Halacha Orach Chaim 231

A person should try and avoid sleeping during the daytime hours. If necessary one can sleep what the Gemara qualifies as the length of a nap taken by a horse. There is a difference of opinion how this is translated in practice. The Biyur Halacha in Simun 4 brings three opinions. They are: three hours, half hour and three minutes.

It is prudent that one concentrate all action for the sake of heaven. This includes all pleasurable physical activities and deeds. With this attitude one can sanctify the mundane, which, essentially is our primary obligation.

When eating and drinking, one should focus one doing this to have strength for serving Hashem. When engaging in earning a livelihood, the intent should be to support ones family and to have money to give to charity. When relaxing, one should concentrate on regrouping in order to improve on the service of Hashem.

When talking with Torah leaders, one should not view himself as an honorable individual; rather the intent should be to learn from their actions. Someone that does not do this is essentially making the sanctified mundane rather than making the mundane holy. Just as it is easy to do mundane activities with the wrong intentions, it is easy to do Mitzvos and learn Torah with the wrong intentions.

One should not desire children for honor; rather the desire should be to have children so they can serve Hashem. Even when discussing mundane matters, one should try and bring sanctity to it, by intending to bring joy to others, or to strengthen the service of Hashem through it.

In Simun 155 we touched upon the discussion regarding the obligation to support oneself in comparison to spending time learning uninterrupted. The primary goal is that all our actions should be for the sake of heaven.

Halacha Orach Chaim 230

A person can and should pray for success in all areas of life. However, one should not pray for something that is dependent on a miracle to occur. For example, if someone hears cries coming from within a city, a prayer that the cries should not be coming from ones family and home is considered a prayer in vain. The reason for this is because whatever happened already took place, and one should not pray for miracles.

It would be appropriate to pray that peace and harmony should prevail in one’s home at a time that there is no known danger. When returning home from a trip it is prudent to offer thanks on a safe return.
When engaging in business, one should pray that the business deal should be successful. One should not pray for success in a business engagement after the deal has begun. At that point one should give thanks for the success that has been had from the business deal.

Before going in for medical treatment one should pray that the treatment should be effective and successful. Upon the completion of a medical treatment one should thank Hashem for the success. According to the Taz, and perhaps the Bais Yosef, this Bracha can be said with the Shem Umalchus, however the Mishna Berura says that he has not seen this done.

Upon seeing a rainbow, one should recite the Bracha Zocher Habris Vneeman Babriso Vkayam Bmaamaro. The Mechaber writes that one should not stare at it.

In addition, the Mishna Berura writes that if someone sees a rainbow, he should not tell other, rather he should privately recite the proper Bracha. The reason for this is that a rainbow is a sign that Hashem in not satisfied with the world, and if not for the covenant that was made with Noach, the world would be in danger of destruction. By telling others, we are publicizing this bad omen.

There is no limit to the amount of times this Bracha can be recited.

The Mechaber teaches us the Halachos of Birchas Hachamah here as well. Birchas Hachamah takes place once every 28 years when the sun is in the exact location it was in at the time the world was created. This Mitzva was done this past Pesach.

Halacha Orach Chaim 228

When one sees wondrous mountains rivers or deserts, a Bracha of Oseh Maaseh Beraishis should be recited. These Brachos are only recited upon seeing a natural phenomenon that is uncommon. Reb Shlomo Zalman rules that someone who lives near one of these natural phenomena, and they have become commonplace for him, should not recite this Bracha.

Upon seeing The Yam Hagadol, one is to recite a Bracha of Oseh Yam Hagadol. There is a disagreement what exactly the Yam Hagadol is.

According to the Mechaber, the Bracha is recited on seeing the Mediterranean sea. According to other Poskim, the Bracha is recited upon seeing the great oceans that surround the world. Dayan Fisher follows this second opinion. However, he adds that when reciting the Bracha of Oseh Maaseh Beraishis on the Mediterranean sea, one should make a point of adding the phrase Oseh Yam Hagadol upon completion of the Bracha.