Bracha for Good or Bad News: Difference between revisions

# Nowadays, we minimize the amount of times these Brachot are said. <Ref>Mishna Brurah 222:1 </ref>In cases where Halacha certainly obligates a Bracha, if one does make the Bracha even if it’s not the minhag, one has done properly. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 222:1 </ref>

# According to most ashkenazic authorities, if the father hears or sees that his wife had a baby boy both the father and mother should make a Bracha of HaTov VeHaMeitiv. <Ref> S”A 223:1 rules that a father who hears that his wife had a baby boy should make HaTov MeHaMeitiv. Mishna Brurah 223:1 implies that this is true whether the father saw the birth or only heard about it. Most poskim quote this halacha as in Shulchan Aruch including Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 59:9, and Chaye Adam 62:1. However, Aruch HaShulchan 223:2 writes that because the Rambam and Rif didn't quote this halacha perhaps they don't hold of it and so he defends the minhag not to say it. </ref>The Sephardic minhag is not to make HaTov VeHaMeitiv but rather to make Shechiyanu at the Brit Milah. <ref> Chazon Ovadyah (Brachot pg 388) quotes the Chesed LeAlafim that the minhag is not to make the HaTov VeHaMeitiv at the time of the birth but to have the schechiyanu at the brit milah cover the whole occasion. Kaf Hachaim 223:6 agrees. </ref>

==Dayan HaEmet==

# For hearing bad news one should make Dayan Emet. This Bracha should be made with the full intent and accepting soul just like one is happy for good news. <Ref>S”A 222:2 </ref>