Tzitz Eliezer: A Blind Man At The Kosel

The Shulchan Aruch paskens (OC 561:1) that when a person sees the Kosel he must tear Kria. What about a blind person, must he tear kria when coming to the Kosel even if he cannot actually see it?

The Tzitz Eliezer (16:39) brings from the Tal Chaim a similar question. The gemara (Moed Katan 19) says that if you see a Sefer Torah burning you must tear kria. The Tal Chaim says since the gemara uses the word HaRo’eh he who sees, and not HaOmed he who is present, we see that when it says the word HaRoeh, like by the Kosel, it depends on actually seeing and it is not sufficient to be cognizant of being present at that time.

Moreover says the Tzitz Eliezer, even a person whose eyes are perfectly healthy can and is standing by the kosel but he doesn’t actually see because his view is obstructed, he also does not tear kria. Even being able to see is not enough, only the actual seeing is.

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