20 Sep 2022

King Charles III Recently Became King of Britain. Is There Any Mitzva to See Him?

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Post revised: 26th Elul 5782 – Sept. 22, 2022

https://www.voanews.com/a/king-charles-iii-formally-proclaimed-britain-s-monarch/6739599.html

King Charles III

Based on: https://halachipedia.com/index.php?title=Brachot_on_Sights

Bracha for Seeing a King or Queen

  1. It is a mitzvah to go and see rulers and kings, whether they are Jewish or non-Jewish.[14] Nonetheless, one shouldn’t waste time from learning to do so unless the king came with special pome and grandeur.[15]
  2. Upon seeing a Jewish king one should recite ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם שחלק מכבודו ליראיו (Baruch… Shechalak Mikvodo Liyireav).[16]
  3. Upon seeing a non-Jewish king one should recite ברוך אתה ה’ אלוקינו מלך העולם שנתן מכבודו לבשר ודם (Baruch… Shenatan Mikvodo LeBasar vaDam).[17]
  4. It is questionable if nowadays one should make this Beracha for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister, and therefore one should only make this Bracha without Shem UMalchut. [18]
  5. This Bracha applies equally to a male king as to a female queen, however, one shouldn’t stare at the queen but only a quick look. [19]
  6. Seeing the monarch on television would not obligate you in the beracha.[20]

Prayer: May the Coronation of King Charles III Inspire Us to Look for Practical Measures to Restore the Kingdom of Heaven, the Temple, and the Kingdom of the House of David.

Recently Rabbi Avi Grossman suggested in a youtube video “Restoring the Davidic Dynasty”, that some Davidic Family should be granted the powers of Israel’s President (which is largely a ceremonial position, although Israel’s President does have the power to pardon). Some of the arguments he used are debatable, but his conclusion is reasonable.

The goal of reporting about Rabbi Grossman’s video at this web site is to provide emotional inspiration for religious Jews to look for practical measures to bring the monarchy of King David back to life. Vilnagaon.org does not endorse any particular “Davidic” candidate.

To the extent that Halacha supports/allows Democracy, vilnagaon.org also supports Democracy.

The Last 2 Verses of the Biblical Book of Hoshea, chapter 3 as translated by Sefaria.org

For the Israelites shall go a long time without king and without officials, without sacrifice and without cult pillars, and without ephod and teraphim.

Afterward, the Israelites will turn back and will seek the LORD their God and David their king—and they will thrill over the LORD and over His bounty in the days to come.

Rashi on the Last Verse as translated by Sefaria.org

Afterwards Following the days of exile.

shall the children of Israel return It was taught in the name of R. Shimon the son of Yochai: The children of Israel rejected three things during the reign of Rehoboam; the Kingdom of Heaven, the kingdom of the House of David, and the Holy Temple, as it is written: “What portion have we in David” (I Kings 12:16) which may be understood literally; “to your tents O’ Israel” (ibid.), do not read, “to your tents” (Heb. לְאֹהָלֶךָ) but “to your gods” (Heb. לֵאלֹהֶֶךָ) “now see your own house, David” (ibid.), refers to the Holy Temple (see Rashi I Kings 12:16). R. Shimon the son of Menassiah said: Israel shall not be shown any omen of good until they repent by seeking out all three; “Afterwards shall the children of Israel return, and seek their Lord their God,” which refers to the Kingdom of Heaven; “and David their king” is self-explanatory; “and shall come trembling to the Lord and to His goodness,” which refers to the Holy Temple, as it is written “that good mount” (Deut. 3:7) (a reference to the Temple Mount. [from Midrash Samuel 13:4]

