We have the privilege today to have with us the great Gaon, HaRav Shmuel Pinchasi Shlita from Yerushalayim to deliver the Daily Halacha. The Rabbi is a well known author of very important Halachic Sefarim, including ‘Minchat Shmuel’ recently having published Helek 3, the sefer ‘Imrei Shefer’, and the sefer ‘Chaim VaChessed .’
[You can hear Rabbi Pinchasi’s Hebrew oration on the audio clip. Rabbi Mansour’s English explanation appears below.]
The Rabbi discusses the question of reciting the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ on Tisha BeAv. This Beracha is made everyday in Birchot HaShachar and the essence of this Beracha is to praise G-d for providing one’s needs, specifically with shoes. If one has shoes he his able to go around and get whatever he needs. Without shoes one would be immobile and not go out. So the question is asked if this Beracha should be said or not on Tisha BeAv since on Tisha BeAv we do not wear shoes.
Chacham Ovadia Yoseph for many years was Posek that one would not make this Beracha on Tisha BeAv. However, of late, in his recent Sefer ‘Halichot Olam’, Chacham Ovadia Yoseph took odds against the Ben Ish Chai on this and ruled that a person should in deed make the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ on Tisha BeAv.
The logic is that although some might not wear shoes on Tisha BeAv, it is nonetheless the routine mannerism of the world to wear shoes on this day as it is everyday. More clearly, the Rabbi explained that the world each day is rejuvenated and people wake up with their needs at hand. Birchot HaShachar is made every morning as each day is born anew, and although this particular Beracha might not be applicable on Tisha BeAv, it should nevertheless be said as part of the emergence of the new day.
The Rabbi offered an additional reasoning, stating that since there are Jews who legitimately wear shoes on Tisha BeAv (for example a pregnant woman or the elderly), Chacham Ovadia Yoseph therefore establishes on this basis that it would be applicable for all Jews to say ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ on Tisha BeAv.
The Rabbi expounded on this logic relating this Halacha to the case of a mourner. It is Halacha to refrain from wearing shoes during the 7 day mourning period of a close relative. So the same question and answer applies with regards to the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ for a mourner. Based on the principals above, the mourner should make the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ even though he is not wearing shoes.
Additionally, this logic and Halacha would also apply to Yom Kippur. We recite the Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ even though we do not wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur.
So unless there is a specific known Minhag for a community against making this Beracha, the Halacha would be to make this Beracha of ‘SheAsa Li Kol Tzarki’ on Tisha BeAv and when in mourning.
