THE BLESSING OF HA-GOMEL

In the times of the Beis ha-Mikdash, a person who survived a potentially life-threatening situation brought a Korban Todah, a Thanksgiving Offering, to express his gratitude to Hashem.(1) What does the Talmud(2) define as a potentially life-threatening situation- Crossing a desert or a sea, imprisonment or serious illness.

Nowadays, when the Beis ha-Mikdash no longer stands and offerings cannot be brought on the altar, we substitute a public proclamation of gratitude to Hashem for an offering.(3) A survivor of any of the perils mentioned above publicly recites Birchas ha-gomel, thanking Hashem for saving him from danger.

The text of the blessing is as follows:

"Baruch ata ha-Shem Elokeinu melech ha-olam ha-gomel lechayavim tovov shegemalani kol(4) tov."

After answering amen,(5) the congregation responds:" Mi shegemalcha koll tov hu yigmalcha kol tov selah."(6)

Birchas ha-gomel, just like Korban Todah,(7) is an optional mitzvah; it is not a pure obligation and one who fails to recite it does not commit a sin.(8) The poskim, though, strongly suggest that one be careful to fulfill this mitzvah, just as he would have seen to it to bring a Korban Todah if he had the opportunity to do so.(9)

In addition to reciting the ha-gomel blessing in lieu of the Korban Todah, Chayei Adam(10)writes that one should give a charitable donation equal to the value of the animal that he would have brought as a sacrifice. When giving the money, he should expressly state that he is donating the money instead of bringing a Korban Todah. He further instructs one to recite certain verses in the Torah which deal with Korban Todah(11) along with an additional text that he authored when he himself was saved from an explosion in the year 1804.

WHEN AND WHERE IS HA-GOMEL SAID?

As ha-gomel is a public expression of gratitude, it cannot be recited in private. Indeed, the basic halachah follows the opinion that the blessing is said only in the presence of at least ten men. For this reason it became customary that ha-gomel is recited right after the public reading of Kerias ha-Torah. But like any other mitzvah, there are l'chatchilah and b'diavad methods of performing it. In addition, there are some recommendations which fall under the category of hiddur mitzvah. Let us elaborate:

L'CHATCHILAH:

Ha-gomel should not be delayed more than three days after surviving a dangerous situation.(12) The custom is to recite ha-gomel at the soonest Kerias ha-Torah possible.(13)

At least ten men, including two Torah scholars and the one reciting ha-gomel, should be present.(14)

Ha-gomel is recited immediately after the Kaddish which follows Kerias ha-Torah.

Ha-gomel is recited while standing.(15)

Ha-gomel should be recited during daytime hours only.(16)

If a number of people in shul are obligated to recite ha-gomel, each individual should recite his own [and not discharge his obligation by listening to another person's ha-gomel].(17) If, however, they are expressing gratitude for an incident which they experienced together, one person recites ha-gomel on behalf of everyone. The others respond: mi shegemalanu kol tuv hu yigmaleinu kol tuv selah. . .(18)

B'DIAVAD / BISHAS Ha-DCHAK:

If three days elapsed, the blessing should be said within five days.(19) If five days passed, the blessing should be recited within thirty days.(20) If thirty days passed, the blessing may still be recited as long as the feelings of joy and gratitude are still alive in the mind of the survivor.(21)

If two Torah scholars are not available, the blessing is recited in front of any ten men, at any time.(22) [A minority view holds that under extenuating circumstances ha-gomel is recited even with fewer than ten men present. It is not customary, however, to do so.]

Ha-gomel may be recited even at night.

Ha-gomel is valid if one was sitting when it was recited.(23)

One can fulfill his obligation of ha-gomel by hearing the blessing recited by another person who is obligated in ha-gomel.(24)

HIDDUR MITZVAH:

At least ten men, plus two Torah scholars, plus the one reciting the blessing (altogether thirteen men) should be present.(25) The more people present, the greater hiddur mitzvah there is.(26)

The one reciting ha-gomel receives an aliyah to the Torah,(27) and after reciting the final blessing on the Torah, ha-gomel is recited. If he received the last aliyah, ha-gomel is recited before the Kaddish which follows Kerias ha-Torah.(28)

The one reciting ha-gomel remains standing, while those listening are seated.(29)

DO WOMEN RECITE THE HA-GOMEL BLESSING?

