06 Jun BERACHA ON WISE PEOPLE AND KINGS (PRESIDENTS)

Beracha on Wise
People and Kings
(Presidents)
An unfamiliar halacha is
the obligation to recite a
beracha on wise people
and kings, whether they
are Jewish or non-Jewish.
Does this beracha apply
today? What are the
qualifications of “wise”?
Does this beracha apply to the President of the
United States? What are the criteria involved?
How often is one required to recite this beracha?
All these and other questions will be dealt with
in this issue. We will first deal with reciting the
beracha on wise people.
Is this Beracha Still Relevant?
There is a discussion among the poskim
whether the beracha recited on a wise person[1]
is still relevant today. Some suggest that we
are not clear how to define a wise person.
Therefore, one can recite the beracha without
Hashem’s name. Others say that although
our contemporary chachamim might not be
defined as wise for certain rules, but regarding
the beracha they still are. This is the accepted
custom.

The Aruch Hashulchan says that the
parameters of this beracha are not clear, so
the beracha is not said today.
Beracha on Wise People – Source
The Gemorah says that if one sees a wise
Jewish person he recites שחלק …..ברוך
ליריאיו מחכמתו. For a wise gentile the
ברוך….. שנתן מחכמתו לבשר ודם :is beracha
There are different explanations as to why
the nusach is different for a wise Jewish
person than for a wise non-Jewish person.
The Maharsha explains that a wise Jewish
person acquires his knowledge from the
Torah which is a part of Hashem, as opposed
to the sharpness of a non-Jew. Others
explain that the souls of Jewish people are
from the throne of Hashem as opposed to a
non-Jew’s. The Levush says that the wisdom
of the Torah is extremely profound, and we
can only understand a small portion of its
depth. Therefore we say שחלק , which
means a portion. However, the non-Jews can
only excel in the wisdom that exists in this
world. They can acquire all of this wisdom,
but they cannot know more. This wisdom
is a gift; therefore we recite ,שנתן which
means that He gave. As far as making the
beracha for a wise non-Jew, the person has
to be wise in the wisdoms of the world. It is

not common for this beracha to be recited
today, since they are very few if any who
meet the criteria.
Criteria of a Wise Person
The poskim do not discuss at length the
definition of a wise person in regard to these
halachos. However, the Shevet Halevi says:
a person who is accepted in his generation as
wise from Torah and his learning is lishmah.
Others say that he has to know kabbalah as
well.
Beracha Recited Over the Years
It is reported that when the author of the
Tzafnes Paneach (the Rugatchover zt”l)
visited Vienna, the citizens recited the
beracha. In addition, some recited the
beracha on the Chazzon Ish zt”l, and Steipler
zt”l. The Steipler zt’l instructed his son to
make a beracha on the Brisker Rav zt’l,
and maintained that one should recite the
beracha on Harav Aron Kotler zt”l. Others
have recited the beracha on Harav Moshe
Feinstein zt”l,[22] as well as Harav Elyashiv
zt”l, Harav Shlomo Zalman Aurbach zt”l,
Harav Ovadia Yosef zt”l, and Harav Chaim
Kanievesky zt”l.
Seeing the Wise People Through a
Window
Even if one does not meet the person
face to face, but only sees him through
a clear window, he would recite the
appropriate berachos.
Jewish and non-Jewish King
When one sees a Jewish king (at the time
of the Bais Hamikdosh) one says …..ברוך
שחלק מכבודו ליראיו
. If one sees a non-Jewish king he says
.ברוך שנתן מכבודו לבשר ודם
The poskim maintain that the beracha is
also recited on a queen.
Although one should not look at women,
one may take a peek.
There are different explanations as to
why there is a change in nusach between
a Jewish and non-Jewish king.
One should make an effort to see both
Jewish and non-Jewish kings alike.
What are the Criteria to Make This
Beracha?
Some mention that a king is defined as
someone who has the ability to order
capital punishment. Others maintain
though that if it is a king which is shown
honor it is considered a king in regard to
this halacha.
President of the United States
There is a discussion among the poskim
whether a president of a democratic
country would have the status of a king.
Some poskim say that since a democratic

president does not have the authority to
order an execution, the beracha is not recited
on him. Many poskim say that one may
recite the beracha since the president has the
ability to pardon a condemned criminal.
Some maintain that if one sees a president of
a country in his royal clothes (not common
in the United States) then he can make a
beracha if he wishes to do so.
Daily Clothes
There is a discussion in the poskim if one
sees a king in normal clothes would it
constitute a brachah. This would also apply
to the President of a country. Some maintain
that one would not say the brachah with
Hashems name in this situation.
Watching the President on Television
The beracha is only recited if one sees
the president live, not if he sees him on
television. The same is true in regards to
seeing a wise person etc.
One who sees the vehicle in which the
president is traveling, but does not actually
see the president, may not recite the beracha.
When to Make the Beracha
The beracha is not repeated if one sees the
same king etc. within thirty days, but if he
sees a different king etc. then he may recite
another beracha.
Wise King
One who sees a wise king would recite two
berochos, one for the fact that he is wise and
the other that he is the king.