Q&A: For the Miracles on Independence Day and Jerusalem Day
For the Miracles on Independence Day and Jerusalem Day
Question
Hello Rabbi Michi,
What is the Rabbi’s view on the possibility of adding “For the Miracles” in an appropriate wording on Independence Day and Jerusalem Day?
My basic assumption (which of course can be disputed) is that there indeed was a miracle here, so the question revolves around the order of prayer: is it permissible to add insertions for communal needs in the last three blessings? There is a discussion about this in the Tur regarding the additions during the Ten Days of Repentance, and as is known, nowadays they are added following the ruling of the Shulchan Arukh. Seemingly, in our case this is even simpler, since an insertion of “For the Miracles” in that place already exists, so there is no concern about incompatibility with the order of prayer. And this is what Rabbi Chaim Navon brought in his article “The Prayer Text in a Changing Reality” in the name of Yaskil Avdi. I do not know whether he rules this as practical Jewish law (unfortunately, the relevant section—vol. 8, addenda, sec. 4—is not available in the Responsa Project).
In addition, even if this is permitted, the question arises whether an individual may act this way, or whether this is something the community must institute (especially since we are dealing with communal needs, it is not clear whether an individual can decide this).
What does the Rabbi think: is this forbidden / permitted / recommended?
Answer
Hello,
One should not add personal insertions in the first three or last three blessings, and one who adds them is thereby altering the coinage formulated by the Sages for the blessings (see Shulchan Arukh, beginning of sections 112 and 119). And even if one adds something that was instituted, if it was not instituted for that day and that prayer, he is still altering the established formula.
However, the Tur in section 582 brought that communal needs are different, but even there there is a dispute about this. And even that is only where there was an enactment (there he understands it to be an enactment of the Geonim), and not a personal initiative. Also, in our case it is not communal needs but thanksgiving (there they ask for remembrance, which counts as communal needs).
Therefore there may perhaps be room for an enactment, but I myself would not add anything.
Thank you very much.