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I would like to add the following to what is below. IMO starting on
time and not dragging things out is part of Kovod Habrios. <br><br>
See
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>"</font>
<a href="http://personal.stevens.edu/%7Ellevine/jp/is_this_simcha_really_a_simcha.pdf">
<font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3 color="#0000FF">Is This Simcha
Really a
Simcha?</a></font><font face="Times New Roman, Times" size=3>"
</font><b>The Jewish Press</b>, June 17, 2005, page 1 YL <br><br>
From today's Hakhel email bulletin<br><br>
<font size=3>Special Note Three: With Chasuna season upon us, it
becomes necessary to once again review the Halachos of Sheva Brachos, so
that we can be better guided when attending a Sheva Brachos Seudah, or
being asked to be the “Panim Chadoshos”. We present below several such
Halachos, as excerpted from the Sefer <i>Oholei Yeshurun</i> by Rabbi
Aharon Felder, Shlita. As always, one should consult with his Rav
or Posek for a final P’sak or in the case of any doubt:<br><br>
1. If a Chasuna occurs near sh’kia and the meal cannot begin on the
same day (before sunset), then the seven days begin on the following day
(i.e. the day of the actual Chasuna meal).<br><br>
2. If the final meal on the seventh day concludes after sunset,
Sheva Brachos may still be recited. <br><br>
3. It is preferable that Sheva Brachos be recited each day.
Therefore, a Chassan and Kallah should not travel to places where Sheva
Brachos cannot be recited. <br><br>
4. Sheva Brachos may be recited at a meal in any place--as long as
the meal was prepared specifically for the Chassan and Kallah.
Therefore, Sheva Brachos could not be recited if the Chassan and Kallah
enter a restaurant to have a private meal. Rather, if Sheva Brachos
are to be recited in a hotel, restaurant or other place where people are
otherwise served meals, then the people who will participate should be
notified ahead of time that the meal is in honor of the Chassan and
Kallah. <br><br>
5. Sheva Brachos would not be recited if a Chassan and Kallah are
attending a Bris, unless special food was added in their honor. <br><br>
6. Both Chassan and Kallah must be present both at the meal (even
if they arrived late), and at the Sheva Brachos. <br><br>
7. Sheva Brachos is recited only once, even if there are several
Chassanim and Kallos at the same meal. <br><br>
8. A minimum of seven males above Bar Mitzvah must recite Birkas
Hamazon in order to recite Sheva Brachos. The remaining three
people needed for the minyan may eat a kezayis of any food or drink a
revi’is of any liquid (except for water). If one had started his
meal elsewhere (such as Friday night), and was asked to Bentsh with the
Chassan and Kallah for Sheva Brachos, he must eat a kezayis of bread at
his own meal, and he must then eat a small portion of food with the
Chassan and Kallah--unless he is one of the seven people required to eat
bread--in which case he must eat at least a kezayis of bread at the Sheva
Brachos location. However, if he is one of the other three people
needed, then he may eat a kezayis of any food or drink a revi’is of
liquid (except water), as above.<br><br>
9. The Panim Chadashos cannot have been present at a previous meal
tendered in honor of the Chassan and Kallah, but may have attended the
wedding ceremony itself.<br><br>
10. If the two Kosos are not the same size, the larger Kos should
be used for Bentsching, which is more chashuv. Both cups should be
filled before washing Mayim Achronim.<br><br>
11. If one of the Brachos was temporarily skipped by mistake, it
should be recited despite the fact that it will not be in the proper
order.<br><br>
12. The person Bentsching should have kavana to be motzi others
with his Borei Pri Hagofen, and those intending to drink (such as the
Chassan and Kallah) should also have in mind that they are being yotzei
with his bracha. He should drink at least an ounce of wine--and
preferably a revi’is--so that he can make a bracha achrona on the Kos
Shel Bracha.<br><br>
<br>
<b>Hakhel Note</b>: Whether or not you were honored with one of the
Sheva Brachos---don’t leave without giving your own personal bracha to
the Chassan and Kallah!<br><br>
-----------------------<br>
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