...Continued from previous week
1) One who sees a place where a miracle was performed for the Jewish nation, such as the site of the Yam Suf (Sea of reeds, which was split for the Jewish nation after they were freed from Egypt), the site of the walls of Yericho (which miraculously were swallowed into the ground thus allowing Yehoshua and the Jews to conquer the city), and other similar places, recites the following Bracha:
Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam SheAsah Nisim L’Avoseinu B’Makom HaZeh - Blessed Are You Hashem, Our G-d, Master of the world, Who performed miracles for our ancestors in this place” (Shulchan Aruch Siman 218:1)
There is no need to specify the nature of the miracle, simply saying “Who performed miracles for our ancestors in this place” suffices. (Biur Halacha Siman 218 Dibur Hamaschil Mevarech)
However, since the exact location of these sites isn’t known for sure nowadays, even when one sees the spot that is purported to be the location, the Bracha is recited without Shem U’Malchus. (See Kaf HaChaim 218:4. See also Mishna Berura 218:1-7 for a listing of some of these locations.)
2) A Ger (a convert to Judaism) may recite this Bracha and include the words “L’Avoseinu- for our ancestors” (See Sifsei Chachamim to Brachos 54a Dibur Hamaschil HaRoeh Makom)
This Bracha is only recited if the miracle was performed for all or most of the Jewish nation, and not for a miracle performed for any group of Jews. (Mishna Berura 218:10. Of course, the ones who experienced the miracle themselves recite their own Bracha, as we shall discuss in the next halacha)
3) An individual who experienced a personal miracle, recites the following Bracha upon seeing the site of the miracle:
Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam SheAsah Li Nes B’Makom HaZeh - Blessed Are You Hashem, Our G-d, Master of the world, Who performed a miracle for me in this place” (Shulchan Aruch Siman 218:4)
4) Likewise, a son/daughter [and a grandson/granddaughter] and a student (Talmid Muvhak only) of the one who had the miracle performed for them recite a Bracha upon seeing the site of the miracle. (See Mishna Berura Siman 218:16 and Sha’ar HaTziyun S”K 7 regarding when great grandchildren would recite this Bracha. See also Aruch HaShulchan 218:7 who rules that great grandchildren never recite this Bracha. See also Halichos Shlomo Perek 23:9 for more guidelines regarding children and grandchildren. Regarding a Rebbi/Talmid Muvhak see Mishna Berura 218:20)
The text they say is “...SheAsah Nes L’Avi [or L'Imi or L'Zikni'/L'Z'keinasi or L'Rabi] B’Makom HaZeh- ...Who performed a miracle for my father [or my mother or my grandfather/mother or my Rebbi] in this place” (See Biur Halacha Siman 218 Dibur Hamaschil V’Chol Yotzei Yereicho )
5) The Bracha on seeing the site of a miracle [that occurred to Klal Yisroel, an individual, or to one's father or Rebbi] is only recited once every thirty days. (Mishna Berura Siman 218:15)
An Avel (a mourner) does not recite the Bracha on miracles. (See Kaf HaChaim Siman 218:9)
6) If one sees a person to whom a miracle happened, according to some opinions, the following Bracha is recited:
Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam SheAsah Nes L’Adam HaZeh (or “SheAsah Lecha Nes”) - Blessed Are You Hashem, Our G-d, Master of the world, Who performed a miracle for this person (or “Who performed a miracle for you”) (Rama Siman 218:6. See Mishna Berura Siman 218:22 and Sha’ar HaTziyun S”K 19 and 20)
To be continue next week B’Ezras Hashem
