If one sees a place where miracles were performed for Israel [such as the place where Israel crossed the Red Sea, the crossing of the valleys of Arnon, the crossing of the Jordan, the stone on which Moses sat when he waged war with Amalek, and the like] he says: "Blessed is He who performed miracles for our forefathers in this place." [Over a miracle performed for the many, such as the aforementioned, all are required to bless; but over a miracle performed for an individual, as when one sees a place where a miracle was performed for him, he must say: "Blessed is He who performed a miracle for me in this place." And his son and grandson must say: "Blessed is He who performed a miracle for my fathers in this place." All of the blessings of the Mishnah require mentioning of "the Name" and "Kingdom," any blessing lacking these not being a blessing.] (If one sees) a place from which idolatry was uprooted, he says: "Blessed is He who uprooted idolatry from our land."
Bartenura on Mishnah Berakhot
מקום שנעשו בו נסים – such as the place where the Israelites crossed the Sea of Reeds and the stream of Arnon (see Numbers, chapter 21, verses 13 and following), and the fords of the Jordan River [where the Israelites crossed – see Joshua, chapter 3 verse 14 and following] the stone on which Moses, of blessed memory, sat when he fought the war against Amalek (see Exodus chapter 17, verse 12) and other similar occurrences. And public miracles such as these require everyone to recite a blessing, but individual miracles such as person who sees a place where a [personal] miracle had occurred for him, he himself is obligated to recite a blessing, “Praised [Are You, O LORD] who performed for a miracle in this bless,” and his son and grandson are obligated to recite the blessing, “Praised [Are You, O LORD] who performed a miracle for my ancestors in this place.” And all these blessings of our Mishnah require the mention of the Name of God and His Sovereignty – for any blessing which lacks the mention of God’s name and His sovereignty is not a blessing.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
Introduction
The final chapter of Berakhot deals with various blessings recited upon different occasions, such as seeing certain things or when certain unusual events happen.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
If one sees a place where miracles have been done for Israel, he says, “Blessed be the One who made miracles for our ancestors in this place.” If one sees a place where miracles happened to Israel, for instance the Sea of Reeds, or the place where the Israelites crossed the Jordan (see Joshua 3:17) a blessing should be recited.
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English Explanation of Mishnah Berakhot
[If one sees] a place from which idolatry has been uprooted, he should say, “Blessed be the One who removed idolatry from our land.” This blessing refers to idolatry which was uprooted from the land of Israel. According to the Talmud, if one sees a place outside of the land of Israel from which idolatry has been uprooted one should say, “Blessed be the One who removed idolatry from this place.” To both blessings one should add, “Just as it has been removed from this place, so may it be removed from all other places and may God turn the hearts of idolaters to Your worship.”
