Post-Peril Praise: “Hagomel” Blessing

Question

I was recently in a serious car accident that I narrowly survived and am okay. Someone I met said that there is a special blessing I should say. Could you please tell me more about this blessing — such as the basic rules for saying it and the words of the blessing? Thanks.

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Answers

  1. The Just Ask! - AskTheRabbi.org Team

    One who was exposed to a situation of peril makes the blessing of “Hagomel” when he survives that threat to his life. The blessing must be made in the presence of a minyan of Jews (the custom is to do so in the synagogue after the reading of the Torah). There should preferably be at least two Torah scholars among them.

    The four prototypes of peril cited in the Talmud are travel over oceans or deserts, illness and imprisonment.

    The text of the blessing is “Blessed are You, Lord our God, King of the Universe, Who bestows good things on the unworthy, and has bestowed on me every goodness.”

    The men then answer: “Amen. He Who has bestowed on you every goodness, may He continue to bestow on you every goodness, Selah.”

    In Hebrew the blessing is: “Baruch Atah Adonoi Eloheinu Melech Ha’olam Hagomel l’chayavim tovot sh’gemalani tov.” And the response is: “Mi sh’gamalcha tov, Hu yigmolcha kol tuv, selah.”

    This blessing is based on a passage in Psalms (107:32) that directs those who have survived danger to “exalt Him in a gathering of the people and praise Him in the council of Sages.”

    The blessing of exaltation before a minyan is an expression of thanks to Heaven for being saved. But when a survivor of any threat to his life expresses gratitude his initial attitude to the experience he has just endured is that he would have preferred to have been spared both the danger and the deliverance.

    This, however, is an improper perspective. Every experience in life is an education in appreciating the ways of Divine Providence. When a survivor reflects more profoundly on his experience, he is not only grateful to God for the deliverance but also sings the praises of God for lifting him to a higher spiritual level through this experience.

    An even more mature approach is certainly fostered when this blessing is said in the presence of a pair of Torah scholars, whose deeper understanding of God’s ways inspires praise in addition to thanks.

    Best wishes from the AskTheRabbi.org Team