Berachot in the Days of Mashiach and the Ramchal’s Prayer for the Geulah

Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, one of the great Torah scholars of the previous generation, quoted in his book Responsa Minchat Shlomo (Part 1) the words of Rabbi Shmuel Hominer concerning the blessings that should be recited at the time of Mashiach’s arrival.  

1. The Berachah Upon Seeing 600,000 Jews Together in Eretz Yisrael

ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם חכם הרזים - “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam Chacham ha-razim” -  (Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the universe, Knower of secrets.) This blessing is recited when 600,000 Jews gather together. Thus the Shulchan Aruch rules: “One who sees six hundred thousand Jews together is obligated to recite: ‘Blessed… Knower of secrets.’” The meaning of the blessing is that among six hundred thousand Jews are included every type of face and opinion that exists in the world, and the Holy One, blessed be He, knows what is in the heart of each one of them. As it is written: “He Who fashioned the hearts of them all, Who understands all their deeds.” (Tehillim 33:15) Therefore, we bless Him as “Chacham ha-razim”—the Knower of secrets—for His wisdom consists in knowing what is hidden in the heart of every person.

2. The Berachah Upon Seeing Torah Sages 

ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו - “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam she-chalak me-chochmato li-re'av” - (Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the universe, Who has apportioned of His wisdom to those who fear Him.) This blessing is recited upon seeing a great sage who is outstanding in Torah study. However, in our time, some halachic authorities maintain that this blessing should not be recited with the mention of G-d’s Name and Kingship—that is, without the words “Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the world.” In this blessing, we praise the Holy One, blessed be He, for granting people a portion of His wisdom. The reason to recite this blessing upon seeing Mashiach is that the wisdom of Mashiach the King will be exceedingly great, as it is said of him: “The spirit of the L-rd shall rest upon him—the spirit of wisdom and understanding.” (Yeshayahu 11:2)  

3. The Berachah Upon Seeing the King of Israel

 

- “Baruch Atah Adonai Eloheinu Melech ha-Olam she-chalak mi-kvodo li-re'av” - 

(Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the world, Who has apportioned of His glory to those who fear Him.) This blessing is recited upon seeing a king from among the kings of Israel. However, in our time there is no king in Israel, and therefore this blessing is not recited until the arrival of Mashiach the King. Seeing a king arouses a person’s emotions, for authority and power are in his hands. The Sages instituted this blessing to awaken in a person the awareness that kingship belongs to the Holy One, blessed be He; He governs and directs the world, and it is He Who granted a portion of His glory to a human being of flesh and blood.  

4. The Blessing of Thanksgiving

ברוך אתה ה' אלוקינו מלך העולם שהחיינו וקיימנו והגיענו לזמן הזה

- “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam she-hecheyanu ve-kiyemanu ve-higi'anu lizman ha-zeh” -

(Blessed are You, G-d, our G-d, King of the world, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and enabled us to reach this time.)

This is a blessing of thanksgiving, instituted to be recited at special joyous occasions as defined in halachic works. One occasion when it is customary to recite the berachah of “Shehecheyanu” is upon meeting a beloved friend whom one has not seen for thirty days. However, in our time there is a dispute among the Sages as to whether this rule applies given the availability of modern means of communication.

Upon seeing Mashiach, whom many generations have awaited, the blessing of “Shehecheyanu” should certainly be recited.

 

5. The Berachah for Redemption

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' גָּאַל יִשְׂרָאֵל - “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam Go'el Yisrael” -

(Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the world, Who redeemed Israel.)

Rabbi Chaim Palagi, one of the great sages of the Sephardic world in recent generations, writes in his book Lev Chaim (Part 2, siman 42):

“Apparently, upon the arrival of Mashiach one should recite the berachah of ‘Go'el Yisrael’ as thanks for having redeemed us from this bitter exile, as instituted at the conclusion of the Pesach Haggadah:

‘And we shall thank You with a new song for our redemption and the deliverance of our soul, and bless: “Who redeemed Israel.”’ So too will it be with the future Redemption, which will come speedily, in our days. Amen.”

