Thankfulness – Tzav
One of the sacrifices in today’s sidra is the thank-offering, the korban todah.
Tradition bases on Psalm 107 the four categories who are duty bound to give thanks to the Almighty – these days, instead of offering they bensch gomel. They are the person who emerged from wandering in the wilderness or some other dangerous journey (Psalm 104:4,8); one who was released from prison (verses 10,16,21); one who recovered from serious illness (verseas 17,20,21); and one who returned from a sea voyage (verses 23,24,31).
A question often asked these days is whether you need to bensch gomel after a car journey. The answer is that when you travel normally on the roads by car the blessing is not required unless, of course, you were involved in an accident.
How about an airplane flight? After a short domestic flight most authorities do not consider the gomel blessing necessary, but if it was a long distance flight, whether over land or sea or both, you must say the b’rachah.
It goes without saying that there are enough risks already in going on a long journey, flight or voyage, and one should not add to them by being careless or gambling with one’s own or other people’s lives. That is why Judaism entirely endorses campaigns to eradicate excessive speeding, drink driving, etc.: the Torah says, “You shall diligently guard your life” (Deut. 4:15).
