Blessing for the Birth of a Son
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Question
We saw in the Shulchan Aruch, Siman 223, Seif 1, that for the birth of a son, the blessing 'Hatov VeHameitiv' is recited, because this joy is shared by both the father and the mother. The Rema writes that if the wife died, 'Shehecheyanu' is recited because there aren't two who rejoice in this birth, and 'Hatov VeHameitiv' is recited only if several people rejoice and give thanks. Now I have two questions: 1. Why don't the brothers, sisters, and relatives of the newborn recite a blessing, and don't they have an obligation to give thanks for this? 2. If only the father and mother recite the blessing, why don't the grandparents recite it, based on what we said, that grandchildren are like children (Kiddushin 4.)? Isn't this according to Halacha?
Answer
Shalom Rav
A. Although all relatives are obligated to thank Hashem, not every thanksgiving has a blessing instituted for it. Therefore, only the parents, to whom the son is born, have a blessing instituted, not the siblings and other relatives.
B. Grandchildren being like children is not a law that they are considered as parents, but rather that they are sometimes referred to in the Torah as 'father' or 'mother'.