We are continuing in siman 10. The Chayei Adam continues listing various brachos, most of which we no longer recite.
If one sees Jewish homes in Eretz Yisroel which have been reestablished after the destruction of the second bais hamikdash, they recite the bracha matziv gevul almanah. Others understand that this bracha is said specifically on shuls which have been reestablished.
If one sees Jewish homes in Eretz Yisroel which have remained in ruin since the destruction of the second bais hamikdash, they recite the bracha dayan haemes.
If one sees homes of ovdei avodah zarah, they recite the pasuk beis geyim yisach Hashem, the houses of the arrogant ones Hashem should cut down (Mishlei 15:25). If one sees their homes in ruin, they recite the pasuk of keil nekamos Hashem (Tehillim 94:1). If one sees their houses of avodah zarah in ruin, they recite the bracha she’akar avodas kochavim mei’artzeinu, as we learned previously (shiur 1223).
Although we no longer recite these brachos, chiefly because they were more relevant to the time period surrounding the second bais hamikdash, the Mishnah Berurah writes that one should recite them without Hashem’s name.
In siman 11, the Chayei Adam writes that if one sees the kevarim of goyim, they recite the pasuk בושו אמכם מאד חפרה יולדתכם הנה אחרית גוים מדבר ציה וערבה (Yirmiyahu 50:12).
If one sees the kevarim of Jews, they recite the bracha
בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין וְזָן וְכִלְכֵּל אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, וְהֵמִית אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, וְיוֹדֵעַ מִסְפַּר כֻּלְּכֶם בַּדִּין, וְהוּא עָתִיד לְהַחֲיוֹתְכֶם וּלְקַיֵּם אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה, מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים.
The Gemara states that this bracha is recited on kivrei yisroel, in plural. Therefore, the Biur Halacha infers that the bracha is not made on a single kever. Mass graves would receive this bracha, since more than one person is buried there.
We will learn in siman 17 that the brachos for kevarim are only made once every 30 days. Until now, we have applied this rule regarding seeing the same item or same place. Regarding cemeteries, the question arises whether seeing a different cemetery requires making a new bracha, or whether it is included under a previous bracha made within 30 days. We will discuss this question further tomorrow, be’ezras Hashem.
Summary
- Certain specific brachos are no longer recited, for various reasons. These include:
- Jewish homes in Eretz Yisroel which have been reestablished after the destruction of the second bais hamikdash
- Jewish homes in Eretz Yisroel which have remained in ruin since the destruction of the second bais hamikdash
- Homes of ovdei avodah zarah
- Homes of ovdei avodah zarah in ruin
- If one sees more than one kever of goyim, they recite the pasuk בושו אמכם מאד חפרה יולדתכם הנה אחרית גוים מדבר ציה וערבה
- If one sees more than one kever of Jews, they recite the bracha: בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה אֱלֹקינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, אֲשֶׁר יָצַר אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין וְזָן וְכִלְכֵּל אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, וְהֵמִית אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, וְיוֹדֵעַ מִסְפַּר כֻּלְּכֶם בַּדִּין, וְהוּא עָתִיד לְהַחֲיוֹתְכֶם וּלְקַיֵּם אֶתְכֶם בַּדִּין, בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה, מְחַיֵּה הַמֵּתִים.
