Birkat HaGomel: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
No edit summary |
No edit summary |
||
| Line 7: | Line 7: | ||
*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." | *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== | |||
# 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. <ref> 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> | |||
==Who== | |||
== | Birchat HaGomel | ||
* | ==Who is obligated to make Birchat HaGomel?== | ||
# Thef our 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. <Ref>S”A 219:1 </ref> | |||
# 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. <Ref>S”A 219:9, Mishna Brurah 219:32 </ref> For specific situations see a posek. <Ref>See also Piskei Teshuvot 218, Halichot Shlomo 23:1 </ref> | |||
# 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). <Ref>S”A 219:7, Yalkut Yosef 219:17 </ref> | |||
# 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. <Ref>Vezot HaBracha pg 158 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman and Rav Moshe Feinstein as requiring a Bracha, and Minchat Yitzchak as arguing. </ref> | |||
# 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. <Ref> Mishna Brurah 219:28 </ref> | |||
==Where== | ==Where== | ||
| Line 17: | Line 28: | ||
==When== | ==When== | ||
== Notes == | == Notes == | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
Revision as of 21:31, 8 January 2011
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
- 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?
- Thef our 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
- 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]
Where
- Given that Birkat Hagomel is a public expression of gratitude, it cannot be said in private.
When
Notes
- ↑ Vayikra 7:12
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ S”A 219:1
- ↑ S”A 219:9, Mishna Brurah 219:32
- ↑ See also Piskei Teshuvot 218, Halichot Shlomo 23:1
- ↑ S”A 219:7, Yalkut Yosef 219:17
- ↑ Vezot HaBracha pg 158 quotes Rav Shlomo Zalman and Rav Moshe Feinstein as requiring a Bracha, and Minchat Yitzchak as arguing.
- ↑ Mishna Brurah 219:28
