Birkat HaGomel

From Halachipedia

In the times of the Beit Hamikdash, a person who survived a potentially life-threatening situation brought a Korban Todah, a Thanksgiving Offering, to express his gratitude to Hashem.[1] Nowadays, when the Beit Hamikdash no longer stands and offerings cannot be brought on the altar, we substitute a public proclamation of gratitude to Hashem for an offering. A survivor from a life endangering situation as defined by the Gemara recites Birkat Hagomel in gratitude.

Bracha

 

Source

  • The Gemara Brachot 54b states: "One who has completed a sea voyage; one who has traveled through the desert; one who has been sick and healed; and one who was imprisoned and freed."

Obligation

  1. Some say that Birkat HaGomel is non-obligatory and only optional, however, others argue that it's an absolute obligation. Nonetheless, all agree that given the oppurtunity, one should be careful to make this bracha properly. [2]

Who

Birchat HaGomel

Who is obligated to make Birchat HaGomel?

  1. The four people who are obligated to make the Bracha are
  • Someone who was freed from jail
  • Someone who was sick and was healed
  • Someone who traveled at sea
  • Someone who traveled in the desert. [3]
  1. Some say that anyone who in near mortal danger such as someone saved from a wall collapsing, a loin attack, a goring ox, or a band of thieves at night, must make a Bracha. The ashkenazic minhag is like this opinion. [4] For specific situations see a posek. [5]
  2. Ashkenazim hold that no Bracha is made for traveling fro city to city unless there’s a lot of wild animals or thieves. However, Sephardim hold that any travel from city to city obligates a Bracha if the trip was a Parsah (72 minutes). [6]
  3. Some say not to make Brachat HaGomel for traveling on an airplane since it’s considered safe, however many hold that HaGomel is required and such is the minhag. [7]
  4. For sickness that’s of potential mortal danger, the brachat HaGomel is required when healed. For sickness that’s non-mortal but confines a person to bed for 3 days or more requires a Brachat HaGomel when healed. [8]
  5. The Bracha of HaGomel was established to be said before a minyan, preferably with two Talmediei Chachamim, and if there’s no minyan available one may not make HaGomel but rather should wait to find one. [9]
  6. The minhag is to say HaGomel after Kriyat HaTorah before the Torah. [10]
  7. Preferably HaGomel should be said within 3 days and it’s preferable to be done within 3 days even if it’s not said after Kriyat HaTorah before the Torah rather than waiting until later to say it after Kiryat HaTorah. If it can’t be done within 3 days it should be said within 30 days, and if it can’t be said in 30 says it should be said whenever one wants. [11]
  8. The minhag is that women don’t make HaGomel however if a women who gave birth, happens to be in front of a minyan, she may say HaGomel. [12]
  9. Someone who listens to someone else make HaGomel has fulfilled the obligation if one heard the entire Bracha. However, if the one making the Hagomel wasn’t obligated in the Bracha, someone who’s listening doesn’t fulfill the obligation unless one answers Amen. [13]
  10. Some are in doubt whether someone can fulfill the obligation of the person listening if the listener and the one making the Bracha have different reasons for obligation of the HaGomel. Rather, only someone who is obligated in HaGomel for the same reason should fulfill someone else’s obligation. [14] However, some argue that anyone who’s obligated in HaGomel can fulfill the obligation of someone else. [15]

Where

  • Given that Birkat Hagomel is a public expression of gratitude, it cannot be said in private.

When

Notes

  1. ↑ Vayikra 7:12
  2. ↑ According to the Magen Avraham (OC 219:1), Birkat Hagomel, like the Korban Todah, is non obligatory but rather optional. The Peri Megadim (OC 219:1) argues that it is obligatory. Nevertheless, all poskim (Chasam Sofer O.C. 51, Minchas Yitzchok 4:11-9) urge one to be careful to fulfill this mitzvah given the opportunity.
  3. ↑ S”A 219:1
  4. ↑ S”A 219:9, Mishna Brurah 219:32
  5. ↑ See also Piskei Teshuvot 218, Halichot Shlomo 23:1
  6. ↑ S”A 219:7, Yalkut Yosef 219:17
  7. ↑ Vezot HaBracha pg 158 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman and Rav Moshe Feinstein as requiring a Bracha, and Minchat Yitzchak as arguing.
  8. ↑ Mishna Brurah 219:28
  9. ↑ S”A 219:3, Buir Halacha D”H VeYesh Omerim, Shoneh Halachot 219:2, Piskei Teshuvot 219:15
  10. ↑ Mishna Brurah 219:2
  11. ↑ S”A 219:6, Mishna Brurah 219:2. See Piskei Teshuvot 219:4 who writes there’s a minhag who are lenient to wait until Shabbat to say HaGomel at the Torah.
  12. ↑ Mishna Brurah 219:3, Halichot Shlomo 23:4, Vezot HaBracha (pg 158)
  13. ↑ S”A 219:4,5
  14. ↑ Hagot Rabbi Akiva Eiger 219:5 leaves this question in doubt. Therefore this situation should be avoided (see Piskei Teshuvot 219 note 90).
  15. ↑ Yalkut Yosef (Otzer Dinim LeIsha pg 162-4)
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