Q. On a Bar Mitzva where the parents are not religious but the son is on his way to become a baal teshuva and is being helped by the people of the shul to make the simcha, does the father recite the bracha of baruch sheptarani?
A. The source for the blessing of Boruch Sheptorani in which a father expresses his gratitude to Hashem for releasing him from the punishment of his son, is found in the Midrash Pashas Toldos.
Remoh (O.H. 225: 2) recommends that this blessing should be recited without mentioning the name of Hashem. The reason, he explains in Darchei Moshe (ibid.), is because this brocho is not mentioned in the Talmud.
Although, Mishna Berura (ibid.8) quotes the dissenting view of Maharil and Biur Hagra that one should include the name of Hashem, it is already an accepted tradition mentioned by many Poskim (Chaye Adam 65: 3, Aruch Hashulchan 225: 4, Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 61: 5 et.al.) to omit the name.
Regardless of whether you mention Hashem's name or not, a non-religious person should not be asked to recite publicly any brocho in shul, since he does not believe the words he is saying.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a
Important Numbers
