Question:
The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin is arriving in Israel. If someone sees him should he recite the
blessing of "Baruch…She-Natan Michvodo Le-Vasar Ve-Dam - Blessed are
You…who has given of His glory to flesh and blood"? (In the Gemara in
Berachot 58a, our Rabbis teach that one who sees a non-Jewish king recites the
blessing. It is recorded in the Rambam,
Hilchot Berachot 10:11 and Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 224:8. The Chatam Sofer, Orach Chaim #159, rules
that even if one sees the king outside of his area of "rule," one
must still recite the appropriate blessing).
Answer:
No, the President of the Russia is not a king.
Halachic
authorities mention four criteria in order to be considered a king for this
purpose:
1. One must be
the absolute ruler of his kingdom or country (Orchot Chaim in name of Sefer
Ha-Eshkol, Hilchot Berachot #49, Shut Ha-Radvaz vol. 1 #296). The President of the Russia, but he does not
have absolute authority. The Kremlin
also has some power.
2. The king must have the ability to administer
capital punishment (Shut Chatam Sofer ibid.).
The President of Russia does not possess this power. While he does have the power to grant life by
issuing a pardon, he does not possess the power of death (Shut Be’er Moshe of
Rav Moshe Stern vol. 2, # 9). If he
frees Na'ama Yissachar from a Russia prison, we can discuss this further…
3. The king must have royal clothing. President Putin wears a suit like everyone
else (Shut Yehaveh Da’at, vol. 2, #28 and Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot vol. 2,
#139).
4. The king must
have an entourage (see Shut Teshuvot Ve-Hanhagot ibid. Rav Sternbuch writes there that he heard that
Ha-Gaon Ha-Rav Yosef Chaim Zonnenfeld, the great Rav of Yerushalayim before the
establishment of the State, once had a private meeting in a tent with the King
of Jordan and he recited this blessing even though he was without his
entourage). While President Putin is
traveling with 400 people, most of them are for his protection.
The President of
Russia is one of the most powerful countries of the world is visiting the tiny
State of Israel, as well as many world leaders, and some people say that this
is not "Atchalta De-Geulah – the beginning of the Redemption."
Rav Shlomo Zalman
Auerbach in Shut Minchat Shlomo (the last responsum in vol. 1) writes that one
is obligated to recite four blessings when the Messiah arrives: 1.
"Baruch…Chacham Ha-Razim – Blessed are You…Knowers of secrets" which
is recited when seeing 600,000 Jews together and certainly at least this many
Jews will go out to greet the Messiah.
2. "Baruch…She-Chalak Mechomato Lirei'av - Blessed are You…who has
appointed of His knowledge to those who fear him" which is recited when
seeing an outstanding Torah scholar and the Messiah will certainly fit this
criteria. 3. "Baruch…She-Chalak Michvodo
Lirei'av- Blessed are You…who has appointed of His glory to those who fear
him" which is recited when seeing a Jewish king. 4. "Shechechiyanu" – Blessing Hashem
for having arrived at this moment. We
still are waiting for this time to arrive, but we are continuing to advance. After all, the President of Russia and many
world leaders are visiting the State of Israel.
Therefore, instead
of reciting a blessing over President Putin, I recommend reciting two prayers
for the Nation of Israel which we recite every day before the Shema with extra
proper intention: "Blessed are You, Hashem, who chooses His Nation Israel
with Love" and "Blessed are You, Hashem, who loves His Nation
Israel."
