Birkat HaGomel: Difference between revisions
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#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 opportunity, one should be careful to make this bracha properly.<ref>The source of Birkat HaGomel is the Gemara [[Brachot]] 54b which states that one who has completed a sea voyage, traveled through the desert, has been sick and healed, or was imprisoned and freed should thank Hashem in the form of Birkat HaGomel all based on the pasuk “They strayed in the wilderness, in the desolation of the road… Hungry as well as thirsty… They rise heavenward, they descend to the depths.” (Tehillim 107:4,5, and 26). 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. </ref> | #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 opportunity, one should be careful to make this bracha properly.<ref>The source of Birkat HaGomel is the Gemara [[Brachot]] 54b which states that one who has completed a sea voyage, traveled through the desert, has been sick and healed, or was imprisoned and freed should thank Hashem in the form of Birkat HaGomel all based on the pasuk “They strayed in the wilderness, in the desolation of the road… Hungry as well as thirsty… They rise heavenward, they descend to the depths.” (Tehillim 107:4,5, and 26). 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. </ref> | ||
===Women=== | |||
== | #The Ashkenazic minhag is that women don’t make HaGomel <ref>Mishna Brurah 219:3, Sh"t Halachot Ketanot 2:161, Aruch Hashulchan 219:6, Sh"t Beer Moshe 4:22. see also Sh"t Teshuvot Vihanhagot 4:53. See also Iggerot Mosh 5:14 where argues with those who claim that she should say it in front of ten women and instead suggests saying it in front of one person. If she is married, it should be her husband. </ref> Sephardic women, however, do recite Hagomel.<ref>Yalkut Yosef 219:7 (and [[Brachot]] p. 572), Sh"t Yechave Daat 4:14-15, Sh"t Yabia Omer 8:23:15, [http://halachayomit.co.il/EnglishDisplayRead.asp?readID=1833 HalachaYomit.co.il] write that women do recite Hagomel. Kaf Hachaim 219:3 writes that it should only be recited in front of ten male relatives and adds that if there aren't ten men, it should be recited without shem umalchut. See also Ben Ish Chai Parashat Ekev 65 </ref> A woman who has the custom to recite it should wait seven days after giving birth to do so.<ref>Kaf Hachaim 219:7 </ref> | ||
#According to Ashkenazim, if a women who gave birth happens to be in front of a [[minyan]] some say that she may say HaGomel.<ref>Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach in Halichot Shlomo 23:4 and Vezot HaBracha (pg 158). Torat HaYoledet 62:5 writes that the minhag of Yerushalayim is that a woman who gave birth recites hagomel in front of ten men, however, some have the minhag not to say hagomel since it requires a public declaration in front of a minyan.</ref> | |||
===Children=== | |||
#According to many, a child is not required to recite this bracha until he reaches the age of Bar Mitzvah.<ref>M.B. 219:3. Rav Simcha Bunim Cohen (Children in Halacha page 23)</ref> Some say that even a child should say this bracha if he reaches the age of ''chinuch''.<ref>Reb Akiva Eiger O.C. 219 quotes one opinion that a child should make this bracha. Ben Ish Chay Parshat Eikev Shana 1 Halacha 4 also says one should make this bracha. If there is no common custom, then in deference to those who argue, he recommends saying the bracha without the Name of God.</ref> | |||
==Events that Obligate One to Recite Birchat HaGomel== | |||
#The four people who are obligated to make the Bracha are | #The four people who are obligated to make the Bracha are | ||
