shavuot, we mourn the death of 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva because they did not show honor to one another. We are taught by the Ari z’l that these same 24,000 students of Rabbi Akiva were the reincarnation of the 24,000 fellow comrades from the tribe of Shimon who sinned by having such a blind loyalty towards their leader Zimri. Tragically, the students who came back to fix the mistakes of their ancestors weren’t able to do so, showing the same bad traits as Zimri’s tribesmen showed. In both time periods, they succumbed to extremism, which resulted in their demise. It is important to show loyalty, but not blindly and not without thinking. The support of the fellow tribesmen of Zimri towards their leader brought a huge disgrace to G-d and the Jewish people. When they saw their leader sinning they should have stopped to think and weigh the concept of right and wrong and not follow him blindly towards destruction.

Apparently, the students of Rabbi Akiva weren’t able to control their appetite to be their competitive best. They pushed at the expense of their brothers. These were great tzadikim, Torah scholars, and the students of Rabbi Akiva, and yet they succumbed to ‘going overboard in their quest to succeed individually’.

In both incidences or I should say in both lifetimes, they had to control themselves, be level-headed, and not to go beyond the middle grounds; not go to ‘extremes’. The tribesmen had to realize their leader, Zimri’s, mistake and not blindly protect him. The students had to ease up on their drive to succeed and feel a little more compassion for their fellow Jew.

We learn from this Parsha a valuable lesson about life; one has to find a middle ground; everything in moderation. One cannot be too kind or too stingy, too nice or too snobby. The Torah teaches us, ‘Don’t add to what I commanded of you nor should you detract from it’. Don’t go to extremes, do what the Torah and its messengers, the Rabbis, command of you and nothing else. Otherwise, that would constitute a transgression.

Breakfast Cereals: Gun Puffed Whole Grain (Part 2 of the 6 Categories)
puffed wheat

It’s a lot of fun when your learning partner has a wife that’s a great baker. When it wasn’t suitable to learn in Yeshiva, we would learn at his apartment and almost always, as proper etiquette permits, there would be a dessert or cold drinks offered. One time, something familiar was placed on the table where we were learning. I couldn’t quite place it; my chavrusa (learning partner) once again extended his hospitality and I gladly obliged and it was delicious!!!! It was Kellogg’s Rice Krispies treats. The familiar rice cereal that goes ‘snap, crackle, and pop’ was sweet in a cake form and had chocolate on top. Single life can be tough and grueling; at times, after a long day of work, one has to rush and travel long distances to go on a date with a complete stranger. On one occasion, I was waiting patiently for my blind date to make her entrance from her room, when her mother, who anticipated ‘the long getting ready time’ surprisingly, offered a plate of Rice Krispies treats. Perhaps she thought she would score brownie points for her daughter by presenting this heavenly food; the mother swore that the daughter baked it. Although it didn’t work out with that girl, I must say it was a pleasant surprise in a very tense part of my life of dating.

One day, early on in my marriage, I mentioned to my wife about Rice Krispies treats, describing the good positive attributes of the desert. Where soon thereafter, lo and behold, l’kavod Shabbat and all, there it was! My wife found the recipe and walla!! (Recipe will follow the article.)

Brachot and cereal is a complex business. Last week, we described ‘oven puffed crisp rice’ (Rice Krispies) and we said the bracha is Mezonot. Cereal is made differently from this process and the next category, which is ‘gun puffed whole grain’ (Sugar Crisp). It’s either made from wheat or rice. The bracha is ho’adama. In this process, whole grain kernels are sealed in a chamber (gun), which is heated and pressurized. When the kernels are released (shot) the pressure escaping from the kernels causes them to pop and puff.

Rabbi Avraham Sebrow of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim points out that in this process, the grain is not processed enough to lose its identity; therefore, the bracha is Ha’odama. Wherein ‘oven puffed’, the bran is removed, resulting in losing that whole grain status; therefore, it’s mezonot.

How important is it to make the right brachot on foods? The zohar alludes to a concept that’s quite difficult to understand. As punishment for transgressions done in this world, the soul returns and is entrapped in various inanimate objects; and the only way to be released is if someone makes the right bracha on it.

