10 Rarely Recited Brachot

10 Rare Brachot Recited on Special Occasions

Every day, Jews recite a large number of different types of brachot: the morning begins with Birkat HaShachar (the morning blessings), various brachot before and after meals, brachot during prayers in the synagogue, the Sheva Brachot (the wedding blessings), blessings over scents, and so on. But there are brachot that we recite rarely or only on special occasions. 1. Birkat HaChamah (the blessing over the Sun) The blessing over the Sun is recited only once every 28 years. The Talmud (tractate Berachot, folio 59) states that once every 28 years, the Sun returns to the position it occupied at the time of Creation. The laws concerning the blessing over the Sun are set forth in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim, section 229). בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי , אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֵׂה בְרֵאשִׁית “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, oseh ma'aseh vereishit” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who makes the works of Creation). 2. Birkat HaLevanah (the blessing over the Moon) The blessing over the Moon is recited once a month. Ashkenazi Jews recite it after the third day of the Jewish month, while Sephardic Jews recite it after the seventh day and no later than the 14th day of each month. The essence of this blessing is that the Moon symbolizes the destiny of our people. At the end of the month, it disappears, but almost immediately it is “reborn.” It also grows larger each day (symbolizing spiritual growth and blessing from Heaven). Therefore, the blessing may be recited only during the first half of the lunar month, while the Moon is waxing rather than waning. [The blessing is recited standing; the full text can be found in siddurim]. 3. The Blessing Upon Seeing a Sage According to the Shulchan Aruch, when a person sees a sage, a special blessing should be recited. [If the sage is Jewish, the following blessing should be recited]: ברוך אתה יי אלקינו מלך העולם שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו - “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-chalak meichochmato lireiav” - (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who has granted of His wisdom to those who fear Him). [If the person is not Jewish, the blessing is recited as follows]: בָרוך אַתָה יְיָ אֱלֹהֵינו מֶׁלֶׁך הָעולָם שֶׁנָתַן מֵחָ כְמָ תו לְבָשָר וָדָם - “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-natan meichochmato levasar vadam” - (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who has granted wisdom to flesh and blood). 4. The Blessing Upon Seeing a Rainbow Our Sages ordained that upon seeing a rainbow, one should recite a blessing. The rainbow reminds us of the Almighty’s promise never again to destroy the world after the Flood. בָרוך אַתָה יי אֱלהֵינו מֶׁלֶׁךהָ עולָם זוכֵר הַבְרִּית וְנֶׁאֱמָן בִּבְרִּיתו וְקַיָם בְמַאֲמָרו “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, zocher ha-brit vene'eman bivrito vekayam bema'amaro” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who remembers the Covenant, is faithful to His Covenant, and fulfills His promise). 5. The Blessing “Who Changes His Creations” Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said, upon seeing a person with spotted skin: “Blessed is He Who changes His creations!” The following baraita is cited in response: “One who sees a Black person (kushi), a red-skinned person (gichor), an albino (lavkan), a very tall, stooped person (kipeach), a dwarf (nanas), or a person with a crooked mouth (darnikos) must recite the blessing: ‘Blessed is He Who changes His creations!’” Our Sages taught the following baraita: “One who sees a monkey, an elephant, or an owl recites: ‘Blessed is He Who changes His creations!’” בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה’ אֱלהֵינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעולָם משנה הבריות - “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, meshaneh ha-briyot” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who changes His creations). [More details here]: The Blessing “Who Changes the Works of Creation” 6. The Blessing Upon Thunder and Lightning The Mishnah states that special blessings are recited upon seeing lightning and hearing thunder. First, upon seeing lightning, one says: “oseh ma'aseh vereishit,” and then, upon hearing thunder: “shekocho u-gevurato malei olam.” Anyone who has already recited the blessings over lightning and thunder should not repeat them again on the same day. בָרוך אַתָה יי אֱלהֵינו מֶׁלֶׁך הָעולָם שכחו וגבורתו מלא עולם “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shekocho u-gevurato malei olam” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, Sovereign of the universe, Whose power and glory fill the universe). “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, oseh ma'aseh vereishit” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who created all the works of Creation). 7. Birkat Ilanot – the Blessing over Trees The Talmud states: “One who goes out during the month of Nisan and sees trees in bloom recites the blessing: ‘Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who has withheld nothing from His world and created within it beautiful creatures and beautiful trees for the enjoyment of human beings.’” בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה יי, אֱלֹהֵֽינוּ מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם, שֶׁלֹּא חִסֵּר בְּעוֹלָמוֹ כְּלוּם, וּבָרָא בוֹ בְּרִיוֹת טוֹבוֹת וְאִילָנוֹת טוֹבוֹת, לֵהָנוֹת בָּהֶם בְּנֵי אָדָם “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, shelo chiser be-olamo klum, u-vara vo briyot tovot ve-ilanot tovot, leihanot bahem bnei adam” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who has left nothing lacking in His world, and created within it good creatures and good trees for people to enjoy). The complete Seder Birkat Ilanot according to the Ben Ish Chai can be found here: Birkat Ilanot According to the Ben Ish Chai — the Blessing over Blossoming Trees in the Month of Nisan   8. The Blessing Upon Seeing Beauty The Shulchan Aruch states that upon seeing a beautiful tree, animal, or person, one recites a blessing. בָרוך אַתָה יי אֱלהֵינו מֶׁלֶׁך הָעולָ םשככה לו בעולמו “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, she-kachah lo be-olamo” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who has such things in His world). 9. The Blessing Upon Seeing 600,000 People The Talmud states that this blessing is intended to acknowledge the diversity of humanity and affirm that G-d fully knows what is in their hearts. בָרוך אַתָה יי אֱלהֵינו מֶׁלֶׁך הָעולָם חכם הרזים “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, chacham ha-razim” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who knows all secrets). 10. Upon Seeing “HaYam HaGadol” (the Great Sea—the ocean) Halachah states that when someone sees “HaYam HaGadol” (the Great Sea), they should recite a special bracha. However, there is a disagreement among the poskim as to which sea is considered the Great Sea—the Mediterranean or the Atlantic Ocean. Since the question has not yet been resolved, when seeing either of these seas, we may recite only the bracha: “oseh ma'aseh vereishit” – (Who created all the works of Creation). But Rabbi Chaim Kanievsky (may his merit protect us) once told a visitor from Gibraltar: “Since Gibraltar lies at the meeting point of these two Great Seas, one who is there and sees both of them simultaneously may recite the bracha according to all opinions: ‘Oseh HaYam HaGadol.’” ברוך אתה יי אלוקינו מלך העולם שעשה את הים הגדול “Baruch Atah Adonai, Eloheinu Melech ha-olam, ha-oseh et ha-yam ha-gadol” – (Blessed are You, L-rd our G-d, King of the universe, Who made the Great Sea). More details here: The “HaYam HaGadol” Berachah – Chaim Kanievsky   Brachot over Scents and Tehillim 150 Blessings for Fragrances and Tehillim 150   (Sources: evrey.com; the book “Gadol in Our Time”; https://ujew.com.ua/the-world-with-jewish-eyes/8-evrejskix-molitv-o-kotoryix-vyi-vozmozhno-nikogda-ne-slyishali)