I. Thank You Hashem
We recognize and thank God for the blessings we receive in this world, sometimes in formal ways with a blessing and other times informally. In a modern democracy, sometimes elections can turn the tide and change the country in a positive way. After such elections, people who support the victorious party may feel so much joy that they wish to thank God. Is there a specific blessing to say in such a circumstance?
For example, in 1977, the Likud party won control of the government for the first time in Israel’s history, leading to a dramatic shift to the right. Similarly, in 1980, Ronald Reagan won a decisive victory and shifted the U.S. rightward, as well. Both elections were called “revolutions” and generated widespread joy among those who supported the victorious parties. Setting aside today’s politics, we can ask whether those who experienced joy at the election results could have recited a blessing expressing thanks to God for the electoral victory.
The Mishna (Berachos 54a) says that on good news, we recite the blessing “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv, Who is good and does good.” On bad news, we recite the blessing “Dayan Ha-emes, the true judge.” The Gemara (59b) says that when two or more people benefit from the good news, one recites the blessing “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv.” However, when only you benefit, you recite the blessing “She-hecheyanu.”
Since hearing positive election results constitutes hearing good news, perhaps you should recite a blessing if you are very happy from the news. And since the election results benefit many people, you should recite “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv.” Of course, if you did not support this candidate or party then you would not recite the blessing but our question is about those who experience great joy over the election results.
II. Blessings and Feelings
A few questions arise over this blessing. Rav Mordechai Yaffe (17th c.,, Poland) distinguishes between joy and benefit. When multiple people receive tangible benefit (tova), then you recite “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv.” However, if there is only joy and not tangible benefit, such as seeing many long-lost friends seeing each other, then the only possible blessing is “She-hecheyanu” (Levush, Orach Chaim 225:1). In the case of election results, this is a matter of joy and not tangible results. Therefore, perhaps you should recite a “She-hecheyanu” blessing. Significantly, Rav Avraham Gombiner (17th c., Poland) and Rav Avraham Danzig (19th c., Lithuania) follow Rav Yaffe (Magen Avraham 225:1; Chayei Adam 62:6). However, Rav Yehudah Ashkenazi’s Ba’er Heitev and Rav Yisrael Kagan’s Mishnah Berurah do not mention this position, and Rav Yechiel Michel Epstein (19th c., Russia) says that even intangible benefit merits the blessing (Aruch Ha-Shulchan, Orach Chaim 222:1). According to them, the “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv” blessing is appropriate even if you do not receive tangible benefit. But would it apply to election results? When seeing a friend, you do not have tangible benefits but you are enjoying something tangible. Election results are not even tangible to enjoy.
In this imperfect world, no election and no ruling party engages in only good activity. Even if we are happy over who won the election, we know that some resulting policies and decisions will have negative impacts. Can we recite a blessing on good if we know that it will also cause bad? The Gemara (Berachos 60a) offers an example of a case in which you would say the blessing over good even if it results in bad. If you find something very valuable that you may keep, it is a good situation over which you recite a blessing. However, it is possible that the government might learn about your good fortune and decide to take away not only what you found but everything you own. Or to make the example a bit more modern, the government might decide to audit your taxes, determine that you owe them millions of dollars in back taxes, and place a lien on all your assets. Even in such a case, the Gemara says, you still recite the blessing over the good fortune of finding something valuable.
Why would you recite a blessing over something good that can result in something even worse? Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah (Berachos, on the Rif, 43b-44a s.v. kanah) explain that the government intervention or audit may or may not happen. It is only a possibility. Since it is not definite, we focus on the good now and leave the bad for if and when it happens. In contrast, Rambam (Misneh Torah, Hilchos Berachos 10:4) says that you recite the blessing even if the bad outcome is likely. It is not a matter of uncertainty but simply focusing on the present. (Rambam’s wording in his Mishnah commentary is unclear and subject to conflicting interpretations.) Translating this to contemporary politics, if we are worried about negative policies, that is very uncertain because there are many variables determining how policy decisions are made and implemented. According to everyone, you would recite the blessing on the good election results. However, if we are worried about erratic behavior which is likely to happen, then according to Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah, the likely negative outcome makes the blessing inappropriate.
According to Rambam, any negative outcome does not matter and you still recite the blessing. Significantly, Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 222:4) uses language similar to Talmidei Rabbeinu Yonah and unlike Rambam, implying that in a case of definite negative outcome you should not recite the blessing. Meaning, if you believe that it is likely that the negative outcome will outweigh the positive election results then you should not recite the blessing.
For example, if you believe that the winning candidate is much better than the losing candidate, then you might be very happy with the election results. You can simultaneously believe that the winning candidate is still bad, even though he is better than the losing candidate. You might even believe that his time in office will be full of negative activity that outweighs the joy of his victory. If so, you would not recite the blessing. This is, to a large degree, a matter of personal perception and feelings. In this case, when discussing whether to recite a blessing over good news, t feelings are more important than facts.
III. When and if to Say the Blessing
How long after the election results can you say the blessing? Rav Yaakov Emden (18th c., Germany) allows for saying the blessing up to three days after hearing the good news (Mor U-Ketzi’ah 124). The current Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rav David Yosef, disagrees with Rav Emden. Rather, as long as you still feel great joy in your heart, you may recite the blessing on the good news (Halachah Berurah 222:3 and in note 1).
In an undated responsum in a volume originally published in 2009, Rav Dov Lior (cont., Israel) rules that someone who feels joy that his favorite political party won the elections should recite “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv” even though politicians often do not follow through with their promises. In contrast, Rav Eliezer Melamed (cont., Israel) seems to follow Rav Yaffe that only a “She-hecheyanu” is said on intangible good news (Peninei Halachah, Berachos 17:3). This would imply that you should recite “She-hecheyanu” and not “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv.”
Rav Moshe Isserles (16th c., Poland) says that many are lenient and do not say these blessings (Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 223:1). Rav Yosef Teomim (18th c., Germany) writes likewise (Peri Megadim, Eishel Avraham 222:1), and he is quoted in Mishnah Berurah (222:1). Others, particularly Sephardic authorities, have pushed back on this hesitance to recite these blessings (e.g. Rav Chaim David Halevy’s Mekor Chaim 92:19). Rav Simcha Rabinowitz (cont., Israel) writes that someone who wants to recite the blessing may do so. And even if he does not say the blessing, he can still say some words of praise for God and request for future assistance (Piskei Teshuvos 222:1). Based on all this, there is at least one opinion that allows reciting “She-hecheyanu” or “Ha-tov Ve-ha-meitiv” if you still feel great joy over the election results. However, it would be best to say it without God’s name or to recite words of praise for God rather than a blessing.
Join Rabbi Gil Student for the launch of his new book, Articles of Faith: Traditional Jewish Belief in the Internet Era, at 6pm on Sunday, December 8, at the famous Mizrahi Bookstore, 3108 Quentin Road, Brooklyn, NY.
