1) One whose nose is congested, or otherwise cannot smell, does not recite any Brachos over pleasant smelling items. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 297:5 and Mishna Berura S"K 13. See also Shu"t Radvaz Siman 2321 and Shu"t Be'er Moshe Vol. 3 Siman 54. There are some opinions who allow one without a sense of smell to recite the Bracha, but that isn't the way most Poskim rule. See Shu"t Shvus Yaakov Vol. 3 Siman 20 and Shu"t Halachos Ketanos Vol. 2 Siman183) If one is unsure if he/she will be able to smell, it is permissible to take a small whiff, and upon determining that a smell can be detected, the Bracha recited. (See Ben Ish Chai Parshas V'Eschanan Siman 62, Kaf HaChaim 216:3 and Sefer Brachos K'Hilchasan page 150 quoting Rav Chaim Kanievsky.) 2) Likewise, a person who can smell perfectly fine, yet isn't sure if the flower/spice he/she wants to smell will have a scent, may take a small whiff to determine if a fragrance is present, and then recite the Bracha and continue smelling it. (Some Poskim only allow this on Motzei Shabbos when there is an obligation to smell something, but all other times say to refrain from smelling something unless you are sure it will smell and can recite a Bracha before smelling it. See Birchas HaBayis Siman 326:35) If one recites the Bracha and intended to smell the flower/spice, and then upon smelling it found it to have no scent at all, "Boruch Sheim" should be recited.
Halachos for Shabbos Kodesh
1) One who has a variety of pleasant smelling items in front of him and wants to smell them all, must separate them into their proper categories and recite the proper Brachos on each category. (See Kaf HaChaim 216:19.) If one recited a Borei Minei Besamim on all the things in front of him/her, B'dieved it is acceptable and no further Brachos should be recited.
However, if the different varieties were all together in a container, and it is difficult to separate them, the Borei Minei Besamim may be recited on the entire mixture, L'Chatchila.(See Mishna Berura 216:39) 2) If one is in doubt as to the proper Bracha of any given item, Borei Minei Besamim may be recited L'Chatchila (Mishna Berura 216:13. This includes even someone who does not know which Bracha Halacha dictates to say, and not only a type of smell whose Bracha is hard to determine according to Halacha, unlike by food where a SheHakol may only be recited on foods whose status is a Halachic Safek, and not simply on foods that an individual doesn't know its correct Bracha. See Mishna Berura 297:1 and Aruch HaShulchan 216:5. See also Sefer V'Zos HaBracha Perek 19 quoting Dayan Yisroel Yaakov Fisher Zatzal) Likewise, if one walks into a room filled with various types of pleasant smelling Besamim and smells the entire array of smells at once, Borei Minei Besamim should be recited L'Chatchilah on all of the smells combined. (Mishna Berura Siman 217:3)
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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 pages on the Halacha For Today website.
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.
Regarding Chinese Auctions/ Raffle tickets/Lottery...
According logic/teva, the more tickets one buys the greater his chance of winning.
I heard from someone that firstly, I must believe that Hashem is Adon Kol (master of everything). Next, my Hishtadlus would be buying more tickets (which is my choice) and increasing my % chance of winning.
Since in Galus Hashem rules through teva (nature). Where is the line between doing my Hishtadlus and Bitachon that If Hashem wills it, it'll happen regardless of the odds?
Answer:
Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal ruled that to buy a lottery ticket is Hishtadlus; to buy more than one is a lack of Bitachon, as if you were meant to win, your odds won't improve by purchasing more. (Rav Yisroel Salanter and other Gedolim ruled the same way)
Only if the tickets being purchased are for a Tzedaka cause did Rav Moshe allow the purchase of more than one ticket, as the purpose of buying is to support the Tzedaka and only a side benefit is that you may win a prize.
However, even then, your "odds" don't improve by buying more as Hashem can make your one ticket win just as easily as He can make your 10 tickets contain a winner.
Of course, there is always a chance that in the merit of giving more funds to Tzedaka Hashem will deem you worthy of winning, but the bottom line is that you must have Bitachon that whatever is supposed to be yours will be yours and if it isn't meant to be, all the tickets in the world couldn't help you.
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 )
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