Chapter 61:7-10
Birkas Hagomel and Other Blessings
7. A person who is about to measure his harvest or the like should say the following prayer: May it be Your will, G-d, my Lord, that You send blessing to this grain heap.
When he begins measuring, he should recite the blessing: Boruch hashole'ach b'rochoh bacri hazeh. (Blessed be He who sends blessing to this grain heap.)
(G-d's name and His sovereignty over the world are not mentioned.)
A person who measured his harvest and then prayed, has prayed in vain, for G-d's blessing rests only on a matter which is hidden from the eye.
8. When a person's son becomes Bar-Mitzvah, the father should recite the following blessing after the son recites the blessing after the Torah reading: Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i E-l-o-h-e-i-n-u Melech ho'olom asher p'torani me'onosho shel zeh. (Blessed are You, G-d, our Lord, King of the Universe, Who has relieved me of the responsibility of punishment for this one.)*
* {This reflects the opinion of the Vilna Gaon and the Chayei Odom. However, the Ramoh (225:2) and Rav Shneur Zalman of Liadi (Piskei Siddur) suggest reciting this blessing without mentioning G-d's name and His sovereignty over the world.}
It is a mitzvah for a person to hold a feast on the day his son becomes Bar-Mitzvah - i.e., the day he starts his fourteenth year. If the son gives a discourse [on Torah subjects], the feast is considered as a feast associated with a Mitzvah, even if it is not held on that day.
9. If after a drought, rain descended to the extent that puddles form on the earth and the bubbles caused by the raindrops touch each other, a blessing should be recited. Even in countries where rainfall frequent and generally does not cease, should it cease to the extent that people are in distress, the following blessing should be recited.
10. Which blessing should one recite? A person who does not own a field should recite: Modim anachnu loch, A-d-o-n-o-i E-l-o-h-e-i-n-u, al kol tipoh vitipoh shehorad'to lonu. V'illu finu moley shiroh kayom... V'yakdishu v'yamlichu es shimcho malkeinu. Boruch Attoh A-d-o-n-o-i Ei-l rov hahodo'os v'sishbochos.
(We give thanks to You, G-d, our Lord, for each and every drop which You have caused to descend for us. Were our mouths to be filled with song, as the sea [is filled with water]... (continuing the prayer nishmas until) and they should sanctify and proclaim the sovereignty of Your name, our King. Blessed are You, G-d, the Almighty, [Who is deserving of] manifold thanks and praise.)
A person who owns a field together with a Jewish partner should recite the blessing hatov v'hameitiv. If he owns a field without a Jewish partner, he should recite the blessing shehecheyonu.
The blessing hatov v'hameitiv and shehecheyonu may be recited even though one does not see the rain, but merely knows that it has descended. However, the blessing modim anachnu loch should be recited only when one actually sees rain.
