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May one speak after reciting Ha’mapil or must one go right to sleep?

This question revolves around the dispute presented in the last Halacha Yomis: Is the bracha of Ha’mapil a birchas hanehenin (a bracha on the pleasure of sleeping) or a birchas hashevach (a bracha praising Hashem for the phenomenon of sleep). If it is a birchas hanehenin, talking would be a hefsek (an interruption) between the bracha and sleeping, and would not be permitted. However, if it is a birchas hashevach, the bracha would not be a hefsek because it relates to universal sleep and not the personal sleep of the individual. The Mishnah Berurah (239:4) (who considers Ha’mapil a birchas hanehenin, as previously noted) writes that one may not recite a bracha of shehakol on water after Ha’mapil. Clearly, the Mishna Berura would consider any conversation to be a hefsek. It is recorded (Dinim V’Hanagos 8:8) that the Chazon Ish who concurred with the Mishna Berura’s categorization of Ha’mapail as a birchas hanehenin) would not recite the bracha of Asher Yatzar when using the bathroom after saying Hamapil. On the other hand, the Be’er Moshe (1:63)(who considers Hamapil a birchas shevach) writes that although one should be careful not to speak after reciting the bracha of Ha’mapil, if there is an important matter that must be discussed, or certainly to show proper honor to a parent, one is permitted to speak. (To Be Continued...)





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