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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== | ||
# Upon seeing a king or queen who is Jewish one should recite | # Upon seeing a king or queen who is Jewish one should recite '''ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו ליראיו''' (Baruch... Shechalak Mikvodo Liyireav). If he is not jewish 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 | # 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. | ||
* Does the king need to be wearing royal clothing? Rav Ovadia Yosef in Sh”t Yabea 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. | |||
* See also Shu"t Minchas Elazar Vol. 5 Siman 7, Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 1 Siman 35. </ref> | |||
# This Bracha applies equally to a male king as to a female queen, however, one shouldn’t stare at the queen but only a quick look. <Ref>Halacha Brurah 224:15 quoting Sh”t Bear Moshe 2:9(4), 2:14(16), Sh”t Shevet HaLevi 1:35, Sh”t Rivevot Efraim 1:47(3) and others. See also Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Sh”t Teshuvot ViHanhagot 2:139 rules that since the obligation is based on the honor given to that monarch, that one should in fact recite the beracha upon seeing the monarch of modern day England, even a female despite the fact that we don't allow for a Jewish monarch to be a women.</ref> | |||
# Seeing the monarch on television would not obligate you in the beracha. <ref> Yechave Daat 2:28 compares it to saying birkat halevana upon seeing the moon in the mirror, which we do not do based on the gemara in rosh hashana 24b and birkei yosef Choshen Mishpat 35:11 </ref> | # Seeing the monarch on television would not obligate you in the beracha. <ref> Yechave Daat 2:28 compares it to saying birkat halevana upon seeing the moon in the mirror, which we do not do based on the gemara in rosh hashana 24b and birkei yosef Choshen Mishpat 35:11 </ref> | ||
