HaGomel And Traveling

Halacha Moment
May 8
3 min read

The Daily Halacha Moment - HaGomel And Traveling ✈🚗

״כל השונה הלכות בכל יום - מובטח לו שהוא בן העולם הבא״ (נידה עג ע״א, מגילה כח:)

“Anyone who studies Halachot every day is guaranteed that he is destined for the world-to-come” (Megilla 28b, Niddah 73a)

Question:

When does one recite HaGomel when traveling?

Answer:

According to Ashkenaz custom, one does not recite a beracha for traveling from one city to another unless there is a significant element of danger, such as the presence of wild animals or thieves along the journey. Since modern travel is generally considered safe, a bracha is not typically required unless these specific concerns apply. However, Sephardic custom follows a different approach, maintaining that any trip from one city to another warrants a bracha as long as the journey spans at least a parsah (approximately 72 minutes). [1]

Regarding the recitation of Birkat HaGomel after traveling, there is a debate among the poskim concerning air travel. Some authorities argue that flying in an airplane does not warrant Birkas HaGomel, as it is considered a relatively safe mode of transportation compared to the dangers of travel in earlier generations. However, many poskim maintain that one should still recite HaGomel, as air travel involves inherent risks, such as turbulence or mechanical malfunctions, and one is journeying through the skies, a place of potential danger. Due to this reasoning, the prevalent custom is to recite Birkat HaGomel after air travel, following the ruling of many halachic authorities who uphold this obligation. [2]

Sources:

[1]. The Shulchan Aruch 219:7, Yalkut Yosef (219:17), and Chazon Ovadia, Berachot (p. 364) discuss the obligation of reciting Birkas HaGomel after travel. The Ramban (Berachot 54b) rules that one must say HaGomel after traveling the minimum required distance, regardless of the level of danger, based on the Yerushalmi (Berachot 4:4), which assumes that all roads carry some risk.

However, the Meiri (Berachot 54b) cites an opinion (which he personally rejects) that HaGomel should only be recited if one actually encountered serious danger. In contrast, Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah (on the Rif, Berachot 43a) note that the French rabbis had a custom to recite HaGomel only when traveling on a dangerous road, even if no harm was encountered.

[2]. Vezot HaBeracha (p. 158) cites Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach (Halichot Shlomo, Tefillah 23:5) and Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igrot Moshe 2:59) as ruling that one must recite Birkat HaGomel after traveling by airplane. However, the Minchat Yitzchak (2:47) disagrees, arguing that HaGomel is only recited for dangers that are not undertaken voluntarily.

Additionally, Igrot Moshe (2:59), Yechaveh Daat (2:26), and Halichot Shlomo (Tefillah 23:5) all support saying HaGomel for air travel. Rav Elyashiv (Ashrei Ha’ish 40:15) differentiates between flights over land, which he says do not require HaGomel, and flights over an ocean, which do.

📲 The Daily Halacha Moment is written exclusively for this broadcast so when forwarding please include the link! 😊

Netanel Aminov

Founder Of The Halacha Moment

🌟 Today's Halacha Moment is dedicated:

🕯 Leiluy Nishmat:

Mishael Ben Frecha

Efrat Bat Aushra

🤒 Refuah Shelema:

Chana Bat Sima Feiga

💯 Hatzlacha:

Aminov Family

Sion Ben Elie