13 Feb BENTSHING GOMEL

The Gemorah says one
who experiences any
of four occurrences
recites the beracha of
hagomel. These four
are: 1. Traveling by sea.
2. Walking through a
desert. 3. Being freed
from jail 4. Being healed
from sickness.
The Aruch Ha’shulchan
explains the nature of
this beracha. When an open miracle happens, one
is required to recite the beracha of assei li neis.
On an “ordinary” miracle such as our parnasa
and health, which we call nature no berachawas
instituted on, since we thank Hashem for these
things during davening when we recite Modim
and V’al Kulam. There is a third category of
miracles that birchos hagmoel covers. That is
where the occurrence is natural, but also goes a
little bit out of nature. For example, going to the
sea is natural, however, when the winds come and
one is saved it is still tevah-but not totally. The
same concept applies to the rest of the items for
which one recites the beracha of hagomel. The
beracha is an expression of our thanks to Hashem
for the kindness He showed by saving us from
the occurrence that happened, even though we
might not have deserved being saved. The Ben
Ish Chai says that reciting this berachareminds a
perosn that all is from Hashem and not just chance
happenings. The poskim say that this beracha is a
reshusrather than an obligation.
In this issue we will not be discussing which
occurrences are included in the four categories
mentioned above. Rather, we will discuss the
correct way to recite this beracha. Are ten people
needed? When should this beracha be recited?
After three days? At a time when there is laining?
After reviewing these topics we will have a better
understanding on how to recite this beracha
properly.
A Woman’s Obligation
There are many different customs regarding the
inyun of women reciting hagomel. Some say since
this hagomel should ideally be said in front of ten
people (see below), a woman should not recite it
because it is not the derech for a lady to go outside
and say berochos in front of people.Others say
that the woman should go to shul and recite the
beracha so that the men who are there will answer
amen. Many say that the custom is that a woman
does not recite birchos hagomel unless she gave
birth, and for any other occurrence that happened
to her she would not bentch hagomel.
There are many customs regarding how a lady
should recite hagomel after her child is born.[9]
Some say the husband should get an aliyah and
when she answers amen to the berochos of the
aliyah, she is exempted from birchos hagomel.
Others say the lady should go to shul and hear
borchu, or kedusha. The minhag in Yerushalayim
is that a minyanis made in the house where the
lady is staying so she can recite birchos hagomel.
This minyan does not have to be comprised of ten
men; rather there can be up to nine women and one
man. Some say the minyan should consist entirely
of women or entirely of men. It would seem that
if many people are gathered together for the vacht

nacht the woman should use the opportunity to
recite birchos hagomel.
A Child
A child under bar-mitzvah does not recite birchos
hagomel. Since a child is not punished for his
sins, the nusach of “chayuvim” that we recite in
hagomel does not apply to him. The custom is
that a child less than twenty years old does recite
the beracha even though he is not punished b’dei
shomayim.

The custom of Sefardim is that a child under bar-
mitzvah does recite the beracha. Some say if an

Ashkenazi child under 13 wants to recite hagomel
he may do so.
The Beracha
According to some poskim, before making the
beracha of hagomel one should say yoda l’hashem
chasdo. Other poskim bring different tefillas that
are recited before saying the beracha of hagomel.
The nusach of the beracha is למוגה םיבייחל תובוט
ינלמגש לכ בוט.]22 [Although others have different
nuschayos, this nusach is accepted by the majority
of the Kehillas. The beracha should be said loud
enough that the listeners can hear the entire
beracha properly. Many poskim do not mention
the fact that the listeners have to answer amen to
the beracha. Others say the listeners should recite
amen and then they say the nusach that is found in
all siddurim. However, even if the listeners do not
answer amen, or do not say the nusach after the
beracha, the reciters beracha was still valid.
One who is being yotzei the beracha by listening
to someone else reciting it, should answer in
loshon rabim (g’malanu).
Tzedaka
Some poskim say that the reciter of hagomel
should give tzedaka.
Standing or Sitting
It is proper to stand while reciting hagomel. The
Aruch Ha’shulchan says the reason for this is since
one is supposed to say it in front of ten people,
and Hashem is present when there are ten Yiddin
in one place, one should stand out of honor for
Hashem when the beracha is recited. If the one
reciting the beracha did not stand and instead
sat down the beracha is still valid. Some say the
listeners can sit during the reciting of the beracha.
The Rambam is of the opinion that the one reciting
the beracha should stand amongthe listeners when
reciting the beracha. This is accomplished when
the reciter stands at the bimah when reciting the
beracha.
Day or Night
From the consensus of the poskim it would seem
that it is better for the beracha to be recited by day.
However, if for whatever reason saying it at night
is more convenient, one may indeed recite the
beracha at night. The minhag seems to be lenient
and permit the beracha to be recited at the night of
a vacht nacht.
Uncertainty
One who is not sure whether or not the occurrence
that happened to him requires a birchos hagomel
should have in mind to exempt his sofek when he
recites the beracha of hagomel chasadim tovim
during birchos hashachar.
On Shabbos
Although, some say the beracha is instead of
bringing a korbon todah, the beracha may be
recited on Shabbos even though korbonos were

