eShabbos
Parshas Beshalach
January 18-19, 2019
Shalom and hello everyone!


SHABBOS SHIRA 

This week's Parsha contains the "Song at the Sea" sung by the Children of Israel upon their deliverance from the Egyptians when the Red Sea split to allow them to pass - and then drowned their pursuers. 
Therefore, this Shabbat is designated Shabbos Shira , shabbos of song. Join Ohav Sholom this shabbos for uplifting singing, special Torah messages and a tasty hot gala kiddush, marking this week’s auspicious Torah reading and awe-inspiring events! 
WINNER WINNER CHOLENT DINNER!

It is my distinct pleasure to congratulate the winner of Ohav Sholom’s 2019 Cholent Cook-Off competition... ME! 

That’s right, I am the winner, and for three years running! It’s hard to believe but I won both the general and electoral vote of French Culinary Institute graduate and Head Chef extraordinaire, Larry Chaityn . Thanks, Larry for walking all the ways from the Upper East Side! 

Thanks to all my fans and to the runners up, including the fantastic cholent entered by our own gabbai, Matt Bobman . Had I not sabotaged his cholent by unplugging the crock-pot before shabbos, he would have surely won. 

Much gratitude to all who entered the contest and to our wonderful organizers, Dr. Francine Katz, and Adena Samowitz. 
GUEST DARSHONIM
Join us this shabbos for exciting drashos delivered by Rabbi Shlomo Besser, shlita, and our own talented Yaakov Weiland.  

Rabbi Besser will deliver the shabbos morning drasha and address the topic of Jewish Education and the pressure on yeshivas and Day Schools as the new curriculum for increased secular studies are introduced and enforced by the State of New York. 

Yaakov Weiland will speak both Friday night and shabbos afternoon. The topic of the shiur between mincha and maariv is, " Creating a Spiritual Daily Checklist: Making the most of every day". 

The shiur is open to both men and women. Enjoy! 
TU B’SHVAT NEXT MONDAY
Next Monday, January 21, 2019, is the 15th of Shevat, Tu B’shvat. 

Although this rosh hashana l’ilanos , “New Year for fruit-bearing trees” primarily affects tithes and the like, customs evolved to include tasting varieties of fruits both locally and from Israel and to make a shechiyanu on “new” fruits available. 

The key is to express gratitude to Hashem for the delicious bounty He provides us with always! Happy Tu B’shvat! 
ANSWERS TO TUESDAY NIGHT’S SPECIAL BROCHOS SHIUR
(Shiur and complimentary dinner were generously sponsored by Steven Sieratzki, Esq.)
 
1. What does the term min sheva refer to?
a.Varieties of fruits that the Torah praises eretz yisroel.


2. What does the term chaviv mean in relation to hilchos brachos?
a. One has a preference and liking for a particular food. This gives kedima, precedence in bracha recitation.

3. What if a species of fruit is chaviv now but not regularly chaviv ? On which fruit should he make a bracha (if one has multiple varieties on the table?)
a. He would first make a bracha on the variety of fruit that is regularly chaviv. Alternatively, he may make a bracha on the "old" chaviv, taste a little, then consume the "new" chaviv, then return to the first fruit.


4. If one has fruit and a vegetable on the table and wishes to eat both but the vegetable is more chaviv , which bracha comes first, the ha'adama or ha'etz?
a. The ha'adama.


5. In the preceding question, instead of chaviv , the ha'adama is min shiva (e.g. toasted kernels of wheat,) what to do? 
a. One would favor the min sheva even though it's ha'adama.

6. If one has multiple varieties of fruits before him on the table, including ha'adama, ha'etz, min sheva and chaviv, on which fruit should one make a bracha first? 
a. The chaviv takes precedence.

7. If one has a new fruit to recite the shechiyanu bracha, does this give precedence over any other species of fruit?
a. No. There is no kedima for a fruit/vegetable that one recites shechiyanu.

8. Would one recite shechiyanu over a "new" species of bird, fish, bread or vegetables? 
a. No. These items are readily available and difficult to distinguish between new and old. One would recite shechiyanu over fancy, exotic vegetables but not on ordinary ones, such as lettuce.

9. If a fruit enjoys two seasons a year, would one recite shechiyanu twice?
a. Yes.

10. Why don't we recite shechiyanu over potatoes?
a. Since they are stored throughout the year and readily available.


11. If one doesn't feel joy over a new fruit or he simply doesn't like it, would he recite shechiyanu regardless? Give two reasons if yes. 
a. Yes. The bracha is about YOU being present, shechiyanu...b'zman hazeh, and the availability of the species - not exclusively about personal simcha. Additionally, if the Rabbis imposed the bracha upon us, we truly are b'simcha, even if we don't feel it...

12. If a particular fruit is imported and thus available all year long would one recite a shechiyanu? What if they freeze/refrigerate the fruit and make itreadily available but it is technically out of season? Make the shechiyanu anyway?
a. One would not make the bracha at all.

13. What if fruits are available from other countries but sold locally at exclusive stores and at a premium, would this be considered out of season/scarce and shechiyanu recited?
a. No, it is considered available and no bracha is recited.


14. What if varieties of fruits are available year-round in one country but imported seasonally in another country, would the second country recite a shechiyanu?
a. No, they would not recite the bracha.

15. Should one recite shechiyanu over carob/buckser? 
a. According to Rav Eliyashev, z"tl, one would not since people do not regularly eat it.


16. If one cooks or pickles new fruits, does he say the shechiyanu?
a. Yes.


17. If one recited an ha'etz over an apple (and a date and pomegranate are on the table) and now wants to eat a (new) date and a (new) pomegranate, must he be makdim to recite the shechiyanu over the date before the pomegranate (since the date appears in the verse before the pomegranate?)
a. No, there is no kedima insofar as shechiyanu is concerned.



Have a great shabbos!

Rabbi Aaron D. Mehlman
Erev shabbos kodesh beshalach - shira 5779
Shabbos TimeTable
Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Beshalach
Friday, January 18, 2019
Candle lighting 4:38 PM
Mincha/Kabbalos Shabbos 4:50 PM

Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Beshalach
Saturday, January 19, 2019
Shacharis 9:00 AM
Gala Kiddush
Mincha 4:40 PM
Special lecture: Creating a Spiritual Daily Checklist: Making the most of every day
Maariv / Shabbos ends 5:42 PM
Ohav Sholom | (212) 877-5850 | office@osnyc.org | www.osnyc.org