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#Some say that anyone who was in near mortal danger such as someone saved from a wall collapsing, a lion attack, a goring ox, or a band of thieves at night, must make a Bracha. The ashkenazic minhag follows this opinion.<ref>S”A 219:9 quotes this opinion. Magen Avraham 219:10 and Mishna Brurah 219:32 write that the Ashkenazic minhag follows this opinion.</ref> For specific situations, see a posek.<ref>See also Piskei Teshuvot 218, Halichot Shlomo 23:1 </ref> | #Some say that anyone who was in near mortal danger such as someone saved from a wall collapsing, a lion attack, a goring ox, or a band of thieves at night, must make a Bracha. The ashkenazic minhag follows this opinion.<ref>S”A 219:9 quotes this opinion. Magen Avraham 219:10 and Mishna Brurah 219:32 write that the Ashkenazic minhag follows this opinion.</ref> For specific situations, see a posek.<ref>See also Piskei Teshuvot 218, Halichot Shlomo 23:1 </ref> | ||
#One who has been saved from multiple forms of danger only recites the bracha once.<ref>Mishna Brurah 219:3 </ref> | #One who has been saved from multiple forms of danger only recites the bracha once.<ref>Mishna Brurah 219:3 </ref> | ||
== | ===Recovering from Sickness=== | ||
#For sickness that’s of potential mortal danger, Birkat HaGomel is required when healed. According to Ashkenazim, for sickness that’s non-mortal but confines a person to bed for 3 days or more requires a Brachat HaGomel when healed.<ref>Rama 219:8 Mishna Brurah 219:28. This is the opinion that the Tur 219 quotes from the Raavad. </ref> According to Sephardim, for any sickness which confines a person to bed for any amount of time requires Birkat HaGomel when healed.<ref>Taz 219:5, Yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] pg 583 and 758). This is the opinion that the Tur 219 quotes from Rambam. </ref> | #For sickness that’s of potential mortal danger, Birkat HaGomel is required when healed. According to Ashkenazim, for sickness that’s non-mortal but confines a person to bed for 3 days or more requires a Brachat HaGomel when healed.<ref>Rama 219:8 Mishna Brurah 219:28. This is the opinion that the Tur 219 quotes from the Raavad. </ref> According to Sephardim, for any sickness which confines a person to bed for any amount of time requires Birkat HaGomel when healed.<ref>Taz 219:5, Yalkut Yosef ([[Brachot]] pg 583 and 758). This is the opinion that the Tur 219 quotes from Rambam. </ref> | ||
#A person who donated an organ does not say Birkat HaGomel with Hashem's name after healing from the surgery, however, one may say it without Hashem's name.<ref>Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 10:23 </ref> | #A person who donated an organ does not say Birkat HaGomel with Hashem's name after healing from the surgery, however, one may say it without Hashem's name.<ref>Sh"t Tzitz Eliezer 10:23 </ref> | ||
== | ===Traveling From City to City=== | ||
#Ashkenazim hold that no Bracha is made for traveling from 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).<ref>S”A 219:7, Yalkut Yosef 219:17. Ramban [[Berachot]] 54b says that one has to say hagomel for traveling the minimum distance, regardless of the extent of the danger involved because the Yerushalmi in [[Berachot]] 4:4 says all roads are assumed to be dangerous. Meiri on [[Berachot]] 54b quotes an opinion with which he himself disagrees that claims that it is only recited if one encountered serious danger during the traveling. Talmidei Rabbeinu Yona on the Dapei HaRif 43a on [[Berachot]] quote the custom of the French rabbis saying that one should only recite it when they travel on a dangerous road even if they don't encounter any trouble and this is quoted in Shulchan Aruch 219:7 as the practice of the germans and french. </ref> | #Ashkenazim hold that no Bracha is made for traveling from 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).<ref>S”A 219:7, Yalkut Yosef 219:17. Ramban [[Berachot]] 54b says that one has to say hagomel for traveling the minimum distance, regardless of the extent of the danger involved because the Yerushalmi in [[Berachot]] 4:4 says all roads are assumed to be dangerous. Meiri on [[Berachot]] 54b quotes an opinion with which he himself disagrees that claims that it is only recited if one encountered serious danger during the traveling. Talmidei Rabbeinu Yona on the Dapei HaRif 43a on [[Berachot]] quote the custom of the French rabbis saying that one should only recite it when they travel on a dangerous road even if they don't encounter any trouble and this is quoted in Shulchan Aruch 219:7 as the practice of the germans and french. </ref> | ||