Footnotes

  • 14  The Gemara Brachot (9b, 19b, 58a) explains that a person should endeavor to see kings so that if he merits he will be able to distinguish between a regular king and Mashiach. Rambam (Avel 3:14) and Shulchan Aruch 224:4 codify this. {Comment: The sources really state to distinguish between the Kings of Israel and the Kings of the Nations, Halachapedia.com assumes the Kings of Israel, means, Mashiach. This is not necessarily so.}
  • 15 Mishna Brurah 224:13
  • 16 Berachot 58a, Shulchan Aruch 224:8
  • 17 Berachot 58a, Shulchan Aruch 224:8
  • 18
    • How much power does the ruler have to have in order to make the Bracha upon seeing him? Rav Ovadia Yosef Yechave Daat 2:28 cites the Radvaz 1:296 as well as the Orchot Chaim Berachot 49 that say that this beracha is recited on any monarch with enough power to execute or pardon from execution. Halacha Brurah 224:14 writes that one makes the Bracha (with Shem UMalchut) on a king of a country even if he is democratically elected and even if he is only ruler for a term as long as there isn’t a another figure above him that can nullify his decision such as if his decisions don’t need to be approved by parliament. Halacha Brurah mentions specifically if the ruler has the power to pardon someone sentenced to death or declare war against another country then one may make the Bracha on that king with  Shem UMalchut.
    • What about a President who doesn’t wear royal clothing? Rav Ovadia Yosef in Shu”t Yabia Omer 8:22(25) rules that one doesn’t make the Bracha with Shem UMalchut if the king is wearing normal clothing (not royal clothes). Actually, Rav Ovadyah Yosef writes that when the US President Nixon came to Israel that they made the Bracha without Shem UMalchut because he was wearing normal clothes. Rav Moshe HaLevi in Birkat Hashem (vol 4 3:32) agrees. [See, however, Halacha Brurah 224:14 writes that even if the king isn’t wearing royal clothing but as long as he is recognizably respected by his officers that surround him and by the many people coming to see him, then one may make the Bracha with Shem UMalchut on such a king. Shu”t Elyashiv HaKohen 2:26 quotes Rav Mazuz who agrees with Halacha Brurah.]
    • Piskei Teshuvot 224:6,7 concludes that nowadays one should make this Bracha without Shem UMalchut for seeing a king, queen, president, or prime minister. Beer Moshe 2:9 agrees.
    • Shu”t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 1 Siman 35 writes that you should recite the beracha with shem umalchut on the president. See also Shu”t Minchas Elazar Vol. 5 Siman 7.
  • 19  Halacha Brurah 224:15 quoting Shu”t Bear Moshe 2:9(4), 2:14(16), Shu”t Shevet HaLevi 1:35, Shu”t Rivevot Efraim 1:47(3), B’tzel Hachachma 2:19 and others who all make this distinction between staring and seeing based on Beit Yosef 75 d”h viasur. Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Braun in She’arim Metzuyanim B’halacha 1:60:7 rules however that one cannot recite the blessing over a queen because a man may never even gaze at a woman. See also Rav Moshe Shternbuch in Shu”t Teshuvot ViHanhagot 2:139 rules that since the obligation is based on the honor given to that monarch, that one should in fact recite the beracha upon seeing the monarch of modern day England, even a female despite the fact that we don’t allow for a Jewish monarch to be a women.
  • 20 Yechave Daat 2:28 compares it to saying birkat halevana upon seeing the moon in the mirror, which we do not do based on the gemara in Rosh Hashana 24b and Birkei Yosef Choshen Mishpat 35:11. see also Shu”t Bitzel Hachochma 2:19, Beer Moshe 2:9
Comment by the Editor: I currently don’t have the time to verify that every souce in the footnotes quoted by Halachapedia.com is indeed accuate. I assume all the sources are accurately quoted, until proven otherwise.

Comment 2 by the editor: (New addition 3 Tishrei 5783 Night of Sept. 27 2022) Rabbi David Bar-Hayim in a YouTube video, “British Monarchy and Jewish Monarchy” also expressed support for a ceremonial King from a Davidic family in the same way as the British King is largely ceremonial as a means of providing a tangible link between the modern state of Israel and the Bible; thus, serving to strengthen our sense of meaning and purpose and connection to thousands of years of Jewish History.