DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 618 KB)
Reciting "Ha'mapil" and "Hareni Mochel " Before Going to Sleep

Before one goes to sleep, he recites not only the Shema, but also the Beracha of "Ha'mapil Chevlei Sheina Al Einai…" Originally, this Beracha was instituted to be recited with "Shem U'malchut," meaning, with the phrase, "Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha'olam." Nevertheless, many have the practice to recite this Beracha without "Shem U'malchut"; this is the position of the Ben Ish Chai (Rabbi Yosef Chayim of Baghdad, 1835-1909), and this is indeed our practice. And even those authorities who require reciting the Beracha with "Shem U'malchut" agree that the Beracha is not recited if one goes to sleep after Chatzot (midnight as defined by Halacha).

Before going to sleep one should also recite the declaration, "Ribono Shel Olam Hareni Mochel Ve'solei'ach…" as printed in the Siddurim. In this declaration one grants forgiveness to anyone who wronged him at any point during that day. The source of this practice is the Gemara's account that Mar Zutra would say each night before going to sleep, "Shari Lei Le'man De'tza'aran" – "I forgive anyone who caused me distress."

However, Chacham Bentzion Abba Shaul (Israel, 1924-1998) writes that a person should recite this declaration only if he sincerely grants forgiveness to anyone who has wronged him. If a person has a grievance towards an individual for which he is not yet prepared to forgive, he should omit this recitation. He should recite it only when he feels capable of sincerely forgiving the individual for the wrong committed against him.

Summary: Before going to sleep one should recite the Shema and the Beracha of Ha'mapil, which according to our custom should be recited without the phrase "Hashem Elokenu Melech Ha'olam." Additionally, one should declare his forgiveness for anyone who has wronged him by reciting "Hareni Mochel"; if he does not yet forgive a certain individual, he should not recite this declaration until he indeed grants sincere forgiveness.

 


Recent Daily Halachot...
The Week of Tisha B’Ab – Using Fresh Linens, Wearing a Freshly-Cleaned Tallit, and Ironing Garments
Is it Permissible to Eat Fish at the Final Meal Before Tisha B’Ab?
The Divergent Customs of the Sepharadim and Ashkenazim Regarding Bathing During the Nine Days
The Prohibition Against Taking a Hot Shower During the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Preparing One’s Clothes For the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Tisha BeAv- Brit Milah on Tisha BeAv
Some Laws of Motza'ei Tisha B'Av and the Tenth of Av
Extending Greetings on Tisha B’Ab and Haircutting, Shaving and Nail Cutting During the Week of Tisha B’Ab
Tisha BeAb – Wearing Freshly-Laundered Clothing; Washing Dishes
A Biblical Allusion to the Special Haftarot Before and After Tisha B’Ab
Habdala When Tisha B’Ab Falls on Sunday
Preparing Clothes Before the Week of Tisha B'Av
Tisha BeAv- Is It Permissible To Take Medicine and Wash Hands On Tisha BeAv
Tisha BeAv- Is it Permissible To Take A Hot Shower, Eat Meat, Shave And Clean Clothes At Then End of The Fast
Tisha BeAv- When Is It Appropriate To Remove One’s Shoes When Tisha BeAv Falls Out On Motzae Shabbat
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found