Berakhot 9:2 Related Passages

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").

Jerusalem Talmud Berakhot

MISHNAH: On ziqin88The Yerushalmi does not define זיקא. In the Babli (58b), Samuel defines it as “star with a tail”, which may mean either a comet (Arukh s. v. ככב) or a meteorite (Rashi). Arukh s. v. זק quotes Rav Hai Gaon as defining זיקא as thunderless lightning that illuminates an entire cloud. The latter determination is probably the correct one since it fits the context of the Mishnah and its author has the highest authority among those who explain difficult words in the Talmudim., earthquakes, lightning, thunder, and hurricanes, one says: Praise to Him Whose power89In the Rome manuscript and in many (mostly Ashkenazic) manuscripts of the Babli and the Mishnah, one adds וּגְבוּרָתוֹ “and His strength.” fills the world. On mountains, hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, one says: Praise to the Maker of Creation90The same manuscripts that add “His strength” in the first sentence, add “the work of Creation” here.. Rebbi Yehudah says, he who sees the ocean says: Praise to Him Who made the ocean; if he sees it at intervals91This is the reading of all manuscripts of Yerushalmi, Babli, and Mishnah, except the Leyden manuscript and the Venice print who have this language only in the Mishnah, but the quote in the Halakhah reads: “Rebbi Yehudah says, he who sees the ocean says: Praise to Him Who made the ocean; if he sees it at intervals, he says: Praise to the Maker of Creation.” However, from the discussion in the Talmud it is clear that this is a scribal error.. On rains92In Israel, where there is only one rainy season. and good tidings one says: Praise to Him Who is good and does good. On bad news, one says: Praise to the True Judge.
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