עברית
Prayer and Blessings
Is the Blessing of Hamapil Recited After Midnight?
Question
Hello esteemed rabbi, I wanted to ask about the hamapil blessing at the end of the Shema: When is the time one is allowed to say the hamapil blessing with Hashem’s name? What is the wording that should be said? I understand that midnight is not exactly 12:00 AM, so if the precise time changes every day, how can one calculate it? Thank you very much
Answer
Hello,
While there are Sephardi poskim who hold that one should not recite the hamapil with name and kingship after midnight, their reasoning is based on mystical teachings, as mentioned in the responsa Yahav Da'at, part 4 (section 21). However, the ruling of Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l is that one indeed should recite it with name and kingship even then, as brought by his son Rabbi David Yosef shlit"a in the book Halacha Brura (section 240, paragraph 9, and Biur Halacha, note y). Again, the responsa Yahav Da'at, part 7 by Rabbi Ovadia Yosef zt"l states similarly (section 39).
Therefore, one may and should recite the Shema on the bed with the hamapil blessing with name and kingship if you estimate that you will fall asleep before dawn (see Biur Halacha section 240, paragraph 1, Chazon Ovadia on blessings, page 919, and Halacha Brura section 240 in Biur Halacha, note 11).
Sincerely,
Hillel Meirs
