...Continued from previous week
1) When a Jewish male receives an Aliyah to the Torah, he recites a Bracha before the reading (Baruch...Asher Bachar Banu M’Kal HaAmim...) and a Bracha after the reading (Baruch...Asher Nasan Lanu Es Toraso...)
Before reciting the first Bracha, the Ba’al Koreh (the one reading the Torah) shows the one getting the Aliyah the correct place from where the reading will begin, and on which he will be reciting the Bracha. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 139:4 and Mishna Berura S”K 16)
When reciting the first Bracha, the Torah remains open. (See Mishna Berura S”K 17). When reciting the first Bracha, in order that it shouldn’t seem like he is reading the Brachos from within the Torah scroll (which, if it would be so, would invalidate the scroll) he turns his head slightly away from the Torah. The direction to turn the head should be to the left. (See Rama Siman 139:4 and Mishna Berura S”K 19)
Left handed people also turn their heads to the left, as it is done that direction in deference of the right side of the Shechina. (See Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:14. See also Aruch HaShulchan Siman 139:13 that the reason here has nothing to do with the Shechina, as only by Tefilah are we standing “Lifnei Hamelech”. Rather he writes that it is done to the left as that is the direction of the reader of the Torah.)
2) Some Poskim frown upon this minhag, as they say that turning the head away from the Torah makes it seem like the Bracha is being recited on something else and not on the Torah reading at hand. Rather, they say the head should remain straight and the eyes should be closed instead. (See Mishna Berura ibid. This was the Minhag of the Chazon Ish Zatzal). Alternately, another Minhag is to not turn the head and also not close the eyes, and rather to close the Sefer Torah for the duration of the Bracha and only open it upon completion of the Bracha for the reading. (This was the minhag of the Steipler Zatzal. See Piskei Teshuvos Siman 139 footnote 62). Any of the above methods are acceptable. (See Biur Halacha Siman 139 Dibur Hamaschil V’Roeh Haposuk)
3) Before eating bread, there is an obligation to wash the hands. The proper order regarding which hand goes first is as follows: The washing cup should be held in the right hand, filled with water, and then transferred to the left hand. The right hand should then be washed [twice, or even once if being done with an abundance of water]. The cup should then be transferred to the right hand, filled with water (if necessary), and the left hand should then be washed [twice, or even once if being done with an abundance of water]. (Mogen Avraham in introduction to Siman 158. Also brought in the Siddur Ya’avetz and in the name of the Gaon of Vilna)
4) A left handed person should also follow the above procedure, and wash his/her right hand first. (See Pri Megadim, Aishel Avraham, Siman 158:1 and Mishna Berura Siman 4:22). The reason for this is that there are kabalistic reasons for the right hand being washed first. If one’s hands are being washed by someone else, the right hand is washed first as well. (See Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 3 Siman 32). Some have the custom when raising their hands after washing for bread to raise right hand a bit higher than the left hand. (See Piskei Teshuvos Siman 162 footnote 15)
5) It is a Mitzvah Min HaMuvchar (the ideal, proper way to perform the Mitzvah) when reciting Birchas HaMazon after a meal to recite it over a cup of wine (Kos Shel Bracha) (See Mishna Berura Siman 182:1 that doing so is respectful and a proper expression of praise to Hashem, as it says in the Posuk (Tehillim 116) Kos Yeshuos Esa U'V'eshaim Hashem Ekra, A cup of salvation I will lift and the name of Hashem I will call). Although according to some Poskim this applies even to an individual person who ate alone, the prevalent custom is to use a cup of wine only when three or more men participated in the meal; some people only use a cup of wine when a minyan of men participated. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 182: 1 and Mishna Berura S"K 4. See also Igros Moshe Yoreh Deah Vol. 3 Siman 52:3)
Whenever a Kos Shel Bracha is used, the following procedure for lifting it should be followed: The cup should initially be lifted by the one reciting the Bracha with both hands, to show our love for the Mitzvah. (See Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 183:4 and Mishna Berura 183:12. Some people have the custom that someone else hands them the cup, probably from the terminology of the Shulchan Aruch who uses the word "Mekablo" which can also be translated as "receiving". Even when receiving from someone else, it should be taken with both hands.)
When the Bracha begins to be recited, the left hand should be removed and the cup held only with the right hand, as holding it with two hands makes it seem like the Mitzvah is a burden. (ibid.). If the left hand is needed to support the right hand, it is acceptable, as long as both hands aren't on the cup. (Rama ibid.)
6) According to the Shulchan Aruch (quoting the opinion of a "Yesh Omrim" which is the opinion of the Shibolei HaLeket Siman 156 and Meiri to Shabbos 103 Dibur Hamaschil Mimah SheKasavnu), a left handed person removes his right hand and continues to hold the cup with his left hand for the duration of the Bracha. (Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim Siman 183:5). However, according to some Poskim, a left handed person also continues to hold the cup in his right hand. Likewise, kabalistic sources concur with those that rule that there is no difference between right handed and left handed people in regard to this Halacha. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 183:29 that the Bais Yosef himself in Siman 651 rules this way contradicting what he writes in Shulchan Aruch. He also quotes the Zohar to this effect. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Shelach Siman 19)
