Blessings · The sky and nature
Do thunder and lightning have the same blessing?
No. Lightning and thunder each carry their own blessing. Over lightning we bless Hashem who makes the work of creation; over thunder, the One whose strength and power fill the world. When they come together, there is an order to follow.
Two blessings, two truths (Berachot 54a; Shulchan Aruch)
The Talmud, in Berachot 54a, gives lightning and thunder different words, because they show us different things. Over lightning we bless Hashem as the One who makes the work of creation — עושה מעשה בראשית. Over thunder we bless the One whose strength and power fill the world — שכוחו וגבורתו מלא עולם. The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 227) carries this into daily practice.
When they come together
A storm rarely sends them one at a time. When lightning and thunder arrive together, the tradition does not leave you guessing — there is an order to how the blessings are said, set out in the Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chaim 227). Because this is a live moment that depends on what you actually saw and heard, and how close together they fell, let the app guide the exact words as it happens, or ask your rabbi.
What to do
When you see lightning, bless Hashem who makes the work of creation. When you hear thunder, bless the One whose power fills the world. Say each blessing once for a given storm; you need not repeat it at every flash. If both come at once, follow the order the sources give — and if you are unsure in the moment, that is exactly when to lean on the app or your community's guidance.
Source: The Talmud, Berachot 54a; Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 227.
This is exactly the kind of moment Barkai (the blessings of the day; the sky and place tell you the moment) is made for — when the storm breaks, it can hand you the right words as they happen.
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