...Continued from previous week
1) When someone R”L loses a parent [or another close relative] R”L, the following Bracha is recited: “Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Dayan HaEmes - Blessed Are You Hashem, our G-d, Master of the world, the true judge”.
This Bracha is also recited upon the passing of other people, even if they aren’t relatives, if the news of their death causes distress. The prevalent custom, however, in those instances is to recite the Bracha without Shem U’Malchus and simply say “Baruch Dayan HaEmes”.
Upon hearing of the passing of a Talmid Chacham the Bracha should also be recited. Here too the prevalent Minhag has become to recite it without Shem U’malchus. (See Mishna Berura Siman 223:8 where he writes that this custom of saying it without Shem U’Malchus, especially when hearing of the passing of a Talmid Chacham, is not a right custom. See Halichos Shlomo Perek 23, Dvar Halacha 41 where he writes that although it isn’t the custom, if one is intensely distressed at the passing of the individual he may indeed recite it with Shem U’Malchus)
2) If upon the death of one’s father he is the lone person who receives an inheritance, the Bracha of “SheHechiyanu” is recited after the Bracha of ‘Dayan HaEmes”. (Even though, of course, he would rather his father still be alive and not get the inheritance, still the fact that he received new assets albeit via a sad method, the Bracha is recited. See Mishna Berura 223:9. See also Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 8 Siman 35:2. Some Poskim maintain that this SheHechiyanu is not recited at all. See Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 2 Siman 140 where he gives reasons why many people do not recite this Bracha)
The same applies to one whose wife R”L dies and leaves behind her own money as an inheritance for him. (Mishna Berura 223:10)
If he is sharing the inheritance with other heirs, in place of SheHechiyanu, the Bracha of “HaTov V’hameitiv” is recited (as SheHechiyanu is for a personal Simcha and HaTov V’Hameitiv is for a shared Simcha. See Mishna Berura ibid.)
We will begin reviewing a new topic next week B’Ezras Hashem
