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1) It is prohibited [for a male] to recite a Bracha with his head uncovered.
If a Bracha was recited without a head covering, according to some Poskim it is acceptable B'dieved. According to others it may even be invalid B'dieved. (See Aruch HaShulchanSiman 206:6. See Shu"t Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 4 Siman 40:14 where he writes that Tefilah davened with an uncovered head is not valid B'dieved. Some want to deduce from there that Rav Moshe Zatzal would Pasken the same thing for Brachos. Regarding how much of the head must be covered, see Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 1 Siman 1. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Shmini Siman 18 where he maintains that married women must cover their heads before making Brachos, even if they are in a place where their heads don't otherwise have to be covered according to Halacha.) 2) Although there is no Halacha requiring the washing of the hands before reciting a Bracha, if one knows for certain that his/her hands are unclean or touched a covered part of the body, the hands do need to be washed before reciting the Bracha.
Some people are stringent to always wash their hands before reciting a Bracha. (See Mishna Berura Siman 227:12 and Siman 435:2. This was also the minhag of the Chasam Sofer to wash with a little bit water before making a Bracha, in respect to the Bracha)
QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A page on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
I recently thought about the idea of how the Siddur is published with the Torah portions read on Mondays, Thursdays, Shabbos Mincha, and at various other zmanim throughout the year, is placed in the back of the Siddur, with the T'fillot preceding it, resulting when you close a Siddur the T'fillot are placed and rest above the Torah portions.
But when it comes to "piling up S'farim" we tend to place Chumashim(composed of the portions mentioned above) on top of a Siddur mainly because of "maalim b'kidushah", what could be a possible heter for this, or should a Siddur be placed down when not using it "upside down" namely with the Torah portions on top?
Answer:
According to many Poskim (including Aruch HaShulchan Yoreh Deah Siman 282:22) only Chumashim written as Torah scrolls (individual Sefarim, but on parchment) have the extra Kedusha and may not be placed under any other seforim, and not our Chumashim that are printed on paper.
Although we are stringent and don't put anything on top of a paper Chumash either, in your case there is no room for stringencies and definitely do not place the siddur backwards, as the Pesukim that are in the back do not make it a chumash. The Gemara also has Pesukim in it as do other Seforim, yet only a Chumash by itself has that stringency.
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
