This answer is correct because the question did NOT ask about why we say "lechayim" as our toasting word, but rather why toasts are said over alcohol. — Double AA22 mins ago
@CharlesKoppelman If you add in some sources it would improve your claim. Moreover you should try something more specific than "part of the human condition". Frankly, I don't even think that is proper usage of the human condition.
I didn't downvote though I can begin to understand why someone would (not that any of the reasons I could imagine downvoting for are remotely similar to those expressed in the comments!).
I have voted to close as "primarily opinion-based." This question presents a vague prediction and then asks for answers that fit historical events to it. That's like presenting a cloud formation and asking what it looks like. There is no way to answer objectively. — Isaac Moses19 secs ago
On Chanukah this year we will make a blessing on wine and then having latkas, etc.. I am looking for something mazonot to serve after the wine bracha which is not sweet. We are not making Hamotzi. Are corn chips mazonot? What other non sweet simple food would be mazonot?
Given the upvotes, I obviously hold a minority opinion here, but I'm contemplating a vote to close, but I can't figure out the justification. Are we going to become a Berachoth site?
@SethJ On what basis would you be inclined to close?
@SethJ FWIW, if it was just asking for examples of snacks (the last sentence), I'd be inclined to close as off-topic and/or opinion-seeking. But it wasn't, and I chose to address that request as a side point in my answer.
@SethJ That's true of any Halacha question. You're right, though, that even though the question is phrased as "Are they?" rather than "Should I?," it does seem to be asking for information that OP plans to act on. Especially given that this is a new user, some "We don't do pesak" guidance might be in order.
We read Rabbi Yishmael's 13 principles of interpreting torah in the shacharit service and many of the explanations seem fairly straightforward, but I am not a very advanced student and I find I don't really know how some of them work. The only ones I routinely, explicitly encounter with my chevr...
@DoubleAA These are both (and of course, the former much better than the latter) asking for examples from the literature for a particular illustrative purpose, and the former provides very circumscribed criteria for which examples would suit its purpose. This is not the same as asking for [implicitly] recommendations of tasty snacks that happen to be mezonot.
I am looking for advanced Shiurim online which teach Gemara in the Brisker fashion, does anyone know if any (preferably free) classes are available online?
Wait wait, it's not a question for Seasoned Advice. :-)
I have a vegetarian (not vegan) coming to my seder this year. Most of the vegetarian staples (as far as I know) are chametz or kitniyot. For a yom tov meal I want to strive for "festive", something that will be as appealing as the meat th...
@DoubleAA They all (at least the good ones) provide clear criteria for what they're asking for, and those criteria (at least in the good ones) are largely motivated by Judaism.
@DoubleAA this stems from the "life" part of "Jewish Life and Learning". So does the corn-chips question. I think (of course I'm biased) that mine is more complex; whether that affects a question's on-topic-ness or just its vote-worthiness I'm not sure.
@MonicaCellio The problematic portion of the question is "What other non sweet simple food would be mazonot?" not the corn-chips part. (in case that wasn't clear)
@IsaacMoses So it seems. He says he wants mezonot davka. Sounds like a Jewish request to me.
@MonicaCellio You're seeing it here and in the flags. If we are going to edit out the problematic line from the q and delete the two most recent answers, I wanted to decide that before they got votes and comments of various sorts.
@DoubleAA I think I'd have to admit that this question is on the edge of acceptability. One thing that separates it from mezonot snacks is that the solution set is more circumscribed. Again, I admit that this puts both questions on the same spectrum.
So "are corn chips mezunot" is easily looked up and not a good question, but "what can I serve with these constraints" has precedent. OTOH, it sounds like @Isaac is proposing the opposite -- keep the corn-chips part and downgrade the last line. Thoughts?
@SethJ FWIW, if it was just asking for examples of snacks (the last sentence), I'd be inclined to close as off-topic and/or opinion-seeking. But it wasn't, and I chose to address that request as a side point in my answer.
I had missed this on my backread. ^^^ I can see that.
@DoubleAA true.
Should we add a comment on the post mentioning this discussion? (The OP doesn't have the rep to chat, so that could be frustrating, but we usually do this, don't we?)
I'm going to have to drop out for a while in about 2 minutes. The lock expires in 45 minutes or so. I have no plans to renew it if we can't figure this out quickly, and then just let people debate this out the old fashion way.
Though @MonicaCellio can do stuff to the lock if you come up with something in the next half hour.
@DoubleAA I see 16640 as asking for an example of the set to whom the rule applies, because it is not in the OP's experience to have ever said it, which makes it seem, to the OP, that it must be an unusual occurrence.
I think I'd suggest that any questions asking, open-endedly, for recommendations or examples should have to provide a basis for evaluation/comparison of alternatives.
@DoubleAA Dumb as this may sound, I think the question is better as a personal advice question with the Halachoth removed from it. "I am trying to come up with something to serve so we can make a Mazonot (sic). What type of food would be good to serve with wine and latkas and takes that Bracha?"
This component of this question, failing that test, should be removed, converted to a request for a method of discovery, augmented with a basis for comparison, or somehow made subordinate to the main question (not sure how).
@DoubleAA I think that would make it more practical, without Psak, it would make the OP sound less confused about the Berachah made on corn chips, and it can be answered with a community wiki.
All: I know the lock will expire in 45 minutes, but wouldn't putting it on hold be better than a lock if the goal is to (a) get the question fixed and (b) prevent more answers meanwhile? Then the OP can participate in comments and edits, which isn't possible now.
Hi Juliet and welcome to Mi Yodeya. There is some discussion about whether your question is more about the br'acha on corn chips or more about recommendations, and if the latter, how best to cast it. I'm going to put this on hold (to prevent more answers) while that gets sorted out. This is one proposal for an edit. Could we have your input on all this, in a comment or an edit? Thanks! — Monica Cellio39 secs ago
Could I have a comment upvote on that to get it above the "show more comments" link?
@MonicaCellio Thanks. I think we can all move on with our lives now.
@SethJ OP doesn't know how to identify mezonot snacks. The answer would be "we make mezonot on foods that are X. You can look at the ingredients to determine ... Look through the lists on this site."