...Continued from previous week
1) We learnt that one who was in a dangerous situation and was saved recites Birchas HaGomel. We will now discuss some various different “situations” and their Halachic status.
The Poskim point out that one needn’t necessarily be in actual danger, rather even if one was in a place or situation where it is common to encounter danger, if he passed through and was never presented with any actual danger the Bracha is still recited. (See Biur Halacha Siman 219 Dibur Hamaschil Yordei HaYam where he cites an example of one who travels over calm waters of a sea would recite Gomel, because it is common to encounter dangerous waves etc. in the place he crossed. See also Shu”t Har Tzvi Siman 113)
2) One who was in a serious car collision that potentially could have caused death, and survived, recites Birchas HaGomel (Based on Shulchan Aruch Siman 219:9 that one who had a “collision” with a bull recites Gomel)
One who was “almost” in a serious collision and at the last moment averted the danger, does not recite Birchas HaGomel (See Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol.2 Siman 136. He writes there also in the name of Rav Yaakov Kamenetsky Zatzal, that in any case where one was in or near danger, where the Halacha is that one does not recite Birchas HaGomel, still it is important to thank Hashem and say various Tefilos of Hoda’ah. See also Halichos Shlomo Perek 23:1, Shu”t Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 2 Siman 49 and Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 18 Siman 22)
One who was in a war zone and returned to safety unscathed recites Birchas HaGomel. (See Shu” t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 5 Siman 24:2)
Soldiers who are in combat and are saved from an actual danger recite Birchas HaGomel, even if they will still remain in that war zone. (See Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 9 Siman 45 at length for other details that pertain to soldiers in and out of war zones. See also Shu”t L’Horos Nosson Vol. 11 Siman 12)
3) One who was kidnapped by terrorists or other dangerous beings, and was released, recites Birchas HaGomel (See Shu”t Yechaveh Da’as Vol. 2 Siman 25)
A caravan of vehicles that was traveling through enemy territory where stones were thrown at them with the intent to kill, if one vehicle was damaged and in danger, the members of all the vehicles in the caravan, even the ones that were not damaged but could have been, recite Birchas HaGomel. (Shu”t L’Horos Nosson Vol. 11 Siman 13)
If one was held up by an armed robber who threatened to kill him unless he handed over money, since his life was in danger, he recites Birchas HaGomel upon getting out of the situation alive. (Shu”t Va’Yan Dovid Siman 36)
4) One who was in prison [for an extended period of time], if it was for a matter that could have resulted in a death sentence, according to all Poskim he recites Birchas HaGomel upon being released. If he was incarcerated for other reasons, and was never in danger of being executed, it is a big dispute amongst the Poskim if Birchas HaGomel is recited upon being released, and according to many Poskim the Bracha should thus be recited without Shem U’malchus, especially in today’s society where execution is never carried out for anything other than capital crimes, and even then very rarely. (See Biur Halacha Siman 219 Dibur Hamaschil Chavush. See also Kaf HaChaim 219:11, Aruch HaShulchan 219:5, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 61:1 and Chayei Adam Klal 65:6. See also Shu”t banyan Av Vol. 1 Siman 6)
5) One who journeyed through a sea and arrives at his destination safely recites Birchas HaGomel. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 219:1). This only applies to a sea or ocean (i.e. where the large waves and other elements can be dangerous) and not to rivers and other calm bodies of water. (See Biur Halacha Siman 219 Dibur Hamaschil Yordei)
The Bracha is only recited after arriving on dry land, even if something dangerous transpired while the ship is still en route from which they were saved. (Kaf HaChaim Siman 219:4 and Mishna Berura 219:1)
6) One who travels through an underwater tunnel (such as the tunnel connecting England and France) is not considered to have journeyed through the sea and does not recite Birchas HaGomel upon leaving the tunnel. (Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 9 Siman 72 and Shu”t L’Horos Nosson Vol. 7 Siman 10. See also Shu”t Minchas Yitzchak Vol. 4 Siman 11)
Similarly, one who takes a ferry ride or otherwise is on a ship for a short period of time and not for an extended journey, does not recite Birchas HaGomel upon getting off the ship, unless the ship was in actual danger at some point in the ride.
Nowadays when ship travel is basically nonexistent, A Rav should be consulted with the specific details of any ship ride to determine if Birchas HaGomel is halachically required.
7) One who travels through an uninhabited desert and makes it out safely, recites Birchas HaGomel (Shulchan Aruch Siman 219:1)
One who travels through a desert on a train where he is protected from the dangerous elements of the desert (e.g. snakes, scorpions, bandits etc.) does not recite Birchas HaGomel. (See Ketzos HaShulchan Siman 65:2)
8) However, if traveling by car, even in a caravan with others, where the danger of bandits still exists, Birchas HaGomel is indeed recited. (Sefer Birchas HaBayis Siman 327:4. He writes that this would apply to traveling by train as well if the danger of bandits still exists)
To be continue next week B’Ezras Hashem
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