 

6. The Berachah Upon Hearing the News That Mashiach Has Arrived

The book Shaar ha-Ayin (p. 390) states that upon hearing the news that reaches every Jew—“Mashiach has arrived”—one should recite the following blessing even before seeing him with one’s own eyes:

ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם הטוב והמטיב

- “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam ha-tov ve-ha-metiv” - 

(Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the world, Who is good and does good.)

For the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 223:2) rules: “When good news is received that brings collective joy, this blessing is recited, and there is no greater joy than the arrival of the Redeemer in Zion and the elevation of the glory of the Holy One, blessed be He, in the world.”

Nevertheless, a question remains: should one then also recite the blessing of Shehecheyanu when seeing Mashiach with one’s own eyes?

 

7. The Berachah Upon the Resurrection of the Dead

ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם מחיה המתים

- “Baruch Atah Ado-nai Eloheinu Melech ha-olam mechayeh ha-metim” - 

(Blessed are You, L-rd, our G-d, King of the world, Who resurrects the dead.)

The dead themselves, when they are resurrected, will have to recite this berachah.

This is learned from the words of Pirkei de-Rabbi Eliezer (chapter 31): “When the knife reached Yitzchak’s neck, his soul departed from his body. When it returned, he recited: ‘Blessed are You, Who resurrects the dead.’”.

The book Derech Sichah (Part 1, p. 94) likewise cites Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky, from whom it can be inferred that the resurrected person recites this blessing himself.

This is also discussed in Megadim Chadashim—On Blessings, in the section on the resurrection of the dead, citing the book Emunat ha-Techiyah (chapter 4).

When Should Each of the Blessings Be Recited?

• “Mechayeh ha-metim” (Who resurrects the dead)—immediately after the resurrection of the dead;

•  “Chacham ha-Razim” (Knower of secrets)—when 600,000 Jews gather;

• “She-chalak me-chochmato / me-kvodo” (Who has apportioned of His wisdom / glory) and “Shehecheyanu”—upon seeing Mashiach the King.

• “Go'el Yisrael” (Who redeemed Israel)—according to those who maintain that this blessing should be recited, it is recited for the fact of the Redemption itself.

 

