Wednesday, 24 February 2016

halacha - Is there an exhaustive list of astronomical/environmental events for which there are blessings?



Inspired by:



Is there anywhere in the Halachic literature that lists all of the astronomical (e.g. new moon) and environmental (e.g. lightning) events for which there are blessings and indicates that this an exclusive list? Having such a list handy would make it easier to answer questions such as the above.



Answer



The Shulchan Aruch (OC in the 220's) lists a bunch of natural phenomenon that get special blessings including:




  • Strong rains after an extended drought





  • Blossoming fruit trees




  • Meteors




  • Comets




  • Earthquakes





  • Lightning




  • Thunder




  • Strong winds





  • Seas




  • Rivers (possibly only the four mentioned in Genesis 2)




  • Uniquely tall mountains





  • Uniquely tall cliffs




  • Deserts




  • Rainbows




  • The Sun, Moon, Planets and the constellation Aries at their 'original' locations. We only have a preserved tradition for the sun in this case, which is known as Birkat HaChammah.





The question then becomes, is this list exhaustive or can we add other natural phenomena which Chazal may not have known about (eg. geysers) or may not have considered common enough to list (eg. a volcanic eruption)? In the book Shaar HaAyin (7:6), the author claims that this is currently a matter of dispute between R Chaim Kanievsky and R Shmuel HaLevi Wosner. I note that eclipses may be an exception to the rule as they may be seen (groan) as negative omens and wouldn't get a blessing according to either side (see my answer here).


I further suggest that this might parallel a similar argument about whether the blessing "Mishaneh HaBeriyot" which the Talmud says can be said on an elephant or a monkey needs to be said on only those two, or if they are general indicators of unusual animals. This too is a matter or dispute, with Rs Shlomo Zalman Aurbach, Nissim Karelitz, and Moshe Shternbuch permitting and Rs Yosef Shalom Elyashiv and Chaim Kanievsky forbidding (Shaar HaAyin 15:6).


No comments:

Post a Comment

readings - Appending 内 to a company name is read ない or うち?

For example, if I say マイクロソフト内のパートナーシップは強いです, is the 内 here read as うち or ない? Answer 「内」 in the form: 「Proper Noun + 内」 is always read 「ない...