Rav Ben-Zion Hakohen Kook, noted posek, has been asked questions about the terrible tragedy in Meron and whether survivors and to recite Birkas Hagomel.
Rav Kook instructed that only those who were truly in danger should even consider it. Certainly not everyone who was on Mount Meron at that time are considered to have been in a sakanah, and even those who were in the location of the tragedy moments before have no chiyuv to make the brocha, for they were not in danger. And even if a person fell but was only scratched or banged up, they did not enter a matzav of danger and thus does not recite the brocha.
It was asked whether young children and boys who actually survived make the brocha. the retribution. He ruled that one who is under the age of bar mitzvah does not bentch Gomel, because he does not mechuyav b’mitzvos. Instead, he should make a kabbola tovah.
Regarding a boy ages 13-20, there are various opinions. Some hold that since until the age of twenty one is not liable for heavenly punishment, he does not bentch Gomel. (See Pri Megadim, Aishel Avrohom 219).
{Matzav.com Israel}