Expressing gratitude to Hashem for His kindness to us is certainly incumbent upon women as well as men. Indeed, when the Beis ha-Mikdash was standing, women, too, brought a Korban Todah.(30) But traditionally among the Ashkenazim, women did not recite ha-gomel even though it was instituted as a substitute for the Korban Todah. This tradition developed because - as stated earlier - ha-gomel is recited in front of at least ten men, and it was considered immodest for a woman to make a public recitation. While many poskim questioned and criticized this tradition and suggested ways where women, too, might fulfill this mitzvah(31), others maintained that the tradition be upheld and that women not recite ha-gomel.(32)

Still, there are a number of options which a woman can resort to in order to express her gratitude to Hashem:

While remaining in the women's section, she should recite ha-gomel loudly enough for it to be heard by ten men. The men then respond with mi shegemalach . . .(33) This can also take place in the woman's home when ten men are present.(34)

She should answer Boruch hashem ha-mevorach le'olam va'ed and amen to her husband's aliyah to the Torah with the specific intent of fulfilling her obligation to thank Hashem for His grace to her.(35) Traditionally, this was the method used by women who wished to fulfill their obligation of expressing gratitiude to Hashem after giving birth.(36)

Harav M. Feinstein is quoted as ruling that a woman may recite ha-gomel in anyone's presence, man or woman. If she is married, she should preferably do so in her husband's presence.(37)

Harav S.Z. Auerbach suggested that upon reciting the morning blessing of ha-gomel chasadim tovim l'amo Yisrael, a woman should have in mind to fulfill this mitzvah as well.(38)

Although there are various opinions, the accepted custom today is that minors do not recite ha-gomel nor does their father recite the blessing on their behalf.(39)

WHICH SITUATIONS CALL FOR THE RECITATION OF HA-GOMEL?

We mentioned above four categories of people who are supposed to recite ha-gomel. We will briefly discuss those categories and their modern counterparts:

CROSSING A DESERT

Nowadays, a trip on a paved road through a desert is no more dangerous than a trip on an interstate highway; thus ha-gomel is not recited. Still, were it to happen that one lost his way in a desert and survived, ha-gomel would be recited.(40)

DANGEROUS IMPRISONMENT

The poskim debate if this refers only to imprisonment in which one's life was endangered or threatened, such as being a prisoner of war, or even jail imprisonment for criminal activity, where one's life is not in danger. In practice, the individual case should be presented to a rov for a ruling.(41)

SERIOUS ILLNESS

This includes recovery from any illness which is or could be life-threatening,(42) or any surgery which requires general anesthesia.(43) Many poskim maintain that if a patient is so weak that he remains bedridden for three consecutive days, ha-gomel is recited even if according to the doctors the patient's life was not in danger.(44)

Diagnosed mental illness which required that the patient be restrained or or hospitalized is considered life-threatening; ha-gomel is recited upon recovery.(45)

Ha-gomel should be recited upon complete recovery from the illness or condition, even if the patient needs to continue taking medication for his condition. If, according to the doctors, the patient will never completely regain his former strength, then ha-gomel is recited as soon as he is well enough to walk on his feet.

SEA VOYAGE

This refers only to voyages far into the ocean that last several days.(46) It also includes shorter trips where harsh weather conditions threatened the safety of the passengers.

Whether or not to recite ha-gomel after an airplane trip is a subject of much debate. There are three opinions:

It is doubtful whether ha-gomel may be recited(47), unless a potentially dangerous situation developed during the flight.

Ha-gomel is recited only when the airplane crossed over an ocean or a desert.(48)

Ha-gomel is recited after every airplane trip.(49)

While there is no clear ruling on this issue, the custom today follows the poskim who require the recitation of ha-gomel only when an ocean [or a desert] is crossed. [Once the destination has been reached, ha-gomel is recited; the return leg of the trip necessitates its own ha-gomel.(50)] Is ha-gomel recited in cases other than the four categories mentioned?

In addition to the four categories of people mentioned above, our custom is to recite ha-gomel whenever one finds himself in a life-threatening situation and was saved through the grace of Hashem. As long as one came face to face with actual danger and survived, whether he was saved miraculously or by what appears to be "natural" means, ha-gomel is recited.(51) For example(52), a survivor of - an attack by wild animals who normally kill their prey, a car accident which according to bystanders should have been fatal, of a bus which was blown up by a suicide bomber, a shooting attack, an armed robbery, a collapsed building, a soldier who saw combat in war.

