Wednesday, March 20, 2013

A Bracha on Obama

As president Obama begins his first visit to Israel as president in 2013, many will get a chance to see him for the first time. Rav Ovadia Yosef paskened that upon seeing the president one makes a Bracha  ברוך שנתן מכבודו למלך בשר ודם Blessed are You, who has given from His glory to (humans of) flesh and blood. Its a Bracha used upon seeing a king. The president has the power of launch a war against the enemy and to grant a pardon sparing one from death, thus he has a status of a melech. One must see him live with the naked eye in order to recite the blessing. 

2 comments:

  1. Rav Aviner, shlit"a, ruled that one should not say the bracha, that it's only for a king that fulfills specific conditions. He also mentions that both the Steipler and the Satmar Rebbe made similar rulings. http://www.ravaviner.com/2013/03/reciting-blessing-on-seeing-president.html

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  2. ברוך משנה הבריות

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