Birkat HaGomel - May 15, 2009
Birkat HaGomel 5-15-09
This talk is part of a series I call "Special Prayers in Judaism." And I will introduce a new blessing or an old one you know – that can be useful for our personal or communal lives. A blessing which if intentional can make a difference, expand our experience of an event, or in tonight's case, a near event – one which DID NOT happen!
Who has ever had a "close call"? Raise your hands…. How did you feel once through the danger? What did you think? How did you feel physically? Relieved? Sick to your stomach? What did you do after the danger passed?
You know the saying in Judaism: "There's a blessing for everything!" One of my favorites is truly useful, that is if you're ever on I-95 or U.S. 1 in traffic. That is the Birkat HaGomel - Thanking God for Deliverance – actually for safely arriving at your destination. During the
After a near disaster, we take a moment, sigh (large), and are recite this beracha upon emerging in good health or from any of the following situations:
- Upon safely crossing the ocean and reaching the desired destination or today we would say, upon arriving at your destination after flying overseas.
- Upon safely crossing the desert or any dangerous road, or upon being saved from any peril, as when a wall collapsed upon him or an ox attempted to gore him, or robbers attacked.
- Upon recovering from a serious illness, or from a serious wound, or from any illness which has confined him to bed for at least 3 days. (And his condition didn’t deteriorate; or after being completely restored to normal health).
- Upon being released from prison, even if the imprisonment was due to civil matters. (Sane, and one didn’t lose his mind from the harsh ordeal; or after being entirely freed).
I would add:
- Upon deliverance from an earthquake or other natural disaster (i.e., Hurricane).
- And when a person didn’t actually endure any danger, nevertheless since they were in a situation which potentially could have been dangerous, they are obligated to recite the blessing.
By the way, it is best to try and recite the blessing as close as possible (within three days) to the deliverance. After all, it wouldn’t be fitting to delay thanking God for delivering one to his destination, or to her family. It is also customary to recite the blessing in the presence of a Torah scroll. It is often recited in synagogue as a public acknowledgment of God’s deliverance, and in a minyan; and it is said while standing. But there is lenience: because if you neglected to recite bircat hagomel during the 3 days following the event, that we should still offer it. The prayer reads,
Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam,
hagomel l’chayavim tovot, shegamalani kol tov.
Praised are You, God, Ruler of All,
who has bestowed upon the undeserving good
things, and has given me all good things.
Response from listeners
Mi shegmalach (for a man, Gemalcha), kol tov, hu yigmalech (yigmolcha) kol tov selah. God who has bestowed upon you good things should always bestow upon you good things.
This b'racha and others keep us on the path of God-awareness. This awareness doesn't happen in a vacuum – it happens when we recite HaMotzi over food or a b'racha over candles, or Kiddush. Or even, as at Beth Or, we recite the Bathroom Prayer. However we can raise our lives up, and bring them to holiness by the realization at some level of God's role in our lives.
Thanksgiving is something animals do not do. At least, we are unaware if, in fact they do give thanks. Appreciation of the gifts we share or gifts we have – in this case, life or health by avoiding disaster – makes us different. And that is all the difference. For not only are we self-aware enough to have the opportunity to give thanks, but we can acknowledge that which is "under our control" and that which is not.
Shabbat teaches us important lessons in "control." On Shabbat, NOT engaging in so much that we occupy ourselves with during the week, reminds us of one overarching lesson. And that is we're not in charge! On Shabbat, we do less outwardly because of our realization that we live in God's world. WE are not the creators or sustainers – God is. We take a 25 hour "break" from creating because we act as if everything has already been created and everything – for Shabbat – is just right.
That realization should help us understand that our lives may not always be in our hands – Shabbat or not. Bircat HaGomel – feeling appreciative of life or health or protection – when we experience a "close call" expands our awareness and may even give us a sense of God's reality in the world.
Let me conclude with a story:
In the religious area of
"Have I got a car for you!" he exclaimed, unable to conceal his delight at finding an obviously religious man. The Rabbi turned business man, dressed in a dark suit, sporting a long beard, looked at the sales man in apprehension.
"What do you mean?"
"Ah ha," the salesman said rubbing his hands together. "Let me shown you the latest technological advance. An American car with Israeli designed computerized digital commands."
"What's that?" the Rabbi asked hesitatingly.
"Come right here and let me show you. You will never believe your eyes." The salesman opened the door of the new and shiny sedan. "Please sit down and I will show you.
"A one of a kind, I tell you. You won't believe your eyes. You see this car has no pedals. That's right no gas pedal and no brake pedal."
"But how do you stop and start?"
"Ah, that's the beauty of this, with the Israeli computerized technology all you have to do is to speak and the digital processor will convert your voice into an electronic signal that tells the motor what to do."
"I don't believe it."
"Watch, it's true. This was programmed for the religious consumer. To start, just say "Baruch HaShem" ("Thank God"). As the salesman spoke those words the car began to drive.
The Rabbi, was taken back, "Wow, I don't believe it! How do you stop the car?"
"That's no problem, all you have to say is 'Shema Yisrael' (the prayer declaring the unity of God) and the car will stop." As the salesman spoke those words, the car rolled to a halt. It's as easy as can be just say 'Baruch HaShem' to start and when you want to stop just say 'Shema Yisrael'. "
Well The Rabbi was very impressed and bought the car on the spot. Entering the car he said the magic words, 'Baruch HaShem' and the car was soon heading out and on to the local highway. Soon the Rabbi had left the city behind and was looking at the beautiful country scenery. As the car continued, the Rabbi failed to notice a sign saying that the road is closed. As the car continued it went up onto a half completed bridge.
"Oh no! We are going to crash!". Instinctively his feet searched in vain for the brake pedal, but there was none to be found. "What do I say, WHAT DO I SAY!!!" panicking he could not remember what the salesman had told him. His mind was a blank and the car was approaching the end of the unfinished bridge, together with a majestic plunge into a ravine, hundreds of feet below.
"This is the end!" the Rabbi thought. And preparing for death he began to declare the unity of God,." Shema Yisrael! " he said, and in a moment the car screeched to a stop with half of the car resting in a tilted manner, precariously over the bridge.
The Rabbi, soaked with perspiration, removed his trembling hand from his forehead, and looked at the miracle and exclaimed with deep feeling 'BARUCH HASHEM'".
Ooooops!: almost an opportunity for Bircat HaGomel!
Shabbat Shalom!