Solutions to the Safek Brachah Conundrum

I’m not sure whether I should say a brachah. What should I do?

In case of a safek (doubt) or machlokes haposkim (a dispute among halachic authorities) whether or not a brachah should be made, the rule is, “Safek brachos l’hakel” (if in doubt—don’t say a brachah). The fundamental mitzvah of saying a brachah is forfeited due to the gravity of uttering Hashem’s name l’vatalah (in vain). 

Nonetheless, out of a desire to find an alternative to saying no brachah at all, various creative ideas have been put forth. There are some poskim who suggest saying the brachah, pausing and thinking of, but not saying, Hashem’s names, or saying the word “Hashem”. Others suggest saying the passuk (verse) Vayevarech Dovid—which contains the opening words of all standard brachos—and ending the brachah with the appropriate words. 

However, the traditional advice of most poskim is to say the brachah without Shem u’malchus (without saying Hashem’s names and without the words melech ha’olam—saying only Baruch and the appropriate ending), thereby expressing our gratitude to Hashem without taking the chance of uttering His name l’vatalah. This, in fact is the approach we follow.

If, however, one feels uncomfortable with making no brachah, there are other alternatives. Among them is being yotzei with someone else’s brachah, or making a brachah on a different item while having in mind the item that’s in doubt.

In case one did say Hashem’s name l’vatalah they should immediately say: “Baruch Shem kvod ….”

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Practical Halacha: One minute a day. By Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, shlita, Mara D'asra and member of the Badatz of Crown Heights.