List of Jewish Prayers and Blessings - Blessing For Surviving Illness or Danger

Blessing For Surviving Illness or Danger

The Birkhat Ha‑Gomeyl blessing is said after surviving illness, childbirth, or danger (including a hazardous journey or captivity).

Transliteration:

Blessing: Barukh atah Adonai Eloheinu melekh ha'olam, ha'gomeyl lahayavim tovot, sheg'malani kol tov.

Congregational Response: Amen. Mi sheg'malkha (for a woman: sheg'malayikh) kol tov, hu yigmalkha (yigmalayikh) kol tov. Selah.

Translation:

Blessing: "Blessed are You, LORD, our God, King of the Universe, Who bestows good things on the unworthy, and has bestowed on me every goodness."

Congregational Response: "Amen. He Who has bestowed on you every goodness, may He continue to bestow on you every goodness. Selah."

Note: Mizrahi (Syrian) Jews precede this blessing with reciting Psalm 111:1. ....:

Transliteration:

Odeh Adonai be'khol layvov b'sood yishorim v'aydah.

Translation:

I shall give thanks to the LORD wholeheartedly in the assembly of the upright and the congregation.

... and (among Mizrahi) the Congregational Response at the end begins:

Transliteration:

Amen. Ho'ayl shegmolokh kol tov, ....

Translation:

Amen. God who has bestowed on you every goodness, ....

This prayer has its origins in the Talmud (T.B., Berachot 54b): "Rab Judah said, in the name of Rav, There are four person who have to offer thanksgiving: (1) One who has crossed the sea, (2) one who has crossed the wilderness, (3) one who has recovered from illness, and (4) one who has been freed from captivity." This was deduced from Psalm 107, where these four situations are mentioned. In the days of the Temple, such a person would bring a thanksgiving sacrifice, but as this is no longer possible, such a person stands and recites the blessing.

The word גמל (gomeyl) means a recompense, a reward, and frequently a generous benefit (e.g. Psalms 13:6, 103:2 & 10, 116:7). Joseph H. Hertz (1872–1946), chief rabbi of the British Empire, in his commentary to the prayerbook says: "The Benediction is not limited to the above-mentioned four classes, but is recited after any signal escape from danger. This Benediction is followed with deepfelt sympathy by the fellow-worshippers." Hertz mentions an instance in Britain in 1940 when was recited by an entire congregation because they were the survivors of a Blitz bombing of the previous night.

Most halakhic authorities hold that the Ha‑Gomeyl blessing must be said publicly, in front of a minyan of 10. It is customary for men to say it after being called to the Torah. All Conservative and many Orthodox authorities hold that women are also obligated to say the Birkhat Hagomeyl blessing. The blessing is not time‑dependent (preferably it should be recited as soon after the deliverance from danger as the opportunity presents itself), and it substitutes in part for the todah (Thanksgiving) offering, one of the classes of korbanot (sacrifices) which women were obligated to offer (e.g. after childbirth) in the days of the Temple in Jerusalem. Accordingly, these authorities say that women are eligible to be counted in the minyan of 10 equally with men for the special purpose of the mitzvah of saying the HaGomeyl blessing and its congregational response publicly.