...Continued from previous week
1) According to many Poskim, one who flew on an airplane and landed safely must recite Birchas HaGomel, and according to many Poskim this applies to all flights regardless if they were domestic or overseas and regardless of the amount of time spent in the air. (See Shu”t Igros Moshe Orach Chaim Vol. 2 Siman 59 where Rav Moshe Feinstein Zatzal writes very strongly: “I heard that some Poskim rule that only for flights over water is the Gomel required, and there is no basis for this ruling, and of course the Bracha needs to be recited for all flights”. See also Halichos Shlomo Perek 23:5.)
Some Poskim differentiate between flying between countries (where the Bracha needs to be recited even if not flying over water) and between two cities in one country (where no Bracha is recited). (See Shu”t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 11 Siman 14)
Some Poskim including Chacham Rav Ovadia Yosef Zatzal (in Shu”t Yechaveh Da’as Vol. 2 Siman 26) rule that only flights whose duration is more than 72 minutes require Birchas HaGomel.
2) Many Poskim, however, have a hard time understanding this difference between short flights and long flights, as any amount of time spent in a speeding airplane hundreds of feet above the ground is a situation of extreme danger, as many plane crashes have happened almost immediately upon takeoff. (See Shu”t L’Horos Nosson Vol. 11 Siman 14. See also Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 1 Siman 193, Vol. 2 Siman 148 and Vol. 3 Siman 81 where he discusses various different customs regarding this.)
Some Poskim say that nowadays when air travel is much safer than it used to be, no Gomel is recited, or at minimum it is recited without Shem U’Malchus. (See Shu”t Chelkas Yaakov Siman 55, Shu”t Kinyan Torah Vol. 1 Siman 16 quoting the Brisker Rav Zatzal and Shu”t B’Tzel HaChachma Vol. 1 Siman 20)
For Halacha L’ma’aseh, as always, a Rav must be consulted to determine if and when to recite the Bracha of Gomel after flying.
3) Ideally, the Bracha of Gomel should be recited within three days of being saved from the danger, even if by doing it within three days it will have to be said not in front of a Sefer Torah as is the custom.
(See Mishna Berura Siman 219:20). B’dieved, even up to five days is considered right away. (See Be’er Heitev 219:9)
However, if the Bracha was not recited within three [or five] days, it may still be recited for a while longer, as long as a very long time has not elapsed. (See Mishna Berura 219:8. See Shu”t Yabia Omer Vol. 3 Siman 16 and Shu”t Yechaveh Da’as Vol. 3 Siman 14. See also Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 1Siman 197)
If indeed a long time has passed, to the point that many of the details of the ordeal, or even the ordeal itself, is already being forgotten (5 days according to some Poskim, 30 days according to others and 12 months, according to all Poskim), the Bracha is no longer recited [with Shem U'malchus]. (See Aruch HaShulchan Siman 219:7 and Shu”t Shevet HaKehasi Vol. 1 Siman 100:1)
4) A minor does not recite Birchas HaGomel. (Mishna Berura Siman 219:3)
There are various opinions regarding women and Birchas HaGomel, and we shall B’Ezras Hashem discuss them in the near future in more detail.
5) The Bracha of Gomel must be recited in the presence of ten adult Jewish males. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 219:3)
The one reciting the Bracha may be counted among the ten. (Mishna Berura 219:6. See also Sha’ar HaTzion S”K 7 and Kaf HaChaim 219:19 for opinions that hold that ten additional men besides the one reciting the Bracha are required)
If it was recited with less than ten men present, it should be repeated again in front of ten men, but this time without Shem U’malchus. (Shulchan Aruch ibid. See also Ben Ish Chai Parshas Eikev Siman 62 and Shu”t Teshuvos V’Hanhagos Vol. 2 Siman 143)
If no ten men are present, the reciting of the Bracha should be postponed until 10 men can be gathered. However, if by postponing the Bracha it will cause 30 days to pass from when the time the Bracha was obligated to be recited, it should be recited immediately even without ten people. (See Mishna Berura Siman 219:8)
6) Ideally at least two of the ten men present should be Talmidei Chachamim (Learned Torah scholars) who study Halacha. However, if such scholars are not readily available, the Bracha should be recited in front of any ten males. (Shulchan Aruch 219:3 and Be’er Heitev S”K 5. See also Biur Halacha Dibur Hamaschil Lo Sh’chichi Rabanan)
The prevalent custom is to recite Birchas HaGomel in Shul at Krias HaTorah. (Shulchan Aruch ibid. See Aishel Avraham (Butchatch) Siman 219 that the Bracha should be recited after the ending Bracha of the last person’s Aliya)
To be continue next week B’Ezras Hashem
