Dose of Halacha

Question: Is it permissible to recite sheva berachos if the chassan is coeliac and therefore unable to wash for bread? Answer: The Gemara (Pesachim 102b) teaches that one may not fulfil two mitzvos using the same cup of wine. Tosafos explains that this is why we use two separate cups at a sheva berachos meal, one for bentching and one for the sheva berachos themselves. R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yabia Omer EH 3:11:6) infers from this that sheva berachos may only be recited when those present have eaten bread. In a later teshuva (Yabia Omer EH 6:9), R’ Ovadia quotes R’ Shlomo Kluger (Haelef Lecha Shlomo OC 93), who rules that if the chassan does not eat bread, the meal cannot be considered a seudah held in his honour, and sheva berachos may therefore not be recited. R’ Ovadia adds that the kalla must also eat bread in order for the sheva berachos to be valid (see Tzitz Eliezer 13:99:4). R’ Sraya Deblitzky (Sova Semachos 1:19) maintains that bedieved , even if the chassan eats ...

Question: When is the best time to count the omer if I am not davening maariv with a minyan at nacht ? Answer: The Beis Yosef (OC 489:1) highlights a machlokes regarding whether one may count the omer during bein hashemashos (the time between shekia , sunset, and nacht , nightfall). The Rosh, (Pesachim 10:40), Tur (OC 489:1) and Tosafos (Menachos 66a) argue that since counting the omer is miderabanan nowadays, it is permissible to count from shekia . On the other hand, Rambam (Temidin Umusafin 7:22) and the Ran (Pesachim 28a) assert that one should wait until nacht . Following this reasoning, the Mishna Berura (489:14) states that, ideally, one should wait until nacht to count (see Aruch Hashulchan OC 489:7). Other poskim , including the Bach (OC 489:1), Shulchan Aruch Harav (OC 489:12) and R’ Ovadia Yosef (Yechave Daas 1:23) write that it is acceptable to count after shekia . The Shulchan Aruch (OC 489:1) advises that the omer should be counted after maariv . The Mishna Beru...