Sunday, March 25, 2012

Birchas Hailanos:Dispute regarding correct Beracha


There is a great debate that has gone on in Torah circles for almost three centuries now.  The debate centers upon the following question:  What texts we should be following?  Do we follow the Shulchan Aruch and Talmud or do we follow the Siddur?  This debate centers around one particular bracha – one that occurs in Nissan.

The Talmud (Brachos 43b) tells us that during the month of Nissan, when one goes out and sees trees blossoming recites the blessing, “Who has not left lacking in His world etc.”

The wording is either “shelo chiser beolamo klum” or “shelo chiser beolamo davar.” The Talmud uses the word “Klum” which means nothing.  The version in the current editions of the Siddur have the word “Davar” meaning “something.” 

4 comments :

  1. Neither is the word "ilan" found anywhere in Tanach.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. So what? Who says a beracha has to use Biblical Hebrew?

      The word "lulav" does not appear in the pesukim commanding us to take the daled minim, but the nusach ha beracha is "al netilas lulav."

      Delete
    2. No one. But Rabbi Hoffman made the argument that klum was changed to davar because klum is not in Tanach.

      Delete
  2. "Klum" means anything. "Lo Klum" means nothing.

    ReplyDelete

ANONYMOUS COMMENTS WILL NOT BE POSTED!
please use either your real name or a pseudonym.