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...
Is It Permissible To Put Flowers Into Water On Shabbat
Observation on the Melacha of Zorea
Hanukah: The Torah Reading
Hanukah – Lighting Hanukah Candles on Friday Afternoon
Chanukah- If One Forgot to Light
Chanukah Halachot for Women
Chanukah- Lighting the Menorah for Students Studying Abroad
Hanukah – Eulogies, Mourning, Fasting and Visiting Cemeteries
Hanukah: How to Prepare an Oil Menorah
The Procedure for Lighting the Hanukah Candles
Hanukah-The Proper Time to Light the Menorah
Hanukah – Should Hanukah Candles be Lit at a Minyan in an Office?
Hanukah: If the Candles Blew Out After Lighting
Chanukah- If A Person Missed A Night of Lighting The Menorah
Chanukah- Is It Permissible to Use Electric Light and Wax Covered Wicks for the Menorah?
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found