Rav Sternbuch was not
able to review the sheet this week.
Hilchos B'rachos part XXVIII
B’rachos Upon Sight
Chazal
instituted b’rachos to be recited when seeing various dimensions of
creation that usually astound the beholder. Indeed the entire creation sings out
מה רבו מעשיך ד' – how great are your deeds,
Hashem, not only the unique and extraordinary creations, but it is through
the uncommon that we perceive the grandeur of all His handiwork.
These b’rachos are called ברכות
השבח – b’rachos of praise.
Should one stand when reciting
ברכות השבח?
We find a machlokes
in the matter. In Rav Yakov Emdin’s siddur it says that one should stand while
reciting ברכות השבח and
thus is the opinion l’chatchila (where possible) of other poskim.
On the
other hand the P’ri Megadim
writes
that one may sit down. It is also evident from the Rambam
who
writes that one must stand for Kiddush Levanah, because it is likened to
greeting the Shechina, and he does not say to stand for other
ברכות השבח.
What do we recite for
thunder and lightning?
Upon seeing lightning, one
recites ברוך אתה ד' אלקינו מלך העולם עושה מעשה בראשית.
The b’racha must be recited within approx. 3 seconds to seeing the end of
the lightning blitz and one is not required to see the actual streak in the sky,
it is suffice to see the sky light up.
One
does not recite this b’racha when the lightning is created from an
electrical storm, which is common in certain parts of the world. One only
recites it when associated with rain.
What if I missed the first
lightning streak?
It is not a problem and one
may recite on the succeeding ones. The halacha is that one may not recite
a b’racha when occupied with an activity such as washing dishes, writing
etc. so to
recite the b’racha one must desist from all activities and only then
recite the b’racha. It might happen that one will miss a b’racha
on account of this halacha and in such circumstances the option for the
b’racha will be the next lightning blitz.
Upon hearing thunder one
recites (within approx. 3 seconds) ברוך אתה ד' אלקינו
מלך העולם שכוחו וגבורתו מלא עולם. One must be certain that indeed it is
thunder and not the neighbor moving his couch or some other noise.
How often is this b’racha
recited?
For the same rain storm one
b’racha is enough. In this case night follows day and if one recited a
b’racha during the day, one will not recite a new b’racha during the
night. The next day will require a new b’racha even though it is the same
rainstorm as the previous day.
If the clouds dispersed and
a new rainstorm formed, one will recite a new b’racha.
Birkas Ha’ilanos
Blossoming and budding of
fruit trees is reason to praise Hashem. Chazal said that one who
sees blossoming trees in the days of Nissan must recite a b’racha.
The nussach is בא"י אלקינו מלך העולם שלא חיסר
בעולמו כלום וברא בו בריות טובות ואילנות טובים ליהנות בהם בני אדם.
The month of Nissan is not
essential and one may recite the b’racha during Adar as well.
How many trees?
The Kaf HaChaim
writes that based on kabalah, one should recite the b’racha in a
place where there are many trees blossoming, but two trees suffice. The
Mishna Berura did not mention a number as a criterion and one may recite the
b’racha for one tree as well.
Birkas Hayamim – the
b’racha over seas
One who sees the oceans
(Atlantic, Pacific, Indian) recites the b’racha
עושה הים הגדול . There is doubt as to whether the b’racha over the
Mediterranean sea is עושה הים הגדול – who made
the big sea, and since there is doubt one recites the regular b’racha
עושה מעשה בראשית.
This b’racha is only
recited when one did not see the ocean or sea for thirty days. If one saw the
ocean or sea and did not recite the b’racha and sees it again within
thirty days, one does not recite the b’racha. This is because the
b’racha is recited when one has התפעלות –
inspired by what one sees, and seeing it again within thirty days lacks the
inspiration Chazal were looking for.