In the above cases, the person found himself in actual danger and was nevertheless saved. Sometimes, however, a person is merely close to the danger, but was not actually involved in the danger itself. In those cases, ha-gomel is not recited.(53) For instance, a survivor of - a sighting of a wild animal, but the animal did not attack, a killer aiming a weapon in one's general direction, but was overpowered, a car that gets out of control but came to last minute stop, a low impact head-on crash between cars, a bomb which explodes seconds before people entered that area, a gun that discharges by accident and missed the person by inches.

GENERAL NOTE:

If one remains in doubt as to whether or not he is obligated to recite ha-gomel (e.g., it is difficult to determine if he was in "actual" danger; an unresolved dispute among the poskim; a minyan is not available; a father for a minor, a woman who is embarrassed to recite the blessing in front of men, etc.), he has two options whereby which he can fulfill his obligation: He can recite the blessing without reciting Hashem's name. The text is: Baruch ata ha-gomel . . .

He can have specific intent to fulfill this mitzvah when reciting the morning blessing of ha-gomel chasadim tovim l'amo Yisrael. Preferably, he should do so out loud in front of ten men, including two Torah scholars. If he wishes, he can add at the end of the text the words "shegemalani (kol) tov."(54)

FOOTNOTES:

1 Vayikra 7:12 and Rashi and Rashbam.

2 Berachos 54a, based on Tehillim 107. See also Rashi, Zevachim 7a (s.v. lo) and Menachos 79b (s.v. l'achar).

3 Rosh, Berachos 9:3, as explained by Chasam Sofer O.C. 51 and Avnei Nezer O.C. 39.

4 Some original texts omit the word kol, an omission approved by Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Halichos Shelomo 1:23-7).

5 Aruch ha-Shulchan 219:5.

6 O.C. 219:2. B'diavad, if the congregation did not respond, one fulfills the mitzvah regardless; Mishnah Berurah 219:5.

7 See Maharam Shick O.C. 88 and Sdei Chemed, Asifas Dinim, Berachos, 2:10. See Shiras David, Vayikra 7:12 for a possible explanation.

8 Based on Magen Avraham O.C. 219:1.

9 See Pri Megadim 219:1, Chasam Sofer O.C. 51 and Minchas Yitzchak 4:11-9.

10 Seder Amiras Korban Todah, published in Chayei Adam following Klal 69 and quoted in part by Mishnah Berurah 218:31.

11 See similar instructions in Shulchan Aruch ha-Rav O.C. 1:9.

12 O.C. 219:6 and Mishnah Berurah 20.

13 Sha'arei Efrayim 4:27.

14 O.C. 219:3 and Mishnah Berurah 6 and Sha'ar ha-Tziyun 7. See Tzitz Eliezer 13:18.

15 Mishnah Berurah 219:4.

16 Chasam Sofer O.C. 51; Kaf ha-Chayim 219:14. Women who recite ha-Gomel after childbirth may do so at night l'chatchilah; Tzitz Eliezer 13:17.

17 Based on Mishnah Berurah 8:13 and 213:12. See also Rav Akiva Eiger on O.C. 219:5.

18 Chasam Sofer (Sefer Hazikaron, pg. 25), quoted in Piskei Teshuvos 219:17.

19 Be'er Heitev 219:9.

20 Mishnah Berurah 219:8.

21 Based on Aruch ha-Shulchan 219:7.

22 O.C. 219:3 and Beiur Halachah (s.v. Lo).

23 Mishnah Berurah 219:4.

24 O.C. 219:5.

25 Sha'arei Efrayim 4:27 (at least 13 people); Chayei Adam 65:6 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61:2 (at least 11 people).

26 Shulchan ha-Tahor 219:2, who therefore recommends waiting until Shabbos, since more people and Torah scholars will be present.

27 Sha'arei Efrayim 4:27 and Chasam Sofer O.C. 51. See also Igros Moshe O.C. 5:14. But since this is only a hiddur mitzvah, he does not have priority over other chiyuvim; Sha'arei Efrayim 2:11 and Beiur Halachah 136:1 (s.v. b'shabbos).See note 36.

28 Eishel Avraham Tanina 219.

29 Birkei Yosef 219:6, quoting an oral ruling of the Rambam; Sha'arei Efrayim 4:27; Kaf ha-Chayim 219:15; Tzitz Eliezer 13:19-3.

