May a Child Say Hagomel?

May a Child Say Hagomel? Day: Sunday Date: August 20, 2017 Parshat: Shofitim Yalkut Yosef: O"H: 219 Sponsored by Skilled Moving and Storage. Professional and honest movers serving Los Angeles. www.SkilledMoving.com 323-746-3279 The correct text of the beracha of Hagomel is "hagomel lahayavim tovot, shegimalani kol tuv." We thank Hashem "who graciously gives good even to those who are guilty and has given me all good." The common custom therefore is for a boy under 13 or a girl under 12 to not say Hagomel. The words "lahayavim tovot" - "good even to those who are guilty" does not apply to a minor since a minor is not yet considered guilty for his sins. It is not possible to omit those words since we cannot change the text that the hachamim set up for us and the father may also not say it for the child. There are some poskim who do allow a child to say Hagomel once he is of an age that he understands what he's saying, however in practice it is not done. DSH is brought to you in memory of Rabbi Mordechai ben Daniel. Please visit us online at SephardicHalacha.org