Birkas HaGomel II

  1. A person who has completed a
    journey or recovered from an illness etc. is required to recite birkas
    hagomel
    . If he does not want people to know the reason for his reciting
    the blessing, and cannot go to a congregation where people do not know him, he
    may recite the blessing by himself. Nevertheless, he should try to say the
    blessing in front of at least one other person.

  2. When birkas hagomel is
    recited without mentioning the name of G-d or his kingship, the congregation
    is not required—but it is permitted—to answer amen.

  3. A person does not recite birkas
    hagomel
    until he recovers completely from his illness. The words of the
    blessing, שגמלני כל טוב,
    imply a goodness that is full and complete. Accordingly, if a person has a
    stroke and lies unconscious, he does not recite birkas hagomel with
    the name of G-d and reference to his kingship after regaining consciousness
    if he is still partially paralyzed. A person who recovers from an illness,
    but is left with internal problems, and a person who falls ill with a
    dangerous illness and afterwards with another illness, and then recovers
    from the first illness but not from the second does not mention the name of
    G-d or His kingship when reciting birkas hagomel. But a person who,
    while imprisoned, recovers from an illness, recites birkas hagomel even
    though he is still imprisoned.

  4. Any internal operation is
    considered dangerous. A person who recovers from such an operation recites birkas
    hagomel
    .

  5. An adult who undergoes
    circumcision recites birkas hagomel. But a gentile who converts and
    is circumcised does not recite birkas hagomel after he immerses
    himself in a mikveh because he was still a gentile during the time he was in
    danger.

  6. Regarding release from
    prison: If a person was imprisoned for only a day or two, he does not recite
    birkas hagomel. If he was imprisoned because he is suspected of a
    crime related to money or property, he recites birkas hagomel without
    mentioning the name of G-d and His kingship because he would certainly not
    be given a death sentence for such a crime. Nevertheless, if the prison
    itself was dangerous because he was incarcerated with dangerous criminals,
    he recites birkas hagomel when he is released. A person who could
    have arranged release from prison by putting up money does not recite birkas
    hagomel
    when he is released. A person who escapes from prison does not
    recite birkas hagomel so long as the authorities may still catch up
    with him.

  7. A child who experiences a
    miracle does not recite a blessing. Neither does his father make a blessing
    for him, though some recite birkas hagomel without mentioning the
    name of G-d and His kingship.

  8. It is not customary for women
    to recite a blessing when they experience a miracle.

  9. It is best to recite birkas
    hagomel
    within three days, but it may be recited at any time.

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