Reciting Hamapil

Q. Why do we recite the bracha of Ha’mapil before going to sleep?

A. The Gemara (Berachos 60b) states that a person who lies down to go to sleep recites the first paragraph of Shema and the bracha of Ha’mapil. The Rambam writes (Hilchos Berachos1:4) that there are three types of berachos: birchos hamitzvos (berachos on mitzvos such as the bracha on lulav and esrog), birchos hanehenin (berachos on pleasure, such as berachos on food) and birchos hashevach (berachos of praise such as the bracha recited on thunder and lightning). To which category does Ha’mapil belong? It is obviously not a bracha on a mitzvah, but is it a birchas hashevach or a birchas hanehenin? This is a matter of dispute between the poskim.

The Chayei Adam (35:4) and others write that the bracha of Ha’mapil is a bracha of shevach (praise) to G-d for creating the phenomenon of sleep. According to the Chayei Adam, even if one did not fall asleep the entire night, the recitation of Ha’mapil would not be a bracha levatala (a bracha recited in vain) since we are thanking Hashem for the universal gift of sleep. The bracha was instituted when we go to bed because that is when we typically experience sleep, but the bracha is valid even if we do not actually fall asleep. However, the Mishnah Berurah (Beiur Halacha 239, s.v. Samuch) rejected this view and maintained that Ha’mapil is a birchas hanehenin that each person recites on their personal pleasure of sleeping. The Mishnah Berurah brings proof to his position from the language of the bracha, Hamapil chevlai sheina al ainei, He casts bonds of sleep on my eyes. Clearly, “sleep on my eyes” refers to the individual who is reciting the bracha. According to Mishnah Berurah, if one suspects that he will not fall asleep, he should not recite this bracha, because if he does not fall asleep, it will be a bracha levatala, a bracha in vain.

Most classical poskim, such as the Knesses Hagedola, Elya Rabba (239:3) and Pri Megadim (Eishel Avraham 239:3), as well as more recent poskim, including the Be’er Moshe (1:63) and Yabia Omer (OC 8:11:30) share the position of the Chayei Adam. One notable exception is the Chazon Ish (Dinim V’Hanagos 8:8) who concurred with the strict view of the Mishnah Berurah. Rabbi Genack relates that he heard from Rabbi Soloveitchik that Reb Chaim never said Ha'mapil because he was concerned that he would not fall asleep.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.