Birchat haGomeil: Sitting or Standing?

Hi,

The one who is reciting the birchat hagomeil blessing for being saved from harm should stand; those who are listening should be seated.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:156:2)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Answering to Birkat HaGomeil

Hi,

My apologies for my absence these past few days; it was due to illness.

One who hears someone recite the Birkat haGomeil blessing (which thanks Gd for protection from harm) should first say "Amen", and only afterward recite the Mi sheGemalcha formula found in the siddur.

(Rivivot Ephraim 1:155)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Women and Birchat haGomel

Hi,

A woman is obligated to express gratitude to Gd by reciting Birchat haGomel, as men are. However, they are not obligated in the trappings which the sages set up for men - reciting it with a minyan, and linking it to kriat hatorah. Even reciting it in front of her husband is sufficient.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 5:14 - but see Mishneh Berurah 219:3)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Birkat haGomeil on an airplane flight

Hi,

This topic is debated among halachic authorities, but Rav Moshe Feinstein ruled that one recites Birkat haGomeil after any airplane flight. He compared it with travelling in a boat; a boat saves one from drowning and so a boat trip warrants Birkat haGomeil, and a plane saves one from falling through the air and so a plane trip warrants the same.

(Rav Moshe Feinstein, Igrot Moshe Orach Chaim 2:59)

Have a great day,
Mordechai

Birkat haGomel with a minyan

Hi,

Birkat haGomel should be recited at a public torah reading; at the minimum, it should be said with a minyan. Many poskim permit the minyan to be of men as well as women; see Shulchan Aruch Orach Chaim 219:3 and the Mishneh Berurah there.

Have a great day,
Mordechai

How soon must one recite Birkat haGomel?

Hi,

Ramban said that one must say Birkat haGomel within three days of one's trip, since that's when one's head is still "in the trip." Rashba said one may say it for up to five days.

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 219:6) says one has three days, but one may make it up afterward if necessary.

[See also Tzitz Eliezer 13:17:9.]

Have a great day,
Mordechai

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

Birkat haGomel for airplane flights

Hello,

The issue of reciting Birkat haGomel for air travel is somewhat controversial; here are three contemporary views:

Rav Ovadia Yosef (Yechaveh Daat 2:26) - Air travel requires Birkat haGomel for trips of more than 72 minutes.

Rav Eliezer Waldenberg (Tzitz Eliezer 11:14) - Air travel requires Birkat haGomel for trips over bodies of water or over an unsettled area, but not from city to city within a single country, if the trips lasts only an hour or two.

Rav Yitzchak Weiss (Minchat Yitzchak 4:47) - One does not recite Birkat haGomel, because the berachah is intended only for dangers which people do not take on willingly.

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

Birkat haGomel for multi-leg trips

Hi,

One only recites Birkat haGomel once for a single journey.

Therefore, for example, one who is traveling to Israel, with a stop-over of a day or even a few days in Europe, would only recite Birkat haGomel upon arrival. [This example assumes one recites Birkat haGomel for intercontinental flights, of course.]

(Mishneh Berurah 219:1 and Shaar haTziyyun thereon)

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

Birkat haGomel

Hi,

There is considerable debate regarding the application of Birkat haGomel for different types of trips. Rather than enter this significant controversy, I'll simply cite the words of the Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 219:7, which emphasize that this berachah is intended for situations involving danger, and not for generic trips -

"In Germany and France they do not recite the berachah when traveling from one city to another, for the sages obligated only travelers in the wilderness, where dangerous animals and bandits are found. In Spain they customarily do recite the berachah, for their roads are all under the presumption of danger. They do not recite it for less than a parsah, though, unless it is a place established to be especially dangerous."

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