...Continued from previous week
1) One who was ill with a [serious] sickness, or underwent a surgery [on an internal organ], must recite Birchas HaGomel upon being totally healed. (See Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 12 Siman 18 and Halichos Shlomo Perek 23:2 regarding an internal procedure that isn’t considered life threatening nowadays, such as inserting stents and balloons and eye surgeries, that they still require Birchas HaGomel due to their being internal. See also Orchos Rabbeinu from the Steipler page 91 where he questions whether an operation to fix a broken bone requires Birchas HaGomel upon healing.)
A Jewish male who was not circumcised as a child, and undergoes a Bris Milah when he gets older, recites Birchas HaGomel upon being healed. (See Shu”t Minchas Shlomo Vol. 2 Siman 4:31 and Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 19 Siman 53)
2) If one was only partially healed, or even mostly healed, no Birchas HaGomel is recited until the healing is totally complete. (Mishna Berura Siman 219:1)
Likewise, if one’s sickness is in remission, but according to the doctors may possibly return, no Birchas HaGomel is recited until a totally clean bill of health is received. (See Kaf HaChaim 219:43. This seems to be evident from the Mishna Berura 219:25 as well. See also Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 4 Siman 152:3 and Shu”t Divrei Yatziv Siman 86)
3) There is a dispute amongst the Poskim as to what is considered a “sickness” in regard to this:
The Shulchan Aruch (Siman 219:8) rules that upon recovering from any sickness, even one that was not life threatening, the Birchas HaGomel is recited.
According to the Rama (ibid.) only upon recovering from a serious [i.e. life threatening] illness would the Bracha be recited.
The Mishna Berura (Siman 219 S”K 28) rules that a) if one became ill with an illness that effects the entire body, to the point that we would allow an Aino-Yehudi to desecrate the Shabbos to obtain a cure, even if it isn’t life threatening or b) one became ill [with a non-life threatening illness] to the point that they needed bed rest for three days, (or with a life threatening illness which required bed rest for even a shorter period of time) then the Birchas HaGomel would be recited upon being cured. (See Biur Halacha Siman 219 Dibur Hamaschil Kegon Maka for more about the three day requirement)
4) The prevalent custom nowadays is not to recite Birchas HaGomel after being healed from common illnesses such as Flus, Cellulitis, infections etc. even if it was accompanied by a high fever and required 3 days of bed rest.
Perhaps the reason for this is that with the many medical advances in today’s world (for which of course we must thank Hashem) these common illnesses are highly treatable and seldom lead to life threatening situations, and thus are no longer considered illnesses that require the Birchas HaGomel. (See Ben Ish Chai Parshas Eikev Siman 67. Based on his ruling there, perhaps even on the Flu etc. it should be recited without Shem U’Malchus. For Halacha L’ma’aseh, of course, a Rav must be consulted. See also Ohr L’Tzion Perek 14:44)
To be continue next week B’Ezras Hashem
