Birkat haGomel at night?

Hi,

Normally, we recite Birkat haGomel during Kriat haTorah [the public Torah reading]. This is not a firm requirement, though.

The Chatam Sofer did say that Birkat haGomel should be recited during the daytime, only; he presented three reasons for this:

1. Birkat haGomel is meant to parallel the korban todah, a thanks-offering brought in the Beit haMikdash, which is only brought during the day;

2. Birkat haGomel is like Hallel, which is only recited during the day, or at the time of an actual miracle which occurs at night [like Pesach night];

3. Birkat haGomel was initially instituted to be recited during Kriat haTorah, which does not occur at night [Simchat Torah night is not a fulfillment of Kriat haTorah]. To do this at night would be a marked change from the initial institution.

R' Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 13:17) endorsed this restriction.

May we soon see the rebuilding of the Beit haMikdash,
Mordechai