We see another lesson of brachot and that is the importance of unity. We should help each other out, at whatever state. This is why it is important to be meticulous in this matter.

Rice Krispies Treats Recipe
rice krispies treats 

 

 

Ingredients

6 cups Rice Krispies

1 cup light corn syrup

1 cup sugar

1 cup peanut butter

7 ounce baking chocolate

Directions

In a pot, add corn syrup and sugar on low flame to a boil.  As soon as the sugar melts, add the peanut butter. (Unless you like eating burnt tasting treats, when the sugar and peanut butter are added, make sure they don’t burn.) Once the peanut butter is melted and the mixture comes to a boil, immediately add the Rice Krispies. Make sure all the added ingredients are combined. Turn off your stove-top. Your 9 x 13 baking pan should be coated with Pam oil spray. Pour the mixture in to the pan and even out. Melt the chocolate on a low flame, using the double boiler technique or the microwave. Just don’t burn the chocolate! Sprinkle the hot melted chocolate on to the Rice Krispies treats. Cut the Rice Krispies treats in to serving sizes and eat. Bon Appétit!
Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience

Parshat Chukat

May 5, 2013 Highlights on the Weekly Parsha, Uncategorized No comments

“A Cup of Coffee 

&

A Quick Thought”
Steaming Cup of Coffee
Spark Of Jewish Experience
 
 Chukas

June 30, 2011
28 Sivan, 5771
Dear Friends,

 Please tune in to www.torahanytime.com for my lectures and many others. This site is ‘G-d’s reason for the internet.’

 A special thanks to the Afikim staff for all their help.
In This Issue
Breakfast Cereals
Chukas

Breakfast Cereals
 cereal

Cereals have been a staple on the American breakfast table for over a hundred years. I still remember the standard and most famous brands of yesteryear, which are even currently used today as well; Kellogg’s Corn flakes, Rice Krispies (…. and you really hear them go ‘snap, crackle, and pop’) and Raisin Bran (two scoops of raisins is plenty good). There were various types of cereals catered for all walks of life. The kids’ cereal always had ‘inside the box prizes’; my favorite was the 3D Baseball cards. At times today, I still sneak a bowl of my kids’ Honey Nut Cheerios. Does anyone out there remember Tony the Tiger’s ‘It’s great!!!’ or the various flavors of Cap’n Crunch?

             As children, we found it challenging to figure out what brachot to make, when to make it and how many. There was the debate among the school kids; ‘Do we make one bracha to cover both the milk and cereal, or two separate ones? (If one recalls, we discussed in our earlier newsletters the concept of ikar (main food) and tofel (enhancers).) Usually, most people add milk (enhancer) to cereal; therefore, the bracha is only recited on the cereal because the cereal is the ikar (main food). In a typical case, when one adds milk not as an enhancer (on a high calcium diet or is also interested in drinking milk), then one makes the bracha on both.

Throughout my life, I would frequently visit Israel, and in my youth, on those visits, there was a tremendous void at the breakfast table. Israelis are not accustomed to cereal in the morning or for that matter, at all. When I was learning in Yeshiva in Jerusalem in my twenties, the American students discovered a makolet (grocery) that sells American products including cereal. It was cool and definitely out of place to be in Israel and have a bowl of Corn Flakes and hearing outside your window ‘AVATIACH AVATIACH!’ (AVATIACH, meaning “watermelon” in Hebrew, is called out as vendors are selling watermelon, so people would know it is being sold.  It represents one of the features of Israel. You therefore feel like you’re in Israel, while eating an American breakfast!)

Now that we clarified what’s the priority, whether it be the cereal or the milk; one may ask, what about the cereal itself? Ready-to-eat cereals are made primarily of corn, wheat, oats or rice, and can be grouped into one of the following six categories: 1) Flakes (Corn Flakes) bracha is: ho’adama  2) Oven Puffed Crisp Rice (Rice Krispies) bracha is: mezonot 3) Gum Puffed Whole Grain (Puffed Rice) bracha is: ho’adama  4) Extruded Dough( Cheerios, Alpha Bits) bracha is: mezonot  5) Shredded Wheat – bracha is mezonot 6) Granola – the bracha is ho’adama.

