Brachot on Sights: Difference between revisions

# 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 Shulchan Aruch 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, Shulchan Aruch 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>

* 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]].