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Brachot on Sights: Difference between revisions
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# For seeing a brilliant non-Jewish secular scholar the Bracha is Baruch Atta…SheNatan MeChachmato LeBasar VeDam. <Ref>S”A 224:7 </ref> Some say that there’s a minhag not to make this Bracha nowadays. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 224:5 writes that the minhag is not to make this Bracha since some say that one should make the Bracha on non-Jews that don’t keep the 7 מצות of Bnei Noach </ref> | # For seeing a brilliant non-Jewish secular scholar the Bracha is Baruch Atta…SheNatan MeChachmato LeBasar VeDam. <Ref>S”A 224:7 </ref> Some say that there’s a minhag not to make this Bracha nowadays. <Ref>Piskei Teshuvot 224:5 writes that the minhag is not to make this Bracha since some say that one should make the Bracha on non-Jews that don’t keep the 7 מצות of Bnei Noach </ref> | ||
==Bracha for seeing a king or queen== | ==Bracha for seeing a king or queen== | ||
# It is a mitzvah to go and see rulers and kings, whether they are Jewish or non-Jewish.<Ref>The Gemara Brachot (9b, 19b, 58a) explains that a person should endeavor to see kings so that if he merits he will be able to distinguish between a regular king and Mashiach. Rambam (Avel 3:14) and S"A 224:4 codify this.</ref> Nonetheless, one shouldn't waste time from learning to do so unless the king came with special pome and grandeur.<ref> Mishna Brurah 224:13</ref> | |||
# Upon seeing a Jewish king one should recite '''ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו ליראיו''' (Baruch... Shechalak Mikvodo Liyireav). <ref> [[Berachot]] 58a, S"A 224:8 </ref> | # Upon seeing a Jewish king one should recite '''ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו ליראיו''' (Baruch... Shechalak Mikvodo Liyireav). <ref> [[Berachot]] 58a, S"A 224:8 </ref> | ||
# Upon seeing a non-Jewish king one should recite '''ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו לבשר ודם''' (Baruch... Shenatan Mikvodo Libriyotav). <ref> [[Berachot]] 58a, S"A 224:8 </ref> | # Upon seeing a non-Jewish king one should recite '''ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו לבשר ודם''' (Baruch... Shenatan Mikvodo Libriyotav). <ref> [[Berachot]] 58a, S"A 224:8 </ref> | ||
# It is questionable if nowadays one should make this Beracha for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister, and therefore one should only make this Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]]. <Ref> | # It is questionable if nowadays one should make this Beracha for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister, and therefore one should only make this Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]]. <Ref> | ||
* How much power does the ruler have to have in order to make the Bracha upon seeing him? Rav Ovadia Yosef Yechave Daat 2:28 cites the Radvaz 1:296 as well as the Orchot Chaim [[Berachot]] 49 that say that this beracha is recited on any monarch with enough power to execute or pardon from execution. Halacha Brurah 224:14 writes that one makes the Bracha (with [[Shem UMalchut]]) on a king of a country even if he is democratically elected and even if he is only ruler for a term as long as there isn’t a another figure above him that can nullify his decision such as if his decisions don’t need to be approved by parliament. Halacha Brurah mentions specically if the ruler has the power to pardon someone sentenced to death or declare war against another country then one may make the Bracha on that king with [[Shem UMalchut]]. | * How much power does the ruler have to have in order to make the Bracha upon seeing him? Rav Ovadia Yosef Yechave Daat 2:28 cites the Radvaz 1:296 as well as the Orchot Chaim [[Berachot]] 49 that say that this beracha is recited on any monarch with enough power to execute or pardon from execution. Halacha Brurah 224:14 writes that one makes the Bracha (with [[Shem UMalchut]]) on a king of a country even if he is democratically elected and even if he is only ruler for a term as long as there isn’t a another figure above him that can nullify his decision such as if his decisions don’t need to be approved by parliament. Halacha Brurah mentions specically if the ruler has the power to pardon someone sentenced to death or declare war against another country then one may make the Bracha on that king with [[Shem UMalchut]]. | ||
* | * What about a President who doesn't wear royal clothing? Rav Ovadia Yosef in Sh”t Yabia Omer 8:22(25) rules that one doesn’t make the Bracha with [[Shem UMalchut]] if the king is wearing normal clothing (not royal clothes). Actually, Rav Ovadyah Yosef writes that when the US President Nixon came to [[Israel]] that they made the Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]] because he was wearing normal clothes. Rav Moshe HaLevi in Birkat Hashem (vol 4 3:32) agrees. [See, however, Halacha Brurah 224:14 writes that even if the king isn’t wearing royal clothing but as long as he is recognizably respected by his officers that surround him and by the many people coming to see him, then one may make the Bracha with [[Shem UMalchut]] on such a king. Sh”t Elyashiv HaKohen 2:26 quotes Rav Mazuz who agrees with Halacha Brurah.] | ||
* Piskei Teshuvot 224:6,7 concludes that nowadays one should make this Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]] for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister. | * Piskei Teshuvot 224:6,7 concludes that nowadays one should make this Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]] for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister. | ||
* See also Shu"t Minchas Elazar Vol. 5 Siman 7, Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 1 Siman 35. </ref> | * See also Shu"t Minchas Elazar Vol. 5 Siman 7, Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 1 Siman 35. </ref> | ||
