Halocho #720 - Thunder and lightning

When seeing lightning one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Oseh Ma'aseh Breishith" - "... Who makes the work of creation".

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה', א-לקינו מֶלֶךְ הָעוֹלָם

 עוֹשֶׂה מַעֲשֶׂה בְּרֵאשִׁית

This Bracha must be said immediately after seeing the lightning. Immediately is defined as the time needed to say 3 short words.

If one hears the thunder after saying the above mentioned Bracha, then, on the thunder one says the Bracha of "Baruch... Shekecho Ugvurato Maleh Olam" - "...for His strength and His power fill the universe".

ברוך אתה ה' א-לקינו מלך העולם
 שֶׁכּוֹחוֹ וּגְבוּרָתוֹ מָלֵא עוֹלָם

If the thunder boomed before one finishes saying the Bracha on the lightning, then it is included in the same Bracha, and one does not say a second Bracha on the thunder.

This Bracha must be said immediately after hearing the thunder. One can begin before the roll of the thunder ends.

These Brachot can only be said once per storm. The storm ends when the sky clears of clouds.

No Bracha is said on lightning that is caused by the heat and doesn't produce thunder (summer lightning).

Source: Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 60:2, 3

- Danny
Sunday, 4 Shvat 5771