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Back to Question of the Week Q: What is the blessing to be said on seeing a friend after a long absence?
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A: Dear Bill: The most general blessing for experiencing joyful occasions is the well-known shechechianu: Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, shechechianu, v'ki'manu, v'higi'anu lazman hazeh. This means: Blessed are You, Adonai Our God, Ruler of the Universe, Who has kept us alive, sustained us, and brought us to this time. This blessing is typically recited when one wears new clothing, or makes a major purchase, or eats a fruit new in its season, or has some other beneficial event happen in one's life. So seeing an old friend after a long absence might also qualify. [If you have not heard from a friend in over a year, and see them, the blessing: who revives the dead is said: Baruch Ata Adonai, Eloheinu Melech HaOlam, mehayeh hameitim. [ed.] However, there is another blessing, much less well known, which might also be good for such an occasion. It is a blessing to be recited when seeing a friend who has recovered from illness or experienced danger; for some reason, the version I found was in Aramaic, another ancient Semitic language, not Hebrew. It goes like this, in Aramaic: Breekh Rachmana, Malka D'Alma, dee yahavach lan, v'la yahavach lafra. This means: Blessed are You, Merciful One, Ruler of the Universe, Who has given you to us, and not given you to the dust. If your friend is an outstanding religious or secular scholar, there are even special brachot you can say which acknowledge their accomplishments. For more detailed information about brachot, the Jewish Theological Seminary website has a page with presentations about the various kinds of blessing and how to say them. Happy learning, NJL |
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