The Ramchal’s Prayer for the Geulah and the Berachot in the Days of Mashiach

תפילה לגאולה יְהִי רָצוֹן מִלְּפָנֶיךָ יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, שֶׁתְּקַבֵּל בְּרָצוֹן אֶת תְּפִלּוֹת עַמְּךָ בֵּית יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִתְפַּלְּלוּאֵלֶיךָ בְּכָל הַדּוֹרוֹת, בְּכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁהוּא בָּעוֹלָם, וּבִפְרָט בְּאֶרֶץ יִשְׂרָאֵל הַקְּדוֹשָׁה. וּבִזְכוּת תְפִלּוֹת אֵלּוּ תַּטֶּהאֶת הַכַּף, לִגְאֹל אֶת עַמְּךָ יִשְׂרָאֵל גְּאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה בְּחֶסֶד וְרַחֲמִים וְנִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת. וּתְשַׁעְבֵּד תַּחְתֶּיךָ אֶתהַדָּם שֶׁהוּא מַלְכוּת אֶדֹם וְאֶת הֶחָלָב שֶׁהוּא מַלְכוּת יִשְׁמָעֵאל, בִּזְכוּת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהָיוּ עַדהַיּוֹם הַזֶּה וּבִזְכוּת כָּל הַצַּדִּיקִים הָאֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁנִּמְצָאִים עִמָּנוּ הַיּוֹם, וּבִזְכוּת הַתִּקְוָה שֶׁאָנוּ מְקַוִּים לִרְאוֹתאֶת גְּאֻלָּתֶךָ הַשְּׁלֵמָה, וּבִזְכוּת רַחֲמֶיךָ וַחֲסָדֶיךָ, אָנָּא ה' שְׁלַח לָנוּ מִיָּד אֶת אֵלִיָּהוּ הַנָּבִיא עֲבְדֶךָ, וּתְגַלֶהאֶת מֶלֶךְ הַמָּשִׁיחַ וְתַמְלִיךְ אוֹתוֹ עַל עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל וְעַל כָּל הָעוֹלָם כֻּלּוֹ. אָנָּא יְיָ, אַל תְּשִׁיבֵינוּ רֵיקָם מִלְּפָנֶיךָכִּי בְּךָ אָנוּ בּוֹטְחִים, עַנֵנוּ וְאַל תְּאַחֵר, לִישׁוּעָתְךָ קִוִּיתִי יְיָ. יִהְיוּ לְרָצוֹן אִמְרֵי פִי וְהֶגְיוֹן לִבִּי לְפָנֶיךָ יְיָ צוּרִי וְגוֹאָלִי: Yehi ratzon milfanecha, Ado-nai Eloheinu ve-Elohei avoteinu, she-tekabel be-ratzon et tefilot amcha Beit Yisrael she-hitpalelu elecha be-chol ha-dorot, be-chol makom she-hu ba-olam, u-vi-frat be-Eretz Yisrael ha-kedoshah. U-vi-zchut tefilot elu tateh et ha-kaf, li-ge'ol et amcha Yisrael geulah sheleimah be-chesed u-ve-rachamim u-ve-nissim u-ve-niflaot. U-te-sha'abed tachtecha et ha-dam she-hu malchut Edom ve-et ha-chalav she-hu malchut Yishmael, bi-zchut kol ha-tzadikim ha-amitiim she-hayu ad ha-yom ha-zeh u-vi-zchut kol ha-tzadikim ha-amitiim she-nimtzaim itanu ha-yom, u-vi-zchut ha-tikvah she-anu mekavim lir'ot et ge'ulatecha ha-sheleimah, u-vi-zchut rachamecha va-chasadecha, ana Ado-nai, shelach lanu miyad et Eliyahu ha-Navi avdecha, u-tegale et Melech ha-Mashiach ve-tamlich oto al Am Yisrael ve-al kol ha-olam kulo. Ana Ado-nai, al tashivenu reikam mi-lefanecha ki vecha anu botchim, aneinu ve-al te'acher, li-shuatecha kiviti Ado-nai, yihyu le-ratzon imrei fi ve-hegyon libi le-fanecha Ado-nai, tzuri ve-go'ali. Translation May it be Your will, L-rd, our G-d and the G-d of our forefathers, that You graciously accept the prayers of Your people, the House of Israel, who have prayed to You throughout all generations, in every place in the world, and especially in the Holy Land of Israel. In the merit of these prayers, tip the scales and redeem Your people Israel with a complete Redemption, with kindness, mercy, miracles, and wonders. Subjugate to Yourself the blood, meaning the kingdom of Edom, and the milk, meaning the kingdom of Ishmael, in the merit of all the true tzadikim who lived until this day, and in the merit of all the true tzadikim who are among us today, and in the merit of our hope to see Your complete Redemption, and in the merit of Your mercy and kindness. Please, L-rd, send us immediately Elijah the Prophet, Your servant, reveal the King Mashiach, and make him king over the people of Israel and over the entire world. Please, L-rd, do not send us away empty-handed from Your presence, for we place our trust in You. Answer us and do not delay. “For Your salvation I hope, L-rd.” May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable before You, L-rd, my Rock and my Redeemer!     (Based on a lesson by Rabbanit Iris Odani Elyashiv for Sila Tehilim, from the responsa collections Lev Chaim, Part 2, chapter 42; Minchat Shlomo, Part 1, section 91:27; Torat Menachem, Part 1, p. 207; translation and transliteration by Zoya Chaya Tigai for Sila Tehilim)