This week we can only discuss one of the six categories since we’re trying to be concise as possible. We will discuss the category of flakes (Corn Flakes.) The process consists of passing pieces of corn kernels between two rollers, thereby pressing them into flakes. The bracha is ho’adama because the corn kernels are still intact when served. Although in another process, corn is cooked into dough and excreted (pressed, formed and cut) into small pallets. These pallets are then rolled into flakes; the bracha for this process is shehakol.

One has to wonder why is cereal so popular in the states? So I asked my son, what does he like about cereal. He said something interesting; he said ‘its easy to prepare, all it takes is a bowl, spoon, milk, and cereal and you have a meal’…. a healthy meal mind you!

Chukas
moshe hitting rock with stick

 

 

The children of Israel screamed out, ‘We want water! We want water!’ Where thereafter, Moshe took the stick and hit the rock resulting in water streaming out. ‘Why did you hit the rock?’ G-d asked disappointingly. The Sages were unclear what exactly was G-d’s commandment to Moshe, the leader of the Jewish people. Was Moshe commanded to speak to the rock whereby instead he hit it? Or the fact that G d instructed Moshe to take his stick, presumably, indicates He may have wanted him to hit it. This is the question in which Rav Henoch Leibowitz z’l of Yeshiva Chafetz Chaim presents. Was the commandment to ‘speak’ or ‘hit’ the rock?

We know Moshe was punished for this incident and was prohibited to enter the land of Israel – something that he desired greatly. Despite praying and pleading with G-d before he died, his quest to pilgrimage with the rest of the Jewish people to Israel was denied.

The answer to this question is both. Moshe was commanded to speak to the Israelites first, in front of the rock, and to announce G-d’s great miracle in a thunderous way. It will take place through His trusted servant who will perform the task by hitting it. However, Moshe and Aharon merely said, ‘Listen up; we will now draw water from the rock by hitting it’. Moshe and Aharon had to be clearer and emphasize the wondrous hand of G-d, that this was amomentous moment. Therefore because they weren’t clear, G-d rebuked them, stating ‘you did not believe in me.’

But isn’t it clear and pretty obvious that G-d commanded Moshe. The Israelites knew Moshe was His faithful servant and every breath, every step , which was taken, was done with G-d’s signature. I mean -really – it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out G-d is pushing the controls.

Perhaps the Torah is trying to teach us an important lesson about ourselves. Man has a much higher impression and a stronger feeling when the information he receives is straightforward and clear (stating G-D DID IT!). However, if the message is trickled down by hints, it doesn’t have the same effect; it’s not impactful. Therefore, when G-d said ‘you are not believers in enhancing my ambiance in the eyes of the children of Israel’. By Moshe and Aharon not elaborating their action, they caused a decreased spiritual force in the world. The result of the ‘hint’ weakened the impression that it was G-d who made the water come out from the rock.

G-d gave us the gift of speech; something animals lack, and it’s our obligation to express ourselves properly. We all heard of the expression ‘words penetrate the heart’. The sages say there is no comparison between hearing, which has a stronger effect than seeing. G-d set the stage for Moshe to infuse his awareness upon the Israelites; he had to articulate with his speech what G-d planned to do. Think of it as an announcer describing an exciting baseball game. The announcer has to be gifted in describing the game and keeping the fans, tuned in and interested. I have an aunt living in Israel who would always talk very positively about the land and the Jewish people. Every time we come across a positive experience, she would comment, ‘You see, you don’t need to go to America. You have America here.’ She would verbally describe every experience and make it seem adventurously fun. My aunt has a gifted knack to use her words to the fullest ….. Unfortunately, Moshe missed that precious opportunity.

We have to learn from this incident that G-d bestowed upon man the precious gift of speech and it’s our responsibility to utilize it to the best of our ability.
Sincerely,
Rabbi Avi Matmon
Spark of Jewish Experience