Bracha For Seeing Natural Wonders: Difference between revisions

# Upon seeing a natural large river one should recite the Bracha of [[Oseh Maaseh Beresheet]], however if there was any human intervention in the building of the river, from that point in the river and on, no Bracha is made. If one is in doubt whether a river was improved or changed with human intervention one shouldn’t recite the Bracha. Most rivers are natural and not changed by man, however, it’s unclear whether one can rely on this assumption. <Ref>S”A 228:2 writes that the Bracha for seeing the four rivers mentioned in the pesukim such as Chidekel and Parat one should recite the Bracha [[Oseh Maaseh Beresheet]]. Mishna Brurah 228:4 explains that one should recite the Bracha on any large river that one knows is totally natural and wasn’t changed by man. Mishna Brurah 229:5 adds that if one is in doubt one shouldn’t recite the Bracha, but in Shaar HaTziyun 229:8 he adds that in general rivers are natural but concludes that the practicability is unclear. This is also the opinion of Vezot HaBracha (pg 155).</ref>   

# There’s no Bracha upon seeing a waterfall unless it’s part of a large river that’s natural (as above). <Ref>Vezot HaBracha (pg 155) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky </ref>

# Upon seeing mountains that are abnormal and through them one recognizes the strength of Hashem, the Creator, one should recite the Bracha of [[Oseh Maaseh Beresheet]]. <Ref>S”A 228:3 and Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:5. Orchot Rabbenu (vol 1 pg 94) writes that the Steipler made this Bracha the first time he saw the mountains surrounding Yerushalyim, but stopped afterwards because it didn’t have an impression on him anymore.  Piskei Teshuvot 228:4 writes that it’s really dependent on the viewer but on universally accepted unique mountains anyone can recite the Bracha. </ref> However, some poskim believe that this beracha should not be made with Hashem's name. <ref> Kitzur Shulchan Aruch with footnotes from Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, siman 60, footnote 4 in the Darche Halacha </ref> For example, one can recite the Bracha upon seeing the Chermon mountains <Ref>Or Letzion 46:62, and Vezot HaBracha (pg 155) in name of Rav Chaim Kanievsky (see there) </ref>, Mount Everest <Ref>Birkot Eliyahu (pg 296) </ref>, Ararat, or the Alps. <Ref>Aruch HaShulchan 228:1, Piskei Teshuvot 228:4, Vezot HaBracha (pg 155) </ref>

# If there’s a doubt whether a mountain is considered unique one should recite the Bracha without [[Shem UMalchut]]. <Ref>Vezot HaBracha (pg 155) </ref>

==Seeing a desert==