...Continued from previous week
1) When reciting a Bracha on a food/drink [or when reciting a Bracha before smelling Besamim] it is proper to hold the item in your hand, as doing so will lead to better Kavanah.
However, if the Bracha was recited without the item being in your hand, B’dieved it is an acceptable Bracha, as long as the item is in front of you. (Mishna Berura Siman 206:17)
2) Right handed people should hold the item in their right hand and left handed people should hold it in their left hands, as holding the item in the stronger hand is a sign of Chashivus, importance. (Mishna Berura 206:18 quoting Rav Akiva Eiger and the Mogen Avraham Siman 183)
The above does not apply to bread, as bread needs to be held with both hands (i.e. all ten fingers) when reciting Hamotzi. The reason for this is that there are 10 Mitzvos that are associated with the process of making bread, as follows: During the plowing of the field 1) an ox and a donkey may not be used together; During the planting phase 2) one may not plant 2 different species together ; During the reaping phase 3) Leket, 4) Shikcha and 5) Peah, 6) the ox that is used may not be muzzled while working; After the baking phase 7) Teruma to the Kohen, 8) Ma'aser Rishon to the Levi, 9) Ma'aser Sheini to be eaten in Yerushalayim and 10) Challah to the Kohen
It is for this reason that there are 10 words in the Bracha of Hamotzi and 10 words in each of the Pesukim that refer to the bread of mankind (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 167:4 and Mishna Berura 167:23 ad 24. The verses are: 1) V'Yiten lecha H'Elokim... (Bereishis 27:28) 2) Eretz Chita U'Seora... (Devarim 8:8) 3) Matzmiach chatzir L'Behaima... (Tehillim 104) 4) Einei Chol Ailecha Yesabeiru...(Tehillim 145, better known as the psalm of Ashrei)
Some people have a Minhag on Shabbos not to place their fingers directly on the Chalos, rather to place their hands on the Challah cover. However, the prevalent minhag according to most Poskim is to place all 10 fingers on the Chalos, even on Shabbos. (See Mishna Berura 271:41, Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 6 Siman 134 and Sefer Minhag Yisroel Torah Siman 271).
The item should be held directly in the hands and not while wearing gloves. Similarly, if the food is in a snack bag or the like, some of it should be removed and held in the hand not via the bag during the recital of the Bracha. (See Mishna Berura 167:23)
3) If the food being eaten is normally eaten with a utensil (e.g. soup with a spoon or spaghetti in sauce with a fork) it can be held in the utensil while the Bracha is recited.
However, food that is not normally eaten with a utensil should not be held with a utensil while the Bracha is being recited, as that is not respectful to the Bracha. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 206:32. See also Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 8 Siman 28 regarding holding the food with a napkin in order to keep the hands clean.)
4) For Kabalistic reasons, it is best never to hold food with a metal knife. According to some opinions, food should not be held with any knife, even plastic, as knives are a symbol of the opposite of life. (Mishna Berura Siman 206:18. See also Shulchan Aruch HaRav 206:8 and Kaf HaChaim 206:31 who says even a metal fork should not be used, however it is not the prevalent custom to be makpid on a fork)
5) When handing over a Sefer (any book containing Torah content) to another person it should be handed over with the right hand as the Torah was given with the right hand of Hashem. (See Sefer Chasidim Siman 109)
Likewise, the one receiving it should accept it with their right hand. (See Mishna Berura Siman 206:18 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 206:30 and Siman 134:23. See also Kobetz Tzohar Vol. 11 page 68 quoting Rav Chaim Kanievsky Zatzal)
6) This applies equally to lefties and righties. (See Mishna Berura Siman 282:1)
Other Poskim argue and maintain that left handed people give and receive Seforim with their stronger hand. (See Shu”t Be’er Moshe Vol. 2 Siman 3:18)
