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The following is from Halachically Speaking, Birchas HaMazon -
Selected Halachos<br><br>
<a href="http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/halacha/Volume%206%20Issue%2012.pdf" eudora="autourl">
http://www.shemayisrael.com/parsha/halacha/Volume%206%20Issue%2012.pdf</a>
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<font size=3>One should be properly dressed while reciting
<i>bentching</i>.43</font><font size=1> </font><font size=3>Wearing
a bathrobe is<br>
unacceptable.44</font><font size=1> </font><font size=3>Some say
that it is proper to wear a hat and jacket.45</font><font size=1>
</font><font size=3>The <i>Kitzur Shulchan<br>
Aruch</i>46</font><font size=1> </font><font size=3>says that doing so
brings one to fear of <i>Hashem </i>and will increase concentration<br>
during <i>bentching</i>. The <i>Chazzon Ish zt”l </i>only wore a big
yarmulke and did not wear a hat<br>
for <i>bentching</i>. The <i>Stiepler zt”l </i>only wore a hat without a
jacket.47 <br><br>
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43. V’sein Beracha page 312:footnote 29.<br>
44. V’sein Beracha page 311. See Rivevos Ephraim 5:106, Ashri Yiladito
1:page 216:28.<br>
45. See Meseches Berochos 51b, Bach 183, Magen Avraham 5, Elya Rabbah 16,
Machtzis Ha’shekel 5, Kitzur<br>
Shulchan Aruch 44:6, Mishnah Berurah 11, Salmas Chaim 181:page 51, Ohr
L’tzyion 2:13:3. The Halichos Shlomo<br>
Tefillah 2:73 is lenient for a <i>cholah </i>not to put the jacket on all
the way, rather over the shoulders is fine. Refer to Vezos<br>
Ha’beracha page 140:4, who quotes from the Chazzon Ish zt”l that the
jacket may be worn on the shoulders even not<br>
for a <i>cholah</i>, see Orchos Rabbeinu 3:page 207:7. The Aruch
Hashulchan 183:4 holds there is no need for a jacket, see<br>
Tzitz Eliezer 13:13. Harav Yisroel Belsky Shlita says not wearing a hat
and jacket while <i>bentching </i>is something that<br>
one should grow out of as he matures (Refer to Doleh U’mashka page
111).<br>
46. 44:6.<br>
47. Orchos Rabbeinu 1:74:page 83.<br><br>
Does the statement, "Wearing a bathrobe is unacceptable." apply
to women as well? The author does not say. <br><br>
I presume that the "Shabbos robes" that are commonly worn by
many women are not in the category of bathrobe. YL</font></body>
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