11 Interesting Blessings You May Not Be Familiar With

1. The Blessing on Miracles

A blessing recited when you see a place where a miracle occurred.

The source for this blessing is the Mishnah in Tractate Berachot: "One who sees a place where miracles were performed for Israel says: Blessed is He who performed miracles for our ancestors in this place."

The Gemara extended this to include miracles performed for individuals: "For a miracle that happened to an individual, that person is obligated to make a blessing." When one sees a place where a personal miracle occurred, he should recite: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who performed a miracle for me in this place."

The authorities discuss the magnitude of the miracle that mandates the recitation of this blessing. The Shulchan Aruch rules: "Some say that one only makes a blessing on a miracle that is outside the natural order of the world, but for a miracle that follows the natural order and its consequences, such as when thieves came at night and one was in danger and was saved, and similar cases, one is not obligated to make a blessing. Others disagree, and it is good to recite the blessing without mentioning God's name.

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2. The Blessing on a Rainbow

When one sees a rainbow in the sky, he recites the blessing: "Who remembers the covenant, is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His word," which commemorates Hashem's promise not to destroy the world again with a flood.

The full text of the blessing reads: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who remembers the covenant, is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His word."

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3. The Blessing on the Great Sea

This blessing is recited when one sees "a great sea" and expresses wonder at the sea's vastness and blesses Hashem for creating it.

This blessing is recited upon seeing a large sea, like an ocean. Since halachic authorities debate whether the Mediterranean Sea should be included in the definition of "a great sea," it is customary not to recite the blessing on the Mediterranean Sea.

This blessing appears in the Mishnah in Tractate Berachot: "For mountains, hills, seas, rivers, and deserts, one says: 'Blessed is He Who makes the works of creation.' Rabbi Yehudah says: One who sees the great sea says: 'Blessed is He Who made the great sea' when one sees it occasionally."

The text of the blessing: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who made the great sea."

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4. The Blessing of "Who Created You in Judgment"

The blessing of "Who created you in judgment" is recited when one sees Jewish graves for the first time in (at least) thirty days. The purpose of the blessing is to justify Hashem's judgment, and the precise formulation differs between Ashkenzim and Sephardim.

The text of the blessing:

The Ashkenazic version: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who created you in judgment and sustained and nourished you in judgment, and killed you in judgment, and knows the number of all of you in judgment, and will in the future revive you and establish you in judgment. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who revives the dead."

The Sephardic version: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who created you in judgment, and nourished you in judgment and sustained you in judgment and gave you life in judgment and gathered you in judgment, and knows the number of all of you, and will in the future revive you in judgment to eternal life, Blessed are You, Hashem, Who revives the dead."

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5. The Blessing on a New Settlement in Israel

This blessing is recited upon seeing a new settlement established in the Land of Israel. The blessing is entitled "Who sets the boundary of a widow," to indicate that the Jewish people are like an abandoned widow who has finally returned home. (The Jewish people's exile from their land can be likened to a woman being abandoned by her husband as a divorcee, since in the Sages' terminology a divorcee is also called a "widow.") 

The early authorities disagreed as to whether the blessing should be recited when seeing any building or specifically a synagogue. Today, the custom is to recite this blessing upon seeing a synagogue.

The full text of the blessing reads: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who sets the boundary of the widow."

6. The Blessing of the Wise One of Secrets

The blessing of the "Wise One of Secrets" is recited when one sees 600,000 Jews gathered in one place.

The full text of the blessing is: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, the Wise One of secrets."

7. The Blessing of "Who Has Such in His World"

The blessing of "Who has such in His world," is recited when one encounters a very beautiful person or an animal or plant that is exceptionally beautiful and inspires wonder at its appearance.

The full text of the blessing is: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who has such in His world."

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8. The Blessing on Kings

The blessing on kings is recited when one sees a king. There are two versions of the blessing, one for seeing Jewish kings, and one for seeing non-Jewish kings. The blessing praises Hashem for the honor accorded to kings, which originates from Hashem's own honor, since He shares His honor with kings.

The full text of the blessing is:

For a Jewish king: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who has given of His glory to those who fear Him."

For a non-Jewish king: "Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Who has given of His glory to flesh and blood."

In our times, it is unclear if one should recite this blessing when he encounters Western monarchs who have symbolic status and are not absolute rulers who have the power to execute others. The accepted practice is to refrain from reciting the blessing, since when it comes to blessings, in cases of doubt, one should be lenient.

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9. The Blessing of "Blessed is He Who Has Exempted Me from His Punishment"

"Blessed is He Who has exempted me from his punishment" is a blessing recited by the father of a Bar Mitzvah boy when his son turns 13. The blessing does not mention God's name and is customarily recited immediately after the boy is called up to the Torah.

The full text of the blessing reads: "Blessed (are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe) Who has exempted me from the punishment of this one."

According to Jewish law, most Ashkenazim recite this blessing without God's name, as ruled by the Rema, though some recite it with God's name, according to the Vilna Gaon's opinion. Some Sephardim do not recite this blessing at all, while others have the custom to recite it without God's name, as ruled in Yabia Omer.

10. The Blessing for Newlyweds

The blessing for newlyweds, also called the marriage blessing, and more commonly known as the sheva brachot (Seven Blessings) are recited during the wedding ceremony and during the seven days of celebration that follow the wedding. The blessings are recited over a cup of wine.

The seven-day period after the wedding is known as the "seven days of feasting," and it is customary to hold a meal each day in honor of the bride and groom. Since these meals conclude with the recitation of the sheva brachot, it is customary to refer to the meals themselves by this name. The blessings are recited at the end of the meal, after the Grace After Meals.

The text of the blessings:

Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Creator of the fruit of the vine.

Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who created everything for His glory.

Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, Creator of humankind.

Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who created humankind in His image, in the image of His likeness, and prepared for them an everlasting building. Blessed are You, Hashem, Creator of humankind.

May the barren woman rejoice and be happy at the gathering of her children to her midst in joy. Blessed are You, Hashem, who makes Zion rejoice with her children.

Grant abundant joy to these loving companions, as You gave joy to Your creation in the Garden of Eden of old. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who brings joy to groom and bride.

Blessed are You, Hashem our God, King of the universe, who created joy and gladness, groom and bride, delight, song, mirth and cheer, love and harmony, peace and companionship. Soon, Hashem our God, may there be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, the sound of joy and the sound of gladness, the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, the jubilant voice of grooms from their wedding canopies, and of youths from their feasts of song. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who brings joy to the groom with the bride.

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11. The Blessing of Song

The "blessing of song" is recited after the Passover Seder following the recitation of Hallel. There are different opinions regarding the identity of this blessing, which began in the Amoraic period. Different Haggadahs follow different customs.

The full text of the blessing is: "May all Your works praise You, Hashem our God, and Your pious ones, the righteous who do Your will, and Your entire people, the House of Israel, will thank, bless, praise, glorify, exalt, revere, sanctify, and proclaim the sovereignty of Your Name, our King. For it is good to thank You and fitting to sing to Your Name, for from everlasting to everlasting, You are God. Blessed are You, Hashem, King Who is praised with hymns of praise."