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1)Upon seeing/feeling uncommonly strong winds, on feeling an earthquake, upon seeing a shooting star or a Meteoroid the Bracha of "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Oseh Ma'aseh Bereishis" is recited. (See Mishna Berura Siman 227:4) 2) Upon seeing lightning [that is part of a rainstorm, as opposed to lightning that happens in a heat storm] the following Bracha is recited: "Baruch Ata Hashem Elokeinu Melech HaOlam Oseh Ma'aseh Bereishis". (Shulchan Aruch Siman 227 and Mishna Berura S"K 3. See Shu"t Shevet Haleivi Vol. 10 Siman 48 for more about lightning during heat storms.) The actual lightning bolt needn't be seen, even if the light produced by the bolt is seen it suffices to necessitate the recital of the Bracha.
Likewise, if one is in a dark room and sees the room get illuminated due to the lightning, even if no actual part of the bolt was seen, a Bracha can be recited. However, if one didn't see anything and was just informed that there is lightning, no Bracha is recited. (See Shu"t Tzitz Eliezer Vol. 12 Siman 21, Shu"t Minchas Shlomo Vol. 2 Siman 4:34 and Shu"t Az Nidberu Vol. 10 Siman 23)
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QUESTION & ANSWER CORNER:
Reader Submitted Questions of interest on topics related to Halachos we covered, as well as other interesting topic and Answers. Taken from the Q & A pages on the Halacha For Todaywebsite.
Although the answers I give to questions are taken directly from the Sifrei HaPoskim, and aren't my own, they are still for study purposes only, NOT for Psak Halacha.
Firstly, regarding "Al Hanisim" in middle of birkas hamazon- whats that small tefillah that one puts in in case he forgets to say it and reminds himself before "Harachamon"?
Second of all, just last night, after candle lighting,I decided that instead of just wasting my time by the candles with shmoozing, i will use my precious time to say "Perek Shira" As i was in middle of saying it, some of my family members claimed that one is not permitted to say it at night, since it entails lots of pesukim from Tehillim.
I always knew that Perek Shira one can say any hour of the day/ night. is that not correct?
Also, if you can provide any insight as to why one cannot say Tehillim at night I would greatly appreciate it.
Answer:
1) The accepted Nusach to say is "HaRachaman Hu Yaaseh Lanu nisim V'Niflaos K'mo SheAsisa L'Avoseinu Bayamin Hahem BaZman HaZeh. BiMei MaTisyahu...." (see Bais Yosef Siman 187 and Siman 682. See also Ram'a Siman 187:4 for a slightly different Nusach)
2) I commend you for spending the time after Hadlokas neiros doing something meaningful. The subject of saying Tehilim/ pesukim at night is a fascinatiing one, and there are many different opinions about this. If Tehilim is prohibited at night, it would only because of its status as "Torah Sh'Biksav", and not intrinsically because it is Tehilim.
I will list a few of the many Mekoros for this:
*The Be'er Heitev on Orach Chaim Siman 238 quotes the Arizal who says that one shouldn't study "Mikrah- Torah sheBiksav" by night. The Seforim say that the aforementioned Arizal does not apply to Thursday Night/Friday mornings.
* The reason for this is obviously Kabalistic (See the Artzos HaChaim (Malbim) Siman 1:36. See also Yesod V'Shoresh H'Avodah Sha'ar 6;HaNitzutz Perek 2 ) .
* In Shu"t Cham Sha'al Vol. 2 Siman 25 he quotes the great Mekubal Rav Shalom Sharabi (Rashash) who maintained that Tehilim was excluded from the above prohibition, and may be said at night. In fact, he says that Dovid Hamelech composed and wrote the Tehilim at night! (Another reason is because Hashem gave Tehilim a status like "NeGaim and AHalos", which basically gives it a status of "Torah Sh'Ba'al Peh", which is permitted anytime.)
* If the Tehilim is being said for the Refuah Shelaima of a Choleh it can surely be said at night. (Psak of Debreciner Rav in Be'er Moshe Vol. 4 Siman 22, Eishel Avraham (Butchatch) Orach Chaim Siman 306, and other Poskim)
* If the Pesukim are learned with a Pirush (commentary such as Rashi) then it is not a problem at all and has a status like oral Torah, which of course can be learned at night. (Shu't Levushei Mordechai Siman 186 and others)
Perek Shirah would be OK to say at night for two reasons: 1) Most of the Pesukim are indeed from Tehillim, which we learned is permitted. 2) The Perek Shirah in its entirety is a "Beraisa" which teacheds us which Pesukim each part of creation recites in praise to Hashem, so in essence it probably has a status of "Torah Sh'Ba'al Peh", no different than learning a Gemara that quotes Pesukim in it..
Our holy sages, the Chazal tell us
תנא דבי אליהו כל השונה הלכות בכל יום מובטח לו שהוא בן עולם הבא, שנאמר הליכות עולם לו, אל תקרי הליכות אלא הלכות - one who studies [at least two] Halachos daily is assured a portion in Olam Haba - the world to come. (:מגילה כ"ח )
Important Numbers
