By Rabbi Yair Hoffman Mi Ka’Amcha Yisroel!  A recent article highlighting an impromptu Sheva Brachos on an airplane highlighted the universal brotherhood that Klal Yisroel feels for each other.  The article stated, “Passengers on El Al Flight LY10 departing John F. Kennedy International Airport on Wednesday experienced an extraordinary in-flight celebration when the flight transformed into an impromptu Sheva Brachos for a newlywed couple traveling to Eretz Yisroel.” There is no question that this remarkable display of Ahavas Yisroel will be a zchus for Klal Yisroel.  We should, however, look at all opportunities such as these as a potential teaching moment to delve into the remarkable depths of halachic understanding. THE GEMORAH IN KESUVOS 7B The Gemorah in Kesuvos 7b tells us, “Mevarchin birchas chasanim b’vais chasanim – the blessing for Chasanim – grooms is made in the house of the Chasanim – groom.  There is much debate in the Rishonim as to what this means exactly.  The Rambam in Hilchos Brachos 2:9 seems to take this literally and that Sheva Brachos may not be held elsewhere. The Meiri, and the Ran seem to indicate that they may be said elsewhere (on Sukkah 25a). The Aruch HaShulchan (EH 62:36) draws a distinction between previous times and current times.  Back then the bride and groom had one specific place, but nowadays they are wherever they wish to be – hence Sheva Brachos can be made anywhere they are found. Some Poskim (See Birchas Chasanim p. 89) believe that the distinction between Ahkenaz practice and Sefardic practice is that the food planning and the decorating of the Sheva Brachos venue is enough to consider it to be Bais Chasanim.  They rule that doing so one an airplane would not fit the criterion.  This was also the view of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach zt”l, although I cannot recall where I saw his view. RAV ELYASHIV ZT”L’S OPINION The following is from the translated Psakim of Rav Elyashiv zatzal which the family graciously allowed me to translate and print for a Chasunah of one of my children.  Let’s focus on subparagraphs #21 and #28. PARAMETERS OF THE MEAL FOR SHEVA BRACHOS THE SHEVA BRACHOS MEAL For any bread meal that is made in honor of the groom and bride during the seven days of feasting, the Sheva Brachos must be recited. The groom and the bride must also eat of the bread. A GROOM AND BRIDE AT A BRIS If the meal was not specifically prepared in honor of the groom and bride, the Sheva Brachos are not recited. Therefore, if a groom and bride partook of a meal made for a Bris Mila, the Sheva Brachos are not recited unless an important food was added in honor of the groom and bride. WHEN ONE DID NOT EAT BREAD If the groom did not eat bread, the Sheva Brachos are not recited except for the blessing of “Asher Barah.” If the groom ate bread but the Kallah did not eat bread, the Sheva Brachos are recited. MINYAN OF MEN The Sheva Brachos are not recited unless there were ten men that reached the age of Mitzvah observance and they remain until the actual Sheva Brachos. WHEN THERE IS NO MINYAN One does not recite the blessing of “Asher Bara” without a minyan – even […]