Mishnah
Mishnah

Midrash for Berakhot 9:2

עַל הַזִּיקִין, וְעַל הַזְּוָעוֹת, וְעַל הַבְּרָקִים, וְעַל הָרְעָמִים, וְעַל הָרוּחוֹת, אוֹמֵר בָּרוּךְ שֶׁכֹּחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם. עַל הֶהָרִים, וְעַל הַגְּבָעוֹת, וְעַל הַיַּמִּים, וְעַל הַנְּהָרוֹת, וְעַל הַמִּדְבָּרוֹת, אוֹמֵר בָּרוּךְ עוֹשֵׂה מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, הָרוֹאֶה אֶת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל אוֹמֵר בָּרוּךְ שֶׁעָשָׂה אֶת הַיָּם הַגָּדוֹל, בִּזְמַן שֶׁרוֹאֶה אוֹתוֹ לִפְרָקִים. עַל הַגְּשָׁמִים וְעַל הַבְּשׂוֹרוֹת הַטּוֹבוֹת אוֹמֵר בָּרוּךְ הַטּוֹב וְהַמֵּטִיב, וְעַל שְׁמוּעוֹת רָעוֹת אוֹמֵר בָּרוּךְ דַּיַּן הָאֱמֶת:

Over zikkim [stars which seem to open the firmament and which dart like an arrow from place to place; or else, a star which seems to have a long tail], and zevaoth [when the earth trembles and rumbles], and lightnings and re'amim [sounds heard in the firmament from clouds pouring water into each other, viz. (Jeremiah 10:13): "To the sound of His pouring hoards of water in the heavens"], and over winds [which blow tempestuously and which occur only occasionally], he says: "Blessed is He whose power and might fill the world." [And if he wishes he says: "Blessed is He who makes the creation," all of these being acts of creation, viz. (Psalms 135:7): "He made lightnings for the rain." But over mountains and hills, etc., he says "Who makes the creation," specifically; for he cannot say: "Whose power and might fill the world," these not being seen in all the world, but each in its own place.] Over mountains, hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, he says: "Blessed is He who makes the creation." R. Yehudah says: If he sees the great ocean [Oceanus, which surrounds the world], he says: "Blessed is He who made the great ocean" [it being accorded a blessing in itself because of its vastness and significance.] This is so when he sees it upon occasion [after thirty days]. Over rains and good reports, he says: "Baruch hatov vehametiv" ("Blessed is He who is good and does good") [This is so when he has land in common with another, the implication being: "who is good (to him) and does good (to others)"; but if he has no land at all, he says: "We thank You, O L-rd our G-d, for every drop that You brought down for us, etc." And if he has land by himself, he blesses: "shehecheyanu."], and over bad tidings he says: "Baruch dayan ha'emeth" ("Blessed is the true Judge").

Pirkei DeRabbi Eliezer

The clouds draw water from the depths, as it is said, "He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth" (Ps. 135:7), and in every place where the King commands them, there they cause rain (to fall), and forthwith the earth becomes fruitful and yields produce like a widow who becomes pregnant through debauchery. But when the Holy One, blessed be He, desires to bless the produce of the earth, and to give provision to the creatures, He opens the good treasuries in heaven and sends rain upon the earth, namely, the fructifying rain, and forthwith the earth becomes fruitful like a bride who conceives from her first husband and produces offspring of blessing, as it is said, "The Lord shall open unto thee his good treasury the heaven" (Deut. 28:12).
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