Berachot 58: Blessings on What We See and What We Do Not See

Our daf begins with reminders about blessings and curses in Babylonia and Samaria and how those affected the lands around those places.  We turn to a discussion of multitudes, which are defined by Ulla as no fewer than six hundred thousand people.  The rabbis speak about good guests who notice the energy and the expenditure of one's host rather than simply the expenditure.  And we are told the story of Rav Sheshet, who was blind but recognized when the king was approaching because of Eliahu the Prophet's words about G-d: "... but the Lord was not in the wind... but the Lord was not in the earthquake... but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a still small voice".  (I Kings 19:11-13).

The Gemara describes Rabbi Sheila, who acted as judge over a gentile man who was said to have had intercourse with either a Gentile woman or a donkey, either of which could have resulted in a death penalty, particularly regarding one who informs the Persian government about disrespectful behaviour by Jews.  Rav Sheila quotes several sources that refer to G-d's greatness and to averted or successful wars. 

In a discussion about blessings on seeing peaceful homes, we are told about Ulla and Rav Chisda walking and then Rav Chisda groaning and sighing when they reached Chana bar Chanilai.  He explained that he sighed because this house was in ruins.  It was the same house that once supported many many poor people with its sixty cooks in the day and sixty cooks in the night; with its four doors open in all directions so that people could take as needed any time of day; with Chana's hands in his pockets, ready to give to people even if they were embarrassed.  Ulla consoled him with Rabbi Yochanan's teachings about the people of Israel being sustained by the Holy One who will restore all of our comforts.  

If we see a friend after thirty days, we are to recite the shehecheyanu blessing, "...Who has given us life, sustained us and brought us to this time".  After twelve months, we say, "... Who revives the dead".  We learn that when we see people with unusually black, red, white skin or people who are tall and thin or warted or little people, we say "... Who makes creatures different".  When we see an amputee, a person who is blind, a flat-headed person, a lame person, or one with boils or spots, we say "Blessed... the true Judge".  The rabbis considered what has been true from the womb and what has been acquired.  On seeing a person, animal or tree that is exceptionally beautiful, we recite "... Who has such things in G-d's world".  This blessing is not repeated until one sees something/one more beautiful.

Our daf ends with a discussion about the constellation Ursa Major, Orion, and Pleiades . The rabbis consider what comprises Ursa Major, and Rabbi Yehuda answers that it is the star called Yota.  Yota may be made up of the groups of stars that make up the tail of Aries or the head of Taurus.