Monday, November 18, 2019

Bracha Li-vatala?

Trump gave a speech and the person introducing him, a popular Rabbi-lecturer, made the bracha upon seeing a king "שנתן מכבודו לבשר ודם" with שם ומלכות. I don't know what the based himself upon but Rav Ovadiah ztz"l paskened that if the ruler is wearing civilian clothing the bracha may not be said with שם השם [as Rav Ovadiah himself did when he saw Nixon]. See אורחות מרן ח"ב page 759. 

[The Rabbi then translated the bracha into English, taking the poetic license to add a few praises of his own. Trump was pleased... Flattery goes a long way].