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Why does flour get shehakol while olive oil retains borei pri ha'etz, when both involve transforming the original food? The shiur develops a yesod that transformation creates two distinct halachic objects - the degraded original and the new creation. The blessing depends on which entity you're actually consuming.
This shiur examines Masechta Brachos 36a, focusing on the intricate halachic principles governing blessings (berachos) on foods that have undergone transformation from their original state. The discussion centers around several key cases: kemach d'chita (wheat flour), shemen zayis (olive oil), and wine, analyzing when these transformed foods retain their original blessing or require a new one. Rabbi Zweig begins by examining the Taz's position on hilot (a type of bean), where the intended use at planting determines the appropriate blessing. If planted to be eaten at an early stage, it receives a borei pri ha'adamah, but if pulled early when planted for later consumption, it gets a shehakol. The Even Ha'ezer raises difficulties with this approach regarding olive oil and wine, questioning why eating the olive or grape shouldn't require a shehakol when the intent was to produce oil or wine.
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Brachos 36a
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Should one learn Torah full-time trusting in Divine providence, or combine learning with work? The shiur distinguishes between Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai's approach of complete separation from worldly concerns versus Rabbi Shmuel's view that proper work itself becomes part of Torah. The key insight: true emunah means learning without demanding sustenance from either Hashem or community, unlike having a 'contract' expecting payment for learning.
