• November 3, 2024
  • 2 5785, Heshvan
  • פרשת לך־לך

Blessings for Special Fragrances

Blessings for Special Fragrances

Flowers, spices, fruit and so many other things have special scents. Join Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman and learn the parameters for blessings for special fragrances. When is a blessing is required and when it is not?

July 6, 2022 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Blessings for Special Fragrances: Blessings For Smelling
Class description

Most of us are familiar with the Havdalah ceremony of Saturday night. When Shabbat ends we say blessings over wine, a braided candle and fragrant spices. Before inhaling the fragrant spices we say the blessing “Borei Minei B’samim”- we praise Hashem for creating sources of fragrance.

In my experience the blessing is rarely said during the course of the week. This may be due to the fact that I grew up in New York where pleasant fragrances were hard to come by.

But there are many sources of pleasant fragrances. My own favorite fragrance is pizza- specifically pizza as it is removed from the oven in the pizza shop. I think that many people share my appreciation of fresh pizza. So today, to begin our study of the Halachot of the blessings that are said over pleasant fragrances we will begin with a discussion of pizza.

July 13, 2022 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Blessings for Special Fragrances: Blessings For Smelling
Class description

Hello Everyone,

Today is the second and final session on ברכות הריח and we will tie up soe of the loose ends from last week’s class. We will discuss the blessing to be said over the etrog, both during the year and on on Sukkot. We will discuss the fragrance of flower gardens, perfume shops and other odds and ends.

Rabbi Dr. Stuart Fischman graduated from Yeshiva University in 1980 and the dental school of Columbia University in 1985. In 1989 he began studying and teaching at Yeshivat Hamivtar and now studies and teaches at Yeshivat Machanaim in Efrat. He has rabbinic ordination from Rav Zalman Nechemia Goldberg.