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#If a person was in a near car accident and was saved doesn't need to make a hagomel.<ref>Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:136 says that if you avoided a car accident you don't make a hagomel. See also 2:148.</ref> | #If a person was in a near car accident and was saved doesn't need to make a hagomel.<ref>Teshuvot Vehanhagot 2:136 says that if you avoided a car accident you don't make a hagomel. See also 2:148.</ref> | ||
== | ===Released from Jail=== | ||
#The Minhag Ashkenaz is not to make Birkat HaGomel for being let out of jail nowadays because of the lack of danger involved in staying in jail.<ref>Beiur Halacha 219 s.v. Chavush </ref> Nonetheless the Sephardic minhag is to make it for being let out of jail even if there was no danger in staying in jail.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 219:11, Piskei Teshuvot 219:6 </ref> | #The Minhag Ashkenaz is not to make Birkat HaGomel for being let out of jail nowadays because of the lack of danger involved in staying in jail.<ref>Beiur Halacha 219 s.v. Chavush </ref> Nonetheless the Sephardic minhag is to make it for being let out of jail even if there was no danger in staying in jail.<ref>Kaf HaChaim 219:11, Piskei Teshuvot 219:6 </ref> | ||
==When | ==When HaGomel is Recited== | ||
#Preferably HaGomel should be said within 3 days. 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.<ref>S”A 219:6, Mishna Brurah 219:20, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:2. See Piskei Teshuvot 219:4 who writes there’s a minhag who are lenient to wait until [[Shabbat]] to say HaGomel at the Torah. </ref> | #Preferably HaGomel should be said within 3 days. 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.<ref>S”A 219:6, Mishna Brurah 219:20, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:2. See Piskei Teshuvot 219:4 who writes there’s a minhag who are lenient to wait until [[Shabbat]] to say HaGomel at the Torah. </ref> | ||
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==Procedure of Birchat HaGomel== | ==Procedure of Birchat HaGomel== | ||
#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.<ref>Rambam ([[Brachot]] 10:8), S”A 219:3, Beiur Halacha s.v. VeYesh Omerim, Shoneh Halachot 219:2, Piskei Teshuvot 219:15, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:2 based on the pasuk in tehillim 107:32. Mishna Brurah 219:6 allows the one reciting the beracha to be included in the ten. </ref> | #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.<ref>Rambam ([[Brachot]] 10:8), S”A 219:3, Beiur Halacha s.v. VeYesh Omerim, Shoneh Halachot 219:2, Piskei Teshuvot 219:15, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:2 based on the pasuk in tehillim 107:32. Mishna Brurah 219:6 allows the one reciting the beracha to be included in the ten. See [[https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Halachot_Related_to_Coronavirus#Hagomel]] regarding reciting HaGomel with a "Zoom Minyan"</ref> | ||
#The minhag is to say HaGomel after [[Kriyat HaTorah]] in front of the Torah.<ref>Mishna Brurah 219:2 </ref> | #The minhag is to say HaGomel after [[Kriyat HaTorah]] in front of the Torah.<ref>Mishna Brurah 219:2 </ref> | ||
#The one reciting birkat hagomel should recite it while standing.<ref>Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:156:2 </ref> | #The one reciting birkat hagomel should recite it while standing.<ref>Sh"t Rivivot Ephraim 1:156:2 </ref> | ||
#Those who hear the Birchat HaGomel being made should answer "שגמלך טוב הוא יגמלך סלה", which means "Hashem who bestowed upon you this good, should continue to bestow upon you other good tidings".<ref>Rambam ([[Brachot]] 10:8)</ref> | #Those who hear the Birchat HaGomel being made should answer "שגמלך טוב הוא יגמלך סלה", which means "Hashem who bestowed upon you this good, should continue to bestow upon you other good tidings".<ref>Rambam ([[Brachot]] 10:8)</ref> | ||
==Listening to someone else say HaGomel== | ==Listening to someone else say HaGomel== | ||
