DailyHalacha.com for Mobile Devices Now Available

Click Here to Sponsor Daily Halacha
"Delivered to Over 6000 Registered Recipients Each Day"

      
(File size: 1.18 MB)
The Beracha on Seeing the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean

The Mishna in the last chapter of Masechet Berachot teaches that upon seeing rivers, one recites the Beracha, "Oseh Ma'aseh Bereshit"(Maker of Creation). Rabbi Yehuda says that upon seeing the "Yam HaGadol" (the great sea), one recites, "She'asah Et HaYam HaGadol" (Who Made the Great Sea).

The question is what the "Yam HaGadol" refers to. Maran, in 228:1, based on Rabbenu Yonah, states that it refers to the waters that flow between Israel and Egypt, i.e. the Mediterranean Sea. This is how the Mishna Berura understands Maran, as well. The commentaries explain that while the Mediterranean may not be the largest body of water, but because it's connected to Eres Yisrael, it becomes "Great" by association.

Accordingly, one who has not seen the Mediterranean within thirty days should recite the Beracha with Hashem's name. However, the Bet Yosef cites the Teshubot HaRosh who understands that "Yam HaGadol" refers to the "Oceanus," meaning the Atlantic Ocean.

Thus, there is a Machloket whether this Beracha applies to the Mediterranean. Because of this Safek (uncertainty), Hacham David rules that when seeing the Mediterranean, one should incorporate both Berachot by saying, "Baruch Atah Hashem Elohenu Melech HaOlam SheAsah Et HaYam HaGadol-Oseh Ma'aseh Bereshit." Even if the Mediterranean is not the Yam HaGadol, it is no worse than seeing other rivers, whose Beracha is "Oseh Ma'aseh Bereshit." If it is Yam HaGadol, the correct Beracha was said. If it's not the Yam HaGadol, then the correction was made "Toch K'deh Dibur"-immediately. This circumvents the problem of Safek Berachot.
According to this, if one sees the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea simultaneously, e.g. from Gibraltar, there is no Safek, as one of them is certainly the Yam HaGadol. In that case, the Beracha of "SheAsah Et HaYam HaGadol could be made with Hashem's name.

Those who live on the East Coast of the United States who see the Atlantic Ocean, even when driving, within a thirty day period, do not recite a Beracha.

SUMMARY

One who sees the Mediterranean Sea for the first time in thirty days, recites the Beracha: "SheAsah Et HaYam HaGadol-Oseh Ma'aseh Bereshit."


 


Recent Daily Halachot...
Succot- The Mitzvah of Building the Succah
Succot- The Proper Way To Shake The Lulav in Halel
The Proper Time To Say Selichot
Customs of Elul
The Shofar as an Alarm Clock
Hatarat Nedarim – Annulling Vows Before Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur
Reciting Tehillim During the Month of Elul and During the Ten Days of Repentance
Some Laws and Customs for the Month of Elul
The Proper Procedure for Reciting Selihot Without a Minyan
Selihot – The Recitation of the “Yag Middot”
Selichot and Tikun Hasot
Reciting the “Yag Midot” Without a Minyan
Performing Teshuva Each Day; Repenting for Negative Character Traits
Can a Man Represent His Wife in Hatarat Nedarim?
The Structure of the Selihot Service; Health as a Reward for Charity
Page of 239
3585 Halachot found