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The Jewish Home | JULY 14, 2022
Delving into the Daf
Sheva Brachos Shailos By Rabbi Avrohom Sebrow
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n the first perek of Kesuvos, there is a lengthy exposition on Sheva Brachos. What follows is some selected halachos regarding Sheva Brachos with a focus on the psakim of Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l. This article is not intended to issue practical rulings but to engender discussion. The Rema (EH 62:6) writes that the seven days of celebration start at the conclusion of the Sheva Brachos recited at the chuppah. However, Rav Moshe ruled that if the chuppah took place close to sunset and the wedding meal did not start until after sunset, the first day of Sheva Brachos is the Hebrew calendar day on which the wedding meal took place. Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, ruled that on the seventh day of Sheva Brachos, the Sheva Brachos should not be recited past sunset. Rav Elyashiv once related that the Klausenberger Rebbe invited him to the last Sheva Brachos meal being made in honor of his daughter (who married Rav Dov Weiss). He was to be honored
with one of the Sheva Brachos. Rav Elyashiv politely declined, explaining that presumably the Sheva Brachos will be recited way after sunset in accordance with the chassidishe custom that halachic nighttime occurs 72 minutes after sunset. Rav Elyashiv felt that according to his custom, Sheva Brachos recited after sunset would be considered blessings in vain. The Klausenberger Rebbe assured him that the Sheva Brachos would conclude before sunset, and then Rav Elyashiv graciously accepted the invitation. However, Rav Moshe Feinstein, zt”l, ruled that (at least) in New York, Sheva Brachos may be recited on the 7th day until 40 minutes after sunset. There is a dispute among the Rishonim whether Sheva Brachos can be recited when only the chosson or the kallah is present. Rav Moshe ruled that they both must be present to recite Sheva Brachos. The Gerrer Rebbe, zt”l, only allowed someone to recite one of the Sheva Brachos if they ate bread and thereby
joined the festive meal. Rav Elyashiv, zt”l, ruled that someone may recite one of the Sheva Brachos even if he didn’t eat anything. It was reported that he himself followed this practice. Rav Moshe, zt”l, and Rav Shlomo Zalman, zt”l, both held that while one does not need to eat bread to recite Sheva Brachos, one should at least eat or drink something. On a weekday, Sheva Brachos are only recited if panim chadashos are present. This means that there should be someone new present at the meal to rejoice with the groom and bride, someone who was not present at the wedding. This new guest increases the joy of the chosson and kallah. A complete stranger does not qualify for panim chadashos. However, Rav Moshe ruled that if any of the parents of the chosson or kallah know the individual, then he qualifies. This guest indirectly increases the joy of the bride and the groom, when they see their parents rejoicing with this new guest. However, if the stranger is a Torah scholar, then, regardless, he qual-
ifies as panim chadashos. The Torah scholar increases the joy of the chosson and kallah by making them feel honored to have a distinguished individual rejoice with them. There is a dispute between the Shulchan Aruch and the Rema if the individual who qualifies as panim chadoshos has to actually eat something from the seudah. (EH 62:7) Although the Rema ruled that he does not have to eat, Rav Elyashiv said as a matter of practical halacha, he should preferably eat bread. An eminent scholar once joined a Sheva Brachos. He was supposed to be the panim chadoshos. However, since he only drank a soft drink, Rav Elyashiv said that he did not qualify as a new guest, although, if an individual ate food, even though he did not eat bread, Rav Elyashiv said that he would qualify. Likewise, Rav Moshe ruled that the individual being counted on for panim chadashos should eat something from the meal. (Some Sefardim are very meticulous about this halacha and require