not brought on Shabbos.
When to Recite the Beracha
The minhag is to recite the beracha on a day
when the Torah is read. Many say the reason for
this is since one is supposed to say the beracha
in front of ten people (see below) and on a day
when the Torah is read there are normally ten
people present. Others say that since the beracha
is instead of bringing a korbon todah, when one
gets an aliyah it is like he is bringing a korbon.
Another reason to say hagomel at an aliyah is
because by reciting the borchu one is giving
thanks to Hashem, which is similar to what is
being accomplished by reciting the beracha of
hagomel. If one cannot get an aliyah then one
normally gets hagbah or gelilah.
L’masseh, there is no need to receive a kibud
to recite the beracha. The beracha may be
recited even without a kibud. Many people are
unaware of this fact and should be informed of
it. One who did not receive an aliyah etc. and
has to bentch gomel should go to the bimah after
the kaddish recited at the conclusion of laining.
The custom is that the beracha is made after the
kaddish which follows laining.Although, some
say the beracha can also be recited before this
kaddish. One who gets an aliyah which is not the
last one recites the beracha of hagomel after he has
finished his second beracha.
A person who had an aliyah and for some reason
forgot to bentch gomel should go back up to
the bimah in between aliyahs and bentch gomel
then. One who is in middle of pesukei d’zimra or
birchos krias shema should not be mafsikin order
to recite birchos hagomel.
The Limits
According to the letter of the law there is no
time limit within which one must bentch gomel.
However, the poskimsay it is advisable to recite
the beracha within three days from the time the
incident occurred. According to this, one who is
saved on Monday should not wait until Thursday
to bentch gomel in order to be able to recite it
on a day when the Torah is read. However, the
Sharei Ephraim says the minhag is that we are
not concerned about waiting three days in order to
be able to bentch on a day that the Torah is read.
One who waited more than thirty days since he
was obligated to recite hagomel should not recite
it even if he will have ten people there. Some say
one who waited such a long time before reciting
the beracha that he no longer remembers the good
that was done for him can no longer recitehagomel.
Exempting Others
Many times people who travel together cannot
all recite hagomel at their common destination.
In this situation, one person should recite the
beracha and exempt all those who are obligated
in it. The people who are being yotzei with the
beracha should stand near the bimah in order to
hear all the words of the beracha. The one reciting
the berachamust be obligated in birchos hagomel
and should have in mind to exempt the listeners.
The listeners should have in mind to be exempted
by the one reciting the beracha, and do not have
to answer amen. After the beracha, the listeners
should recite the nusach of the answer to the
beracha in loshon rabbim.
Some say in a Yeshiva the custom is for all those
who are obligated in birchos hagomel to line

up and recite this berachaone after the other.
However, many times this is not practical and is
not done.
Ten People and Two Rabbonim
One should recite the beracha in front of ten people
and two rabbonim. The two rabbonim should be
people who are versed enough in Torah to paskin.
The ten people which are needed can include the
one reciting the beracha.There is a big discussion
in the poskim whether the requirement is for ten
people including two rabbonim or ten people not
including the two rabbonim. Most poskim say
the ten people includes the two rabbonim, but if
possible one should try and have ten people plus
two rabbonim. According to some poskim there is
not a great necessity for two rabbonim and if one
does not have them one may nonetheless recite the
beracha. There is an opinion in the poskimthat if
there are not two rabbonim in the shul where one
normally davens, one should try to go to another
shul with two rabbonim. Some say the requirement
of ten people is l’chatchilah, and if one does not
have ten people he may still recite the beracha. In
this case one should recite the beracha again in
front of ten people without the shem or malchus.
One who will not have ten people when he wants
to recite the beracha, should wait up until three
days for ten people in order to recite the beracha in
front of them. There is no need for the ten people
to face each other, and they just need to be present
in the room.
Reciting the Beracha for One’s Wife
The reason why one may be able to recite the
beracha for his close relatives is because he is
giving a sh’vach to Hashemfor saving the other
person from the occurrence that happened.[
However, there is a big discussion as to whom one
may recite the beracha for. We will discuss this
question as it applies to reciting the beracha for
one’s wife. Many poskim say since one’s wife is
like himself one can, in fact, recite this beracha for
his wife provided that she is present and answers
amen.[ However, other poskim are not convinced
that this would work and therefore, one should not
recite the beracha for his wife.