30 See, however, Tzafnas Pa'aneich, Berachos 10:8.

31 An authority as early as the Magen Avraham (219:4) already suggested that a husband recite ha-Gomel on behalf of his wife. But besides the fact that this would not solve the problem for girls and unmarried women, Beiur Halachah (219:4, s.v. v'ain) rejects this option from an halachic point of view, and Aruch ha-Shulchan (219:9) testifies that it did never gained acceptance. Mishnah Berurah suggests that a woman recite ha-Gomel in front of [ten] women plus one man, but subsequent poskim rejected this solution; see Aruch ha-Shulchan 219:6; Kaf ha-Chayim 219:3; Igros Moshe O.C. 5:14; Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Halichos Shelomo 1:23-4).

32 Sha'arei Efrayim 4:28; Aruch ha-Shulchan 219:6; Orchos Rabbeinu 1:91, quoting Chazon Ish and Harav Y.Y. Kanievsky; Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Halichos Shelomo 1:23-4); B'tzeil ha-Chachmah 6:78; Teshuvos v'Hanahgos 1:195.

33 Be'er Heitev 219:1 quoting Knesses ha-Gedolah; Birkei Yosef 219; Chayei Adam 65:6; Ben Ish Chai (Eikev 5); Yechaveh Da'as 4:15.

34 Minchas Shelomo 2:4-31.

35 Eliyahu Rabba 219:5, quoted by Sha'arei Efrayim 4:28 and Minchas Yitzchak 4:11-9.

36 This is the source of the widespread custom that as soon as a yoledes recovers, she goes to shul to hear and to respond to Barechu es Hashem ha-mevorach. In this case, her husband's aliyah has priority over almost any other chiyuv; Beiur Halachah 136:1 (s.v. b'shabbos.)

37 Oral ruling quoted in Igros Moshe O.C. 5:14.

38 Halichos Shelomo 1:23-8, and note 10.

39 Sha'arei Teshuvah 219:1 and 3 and Mishnah Berurah 219:3. See Har Tzvi O.C. 113.

40 See Ketzos ha-Shulchan 65:1.

41 See Beiur Halachah 219:1 (s.v. chavush), Aruch ha-Shulchan 219:5 and Kaf ha-Chayim 219:11.

42 Rama 219:8.

43 See Avnei Nezer Y.D. 321, Orchos Rabbeinu 1:91, Halichos Shelomo 1:23-2 and Tzitz Eliezer 12:18.

44 See Beiur Halachah 219:8 (s.v. kegon); Ketzos ha-Shulchan 65:3.

45 Tzitz Eliezer 12:18.

46 Minchas Yitzchak 4:11. Thus, ha-Gomel is not recited when taking the ferry from Britain to France.

47 Chelkas Yaakov 2:9 quoting Belzer Rebbe. This was also the view of the Brisker Rov and Tchebniner Rov, quoted in Teshuvos v'Hanahagos 1:81 and 3:191. See also b'Tzeil ha-Chachama 1:20. According to this opinion, ha-Gomel can be said only without pronouncing Hashem's Name.

48 Chazon Ish and Harav Y. Y. Kanievsky (quoted in Orchos Rabbeinu vol. 1, pg. 91); Minchas Yitzchak 2:47; Tzitz Eliezer 11:14.

49 Igros Moshe O.C. 2:59; Ketzos ha-Shulchan 65:1; Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Halichos Shelomo 1:23-5); Be'er Moshe 7:69; Yechaveh Da'as 2:26 (for a trip longer than 72 minutes).

50 Halichos Shelomo 1:23-4. Others hold that if the duration of the trip is less than three days, then ha-Gomel should be recited only upon return; Kaf ha-Chayim 219:5.

51 Mishnah Berurah 219:32. This is the Ashkenazi custom; Sepharadim, however recite ha-Gomel only in situations that fall under one of the four categories mentioned; Kaf ha-Chayim 219:52.

52 The following lists are to be used only as a guide. In actual practice, the case with all of its various details must be presented to a rov for a final ruling.

53 See Maharal (Nesivos Olam, Nesiv ha-Avodah 13), quoted in Shevet ha-Levi 9:45. See also Knei Bosem 1:12 and Halichos Shelomo 1:23-1.

54 Harav S.Z. Auerbach (Halichos Shelomo 1:23-8). According to Harav Auerbach, this second method is preferable to the first.