If One Forgot Al Hanissim in the Amidah or Birkat Hamazon

One must remember on Purim to add the recitation of Al Hanissim in both Birkat Hamazon and Shemone Esrei. In Birkat Hamazon, one inserts Al Hanissim in the paragraph of "Nodeh" (before "Ve'al Ha'kol"), and in Shemone Esrei it is recited in the "Modim" section (before "Ve'al Kulam"). One who forgot to include Al Hanissim in either Birkat Hamazon or Shemone Esrei need not repeat the given recitation. The Maharshal and the Shela were of the opinion that one is obligated to eat bread with the Purim meal, and they therefore held that one who forgot to include Al Hanissim in Birkat Hamazon after his first meal on Purim day must, in fact, repeat Birkat Hamazon. (A basic Halachic principle dictates that whenever Halacha obligates eating a meal with bread, one must repeat Birkat Hamazon if he forgot to include the appropriate addition for the given occasion.) The vast majority of authorities, however, including the Shulchan Aruch, Mishna Berura, Kaf HaChaim and Chida, maintain that bread is not, strictly speaking, obligatory at the Purim meal – even though it should preferably be included, and this has indeed become the custom – and therefore even after this meal one need not repeat Birkat Hamazon if he forgot to include Al Hanissim. Nevertheless, if the individual remembered Al Hanissim before reciting "Baruch Ata Hashem" of the given Bracha, he should go back to recite Al Hanissim. If he remembered only after he recited the words "Baruch Ata Hashem," but before proceeding with the Beracha, then according to some authorities he should conclude, "Lamedeni Chukecha" and go back to recite Al Hanissim. However, Halacha does not follow this view; once the individual has recited "Baruch Ata Hashem," he simply continues with the Beracha as usual. In such a case, when one did not remember Al Hanissim in time to include it in its proper place, he still has the opportunity to add it towards the end of Birkat Hamazon or Shemone Esrei. In Birkat Hamazon, he can insert Al Hanissim in the "Ha'rachaman" section, by reciting, "Ha'rachaman Hu Ya'aseh Nissim… Bi'mei Mordechai Ve'Ester… " In Shemone Esrei, one can insert Al Hanissim just before reciting "Oseh Shalom Bi'mromav." If one completed the entire Birkat Hamazon or Shemone Esrei without reciting Al Hanissim, he does not repeat Birkat Hamazon or Shemone Esrei at all.

 By Rabbi Eli Mansour