Sunset in Adelaide

Yesterday evening I left the Synagogue and beheld this magnificent sunset. It got me thinking, why is there no blessing on a beautiful sunset. We make a beracha on smelling a nice smell, like a rose. And this blessing could be made every day. So why not on a beautiful sunset every day?

We make blessings when seeing the ocean, the grand canyon and other magnificent creations of G-d.

Anyone have an answer?

Easter Island, Chile. I made a bracha upon seeing this rainbow.

According to the Torah the rainbow came into being after the flood of Noah. G-d showed Noah a rainbow and said, ‘In the future if I am upset at the world I will show a rainbow.’ It was a sign of the covenant G-d made with Noah that he would not destroy the world with a flood again. Thus, seeing a rainbow is not a good thing even though we make a blessing (bracha) on seeing it. Because it is not a good thing, one should not point the rainbow out a friend if they do see it.

I have a few questions on this:

1. There is probably a naturally occurring rainbow every second somewhere in the world and If not every second than at least every hour or day. Does this mean that G-d constantly wants to destroy the world?

2. Why does G-d show he’s upset with a rainbow - which is a beautiful thing to look at after all - why not make an ugly dark cloud in the sky or something similar? Seeing a rainbow is hardly a motivator to repent. Almost anyone is happy to see rainbow because it is pretty to look at.

3. One is not supposed to point out a rainbow to a friend even when this means that his friend will be able to make the special blessing when seeing a rainbow. What I want to understand: If the rainbow is to show us G-d being upset with us and serve as reminder to repent then why should we not point out the rainbow to friends?

My answer to these questions is just a thought and I have no Torah quote to base it on.
Firstly, if there is a rainbow always showing somewhere in the world it is illogical to say that G-d is always mad and wants to destroy the world. Secondly, G-d rules with purpose and meaning. Nothing is random.

The world was created for us man and thus everything in it needs to reflect onto us. G-d does not need to vent His anger here in the physical world. He can probably do it somewhere else. If He is venting, i.e., showing us the rainbow, than He obviously wants us to see it. Why? So we will repent. Now if seeing the rainbow will lead us to repentance than we return to one of the initial questions: why should we not point it out to friend who is near us so they can see it too and also repent?
Here is my possible answer:

Man is considered an ‘olam katan,’ a ‘small world.’ Granted that the first time when G-d showed Noah the rainbow he was saying that he would never again destroy the world with a flood. Perhaps G-d is showing that he upset and wants to destroy a ‘small world.’ Thus the individual seeing the rainbow needs to see it as a sign for himself that G-d is upset with him and he needs to repent. It is not for him to point out to a friend suggesting that his friend needs to repent.

Why the beautiful rainbow? Because, this shows G-d’s beauty that even when He is angry and upset He shows his love by making it beautiful. The individual who sees the rainbow knows that G-d is upset at him yet still loves him very much and thus in a nice way is showing that He is upset.

Further, a rainbow comes after it rains and rain is an act of kindness from G-d. We need the rain to make food grow. No rain, no food. So G-d sends us rain with the rainbow which are in direct contradiction to each other in meaning, to show that He loves us even at a time when He wants to say, ‘I want to destroy you.’ Thus, we can have thousands of rainbows occurring all over the world at the same time when they are for specific individuals to see.

Airplane Flying through Rainbow in Florida

Yesterday afternoon while driving we saw this rainbow. There is a special bracha which one makes when seeing a rainbow which is: “Barukh attah Adonai eloheinu melekh ha-olam, zokher haberit vene’eman bivrito v’kaiyam bema’amaro.” Blessed are You, Lord our G‑d, King of the universe, who remembers the covenant, and is faithful to His covenant, and keeps His promise.

This is where the iPhone came in handy, because it’s one of those brachos you’re always trying to remember when you see the rainbow but can’t. Thankfully we could see the bracha on the iPhone.

According to the Torah, the rainbow came into being after the flood of Noah. G-d showed Noah a rainbow and said in the future if I am upset at the world I will show a rainbow. Thus seeing a rainbow is not a good thing and one should not point it out to a friend if they do see it.

The Atlantic Ocean from Hollywood Beach Florida

Rebbetzin Rachel and I are now in Florida and it’s great to be by the ocean.

There is a special berachah/blessing that one makes when seeing the Atlantic Ocean for the first time in thirty days. The beracha is “Baruch at ado-nai elo-heinu melech haolam oseh (or She’asha) hayam hagadol.” Blessed….who made the great sea.

I believe that this blessing is not said when seeing the Pacific Ocean.

A blessing “oseh ma’aseh bereshis” is made when seeing the Mediterranean Ocean if one has not seen it in the last thirty days. According to some authorities, one should add the words “She’asa es hayam hagadol” immediately after saying “oseh ma’asheh bereshis.”

Now what happens when you are traveling between North America and Israel and will have the opportunity to view both the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean? You only make one berachah. If your flight originates in North America you will say the blessing “Oseh (she’asah) hayam hagadol,” and not make a beracha when seeing the Mediterranean Sea, since there are Rabbis who rule that the Mediterranean Sea is also called “yam hagadol,” the great sea.

If, however, your flight originates from Israel, you will have made the blessing “oseh ma’ase bereishis,” upon seeing the Mediterranean. You will then not make the beracha “oseh (she’asah) hayam hagadol” when seeing the Atlantic Ocean, because according to some Rabbi the correct Blessing to make on seeing the Atlantic Ocean is “oseh ma’aseh Bereishis,” and you already made it on the Mediterranean Sea.

Quinoa porridge is often served with breakfast at Eden Village Camp

The first time I learned about quinoa was in Bolivia. The locals would boil it, mix in some sugar, and drink it for breakfast. Some believed it was a sacred grain and had extraordinary powers.

The name ‘quinoa’ comes from its Inca name ‘kinwa.’ The Inca people referred to it as ‘chisya mama’ meaning ‘mother of all grains.’ It is a complete protein, which means it contains all 9 essential amino acids.  Plus, it’s full of antioxidants and fiber, plus a host of other vitamins.

I spent nearly five months traveling around Peru and Bolivia, and quinoa became part of my staple diet. Off course the question I had was, “What bracha do I make on quinoa?” Quinoa is not one of the five grains listed in the Talmud nor is it related to a semi grain like rice or millet. Quinoa’s closest edible relative is perhaps beets. Thus the bracha on quinoa is ha’adama when eaten whole and shehakol when ground up.

I bring up this quinoa issue now, because here at Eden Village it is often served as a hot cereal for breakfast. It is extremely nutritious and a great food to start the day with.