Seeing the Sea

Question: I live in Yerushalayim and I have not seen the sea in over thirty days. I am going to Netanya and will see the sea. What beracha should I say?

Answer: The Mishna (Berachos 54a) teaches that upon seeing the ocean one recites the beracha, ..oseh maase bereishis. When one sees the ‘yam hagadol’, one should recite ..oseh hayam hagadol instead.

The Shulchan Aruch (OC 228:1) writes that ‘yam hagadol’ refers to the Mediterranean. The Mishna Berura (228:2) explains that the Mediterranean is considered great due to its proximity to Eretz Yisrael.

However, the Rosh (Teshuvos 4:4) writes that ‘yam hagadol’ refers to the Atlantic Ocean. The Mishna Berura (ibid.; Shaar Hatziyun 262:2) quotes the Rosh, among other acharonim, and writes, therefore, that one says oseh hayam hagadol upon seeing the Atlantic Ocean (or Pacific Ocean, etc.).

Nonetheless, the Aruch Hashulchan (OC 228:4) and Kaf Hachaim (OC 228:5) write that due to the safek as to which sea is the yam hagadol, one should only ever recite oseh maase bereishis, regardless as to which sea one sees.

R’ Yitzchak Yaakov Weiss (Minchas Yitzchak 1:11) writes that one says oseh hayam hagadol upon seeing the Atlantic Ocean. Upon seeing the Mediterranean, one could say ..oseh maaseh bereishis and then add the words sheasa es hayam hagadol, thereby following the Shulchan Aruch, too (see Halichos Shlomo, Tefilla 23:29).

In conclusion, upon seeing the Mediterranean Sea, one could say ..oseh maaseh bereishis and then add the words sheasa es hayam hagadol.