Dear Rabbi Simon
What’s the halakhah re a ger tzedek [convert to Judaism] saying the brocha of shelo asani goy (“who has not made me a gentile”, Artscroll siddur p. 18)? Can/should s/he recite this blessing? I note that most authorities don’t seem to like the idea (as strictly speaking it is untrue). On the other hand the B’er Heteiv Sh”A OH 46:8 adduces at the end of his remarks the Yad Aharon who says they can say it. What’s the prevailing custom?
Many thanks
Greg
Dear Greg
I am not sure if there is a prevailing custom as it is partly a personal inclination. As there are different views on this, the LBD does not uniformly instruct gerim in this regard as a matter of course. However my recommendation is that a ger tzedek follows the last opinion mentioned in the B’er Heteiv, to say this berachah as well. The explanation of the blessing is that the ger thanks Hashem for the fact that s/he has not remained a gentile.
This simplifies things when leading the prayers, for example, or in other circumstance. It is also consistent with the thrust of the Rambam’s famous letter to Ovadiah ha-Ger—click on it (אך שיש לחלק בדבר).
Best wishes
Rabbi Rashi Simon