Berachos 59b

ברכות נ״ט ע״ב

Berakhot 59b

Learn Berachos 59b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Berachos 59b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

ברכות on natural wonders, on rain, and the difference between שהחיינו and הטוב והמטיב

Overview

This amud continues the ברכות said on sights and events. First, a ברייתא teaches that one says עושה בראשית when the sun, moon, planets and constellations return to their positions from creation, and אביי explains that this happens every 28 years (ברכת החמה). The גמרא defines לפרקים in רבי יהודה's ruling about the sea as once in 30 days. It then rules that one says עושה בראשית on seeing the פרת and the דגלת at certain places, explains the names חדקל and פרת, and brings רבא's remarks about the people of מחוזא. Next, the גמרא asks how the משנה can give הטוב והמטיב for rain when רבי אבהו teaches a different rain blessing, מודים אנחנו לך, which ends רוב ההודאות / האל ההודאות. After rejecting a split between hearing and seeing rain, it answers that the blessing depends on how much rain fell, or on whether the person owns land. This leads to the key rule: a good thing that is yours alone gets שהחיינו, and a good thing shared with others gets הטוב והמטיב. Three challenges (a baby boy, an inheritance, and a new wine) are each answered by showing that someone else shares the good. Finally, רב הונא and רבי יוחנן disagree about whether someone who already owns something similar says a ברכה on new vessels.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. StatementBlessing on the heavenly bodies at their starting point
2. QuestionWhen does this happen?
3. Responseאביי: every 28 years
4. QuestionHow long is 'from time to time'?
5. ResponseThirty days
6. StatementBlessing on the Euphrates at the Babylonian bridge
7. StatementAfter the Persians changed the river
8. Statementרב יוסף gives a different starting point
9. StatementBlessing on the Tigris at the Shabistana bridge
10. QuestionWhat does the name חדקל mean?
11. ResponseIts waters are sharp and light
12. QuestionWhat does the name פרת mean?
13. ResponseIts waters are fruitful and multiply
14. Statementרבא explains three traits of the people of מחוזא
15. ChallengeIs the blessing over rain really הטוב והמטיב?
16. QuestionWhat is the wording of the rain blessing?
17. Responseרב יהודה: We thank You for every drop
18. Responseרבי יוחנן's ending of the blessing
19. ChallengeWhy 'most' thanks and not 'all' thanks?
20. Resolutionרבא changes the wording to 'the God of thanksgivings'
21. Conclusionרב פפא: Say both phrases
22. ChallengeThe contradiction about the rain blessing returns
23. ResolutionHearing about rain versus seeing rain
24. ChallengeHearing about rain is just good news
25. ResolutionA little rain versus a lot of rain
26. ResolutionOwning land versus not owning land
27. ChallengeA private gain gets שהחיינו, not הטוב והמטיב
28. ResolutionPartnership gets one blessing, sole ownership gets the other
29. ProofA ברייתא confirms the partnership rule
30. ChallengeChallenge from the birth of a baby boy
31. ResolutionThe wife shares the joy
32. ChallengeChallenge from an inheritance
33. ResolutionBrothers share the inheritance
34. ChallengeChallenge from switching to a new wine
35. ResolutionFriends at the meal share the new wine
36. StatementReturning to the case of a new house or vessels
37. StatementA similar possession removes the need to bless
38. StatementA similar possession does not remove the blessing