Misc

Question:

Is one supposed to stand while reciting birkas hamitzvos?

Discussion:

There are various opinions about this in the Poskim:

The Magen Avraham (Siman 8 s.k 2) writes regarding tzitzis that both the brocho recited on the tzitzis, and the actual atifah should be while standing. The Magen Avraham asks, that it appears from Yoreh De’ah Siman 328 [which discusses a lady being mafrish challah while sitting] that there is no requirement to stand while reciting birkas hamitzvos? The Magen Avraham answers that hafroshas challah is different and “is not considered such a mitzvah, because it is only being performed to rectify the food, similar to shechita”.

It is clear from the Magen Avraham that except for hafroshas challah and shechita, one is supposed to stand for all birkas hamitzvos. This also appears to be the opinion of the Beis Yosef, who in the beginning of this Siman quotes the Orchos Chayim who quotes a Yerushalmi that says that “all brochos are recited while standing” and the Orchos Chayim explains that the Yerushalmi is referring to birkas hamitzvos specifically (as opposed to birkos hanehenin).
[It should be mentioned that various commentaries point out that this Yerushalmi quoted by both the Orchos Chayim and Beis Yosef is not to be found in our Talmud Yerushalmi.]

The Mishna Berura (Siman 8 s.k. 2) also clearly rules that all birkos hamitzvos should be recited while standing, and his source is the aforementioned Beis Yosef.

The Vilna Gaon however, argues on the differentiation of the Magen Avraham and posits that hafroshas challah is considered a fully fledged mitzvah. From context, it appears that the Vilna Gaon maintains that there is no obligation to stand for any of the birkas hamitzvos.

We find in various Rishonim and Acharonim different opinions as to when there is an obligation to stand for birkos hamitzvos and when there is no obligation:

The Yeshu’os Ya’akov (quoted by the Pischei Teshuva Yoreh De’ah Siman 328 s.k. 2) maintains that when it is possible to say the brocho while standing one is obligated to stand for the brocho, and only by a specific situation of hafroshas challah (Yoreh De’ah Siman 328 Se’if 1) where the person being mafrish challah is not adequately dressed and therefore has to sit down while reciting the brocho is it acceptable to sit while reciting birkas hamitzvos.

The Sefer Ho’eshkol (Hilchos Birchos Hodo’oh) discusses if birkas hamitzvos need to be recited while standing and writes that birkas hamitzvos that have no [associated] hano’oh require standing, but birkas hamitzvos that have associated hano’oh, for example matzoh, succah, kiddush, hamotzi and birkas hamozon we have never seen being recited while standing.
The Eshkol then quotes another opinion that maintains that the birkas hamitzvos of six mitzvos specifically require standing, and these mitzvos are [sefiras ho’]omer, kiddush levono, tzitzis, shofar, lulav and milah.

Several Acharonim (Pnei Yehoshua Megillah 21a, Elya Rabboh Siman 8, Rav Shlomo Kluger in Chochmas Shlomo and Rav Ya’akov Emden in Mor u’Ktziah) learn that regarding standing for birkas hamitzvos the brocho for each mitzvah has the same din as the mitzva itself. I.e., those mitzvos that are performed while standing (e.g. shofar, milah) require a brocho while standing, and regarding mitzvos that are performed even while sitting (e.g. limmud hatorah, achilas matzoh) the birkas hamitzvos can be performed while sitting as well.

Summary: We have seen various opinions regarding whether one is obligated to stand while reciting birkas hamitzvos:
• According to the Magen Avraham and Mishna Berura, one is obligated to stand for all birkas hamitzvos.
• The Vilna Gaon (based on Rabbeinu Yona and the Tur) maintains that one does not need to stand for any of the birkas hamitzvos.
• The Yehoshuas Ya’akov writes that where it is possible to stand for the brocho [in most situations] it is an obligation to stand. Where one is not able to stand, then there is no obligation to do so.
• The Eshkol differentiates between birkas hamitzvos that have no [associated] hano’oh (e.g. shofar, lulav) which require standing for, however birkas hamitzvos that have associated hano’oh (e.g. matzoh, kiddush) do not require standing for.
• The Eshkol then quotes another opinion that maintains that only six birkas hamitzvos require standing: [sefiras ho’]omer, kiddush levono, tzitzis, shofar, lulav and milah.
• Lastly, we have seen that several Acharonim equate the brocho to the mitzvah and maintain that those mitzvos (e.g. shofar and milah) that require standing for, the brocho also needs to be recited while standing. However, mitzvos that can be performed while sitting, the brocho similarly can be recited while sitting.