Our goal for this Halacha Page is to encourage the study of Halacha by offering the opportunity to both review Halachot that you may have already learned and to delve into unfamiliar areas as well. You will be presented with Halachic sources for you to learn. Take the time to study them well and then return to this page and take the following quiz. It will help you ascertain your mastery of the material and assist you in determining which Halachot require further study.
For this "exercise", you will need the second volume of the Mishneh Brurah. In the Shulchan Aruch prepare Chapter 227, Paragraphs 1-3 and the accompanying Mishneh Brurah, Sub-paragraphs 1-12.
1. The Shulchan Aruch explains Zikim as "A star that shoots like an arrow across the sky. The Mishnah Brurah adds that it can also be "a star with a tail and a rod of light." They are referring to respectively:
A. A planet and a shooting star B. A shooting star and a comet C. A shooting star and a supernova
2. In one of the following situations one recites two brachot on the sight. Which situation?
A. Seeing two different shooting stars in one night B. Seeing a comet on two consecutive nights C. Seeing a shooting star on two consecutive nights
3. You wake up early one morning to the rumbling of an earthquake. You are fine and you feel the need to express gratitude to HaShem. What should you do?
A. Go to Shul and recite Birkat HaGomel B. Recite Osei Ma'asei Breishit C. One does not recite a Bracha on bad events
4. Lightning is Brakim and thunder is Re'amim. According to the Shulchan Aruch one recites:
A. Either Osei Ma'asei Breishit or SheKocho Ug'vuroto Malei Olam for either one of them B. Osei Ma'asei Breishit for Lightning and SheKocho Ug'vuroto Malei Olam for thunder C. Recite only Osei Ma'asei Breishit for the lightning
5. According to the Mishnah Brurah, the preferred Bracha(ot) for lightning and thunder is (are):
A. Osei Ma'asei Breishit B. SheKocho Ug'vuroto Malei Olam C. Osei Ma'asei Breishit for lightning and SheKocho Ug'vuroto Malei Olam for thunder
6. According to the Mishnah Brurah (227:3):
A. One should never recite a Bracha on lightning until after she hears thunder B. One may not recite a Bracha on lightning once she heard thunder in that storm C. One may recite a Bracha over lightning as long as she is certain that it is lightning from a storm and not just heat lightning
7. Ruchot Shenashvu Bezaaf are winds that blow in fury. What Bracha does one recite on a hurricane?
A. SheKocho Ug'vurato Malei Olam B. Osei Ma'asei Breishit C. One does not recite a Bracha on bad events
8. If one sees lightning immediately followed by thunder:
A. Recite the Bracha for lightning immediately followed by the Bracha for thunder B. One should only recite the Bracha for thunder; it's too late to recite the Bracha for lightning C. One should recite the Bracha for lightning for both
9. How many times per storm does one recite a Bracha over lightning and thunder?
A. Once per storm, but not twice a day for two different storms B. Once per storm, but new Brachot are recited on a new day C. Once per storm unless there is an exceptionally bright flash of lightning or an exceptionally loud clap of thunder
10. What is the time limit for reciting Brachot over thunder and lightning?
A. Until the storm subsides B. As long as one still feels moved by the loudness or the brightness C. Two or three seconds
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