Birkat Hagomel: A Blessing of Thanksgiving On some level, all Jewish blessings are about gratitude. Waking in the morning, studying Torah, eating food, reaching special milestones — all these and many more moments occasion blessings of gratitude to God.

 

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brought to you by   Birkat Hagomel: A Blessing of Thanksgiving On some level, all Jewish blessings are about gratitude. Waking in the morning, studying Torah, eating food, reaching special milestones — all these and many more moments occasion blessings of gratitude to God.  But Birkat Hagomel — colloquially referred to as “benching gomel” — is in a category of its own. Recited after safely emerging from mortal danger, Birkat Hagomel is a rare public blessing that celebrates the extraordinary miracle of surviving a harrowing experience.   LEARN MORE   Learn to Say It We have the complete text of Birkat Hagomel in Hebrew, transliteration, and English. READ IT NOW   Birkat Hagomel's Bookend Birkat Hagomel is typically said at the conclusion of a dangerous journey or after recovering from a serious illness. But long before thanking God for deliverance comes praying for that deliverance. Among the best-known prayers for deliverance is the Mi Shebeirach, the prayer for healing. LEARN ABOUT MI SHEBEIRACH   Coming to the Torah to Recite Birkat Hagomel Someone wishing to recite Birkat Hagomel is first called to the Torah for an aliyah, a ritual that involves saying a blessing over the Torah and listening to the Torah reading. LEARN HOW TO HAVE AN ALIYAH Prayer has been the foundation of Jewish ritual and practice for thousands of years, but you may still wonder how and why to say the prayers in the canon. At My Jewish Learning, we invite you to explore the deeper side of prayer. Each week we'll share a unique exploration of a particular Jewish prayer, plus offer background materials and more to enhance your understanding. In the meantime, you can explore all of MJL's prayer resources here. EXPLORE MORE PRAYER