Q. Dear Rabbi.
If I don't see the lightning itself during a rainstorm, but only the room becomes illuminated by it. Do I make the bracha of Maase Bereshit? If at that time I can't say the bracha because my hands are unclean or I'm in the bathroom can I say it a bit latter?
Thanks
A. Tzitz Eliezer (12: 21) includes a Teshuvo written by Horav Tzvi Pesach Frank zt"l wherein he claims in the name of the Chasam Sofer, that you have to actually see the lightning flash to recite the brocho. A similar opinion is to be found in Birchas Hashem (4: 3). Tzitz Eliezer (ibid.) disagrees and so do Minchas Shlomo (2: 4: 34), Rivavos Ephraim (4: 121), Vezos Habrocho (p. 153), Emes Leyakov (227), Oz Nidb'ru (6: 23: 2) and others that maintain you do not have to see the actual flash.
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit"a opinion is similar.
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit"a.
Important Numbers
