Bless you!

The Sages taught: One is forbidden to enjoy anything this world without reciting a blessing. And anyone who enjoys this world without a blessing, it is as if one is guilty of theft.

What should one do? Go to a Sage!

Go to a Sage? what will he do to him, after he has already violated a prohibition?

Rather, Rava said: One should go to a Sage initially, who will teach the blessings, so that one will not come to steal.

In our city of Baghdad, I have printed a very short version [of Birkat Hamazon] for those too lazy to learn Hebrew letters, so that at least they will say something instead of [the full] Birkat Hamazon. They say [in Aramaic]: Brich rachmana maran malka dealma marya dehai pita. Brich rachmana dezan lekola. This short version can be learned by heart as they get used to it.

(2) On comets, and on earthquakes, and on lightning and on thunder, and on storms say, “Blessed [be He] whose strength and might fill the world.” On mountains, and on hills, and on seas, and on rivers, and on deserts say, “Blessed [is He] who makes the works of the beginning.” R’ Yehuda says, “One who sees the great sea says, ‘Blessed [is He] who made the great sea,’ only if he sees it occasionally.” On rain and on good news say, “Blessed is He who is good and does good.” And on bad news say, “Blessed [are You] the true judge.”

(3) When one builds a new house, and acquires new vessels, he says, “Blessed [is He] that kept us alive [and sustained us and brought us to this time].” Bless upon the bad which contains good, and upon the good which contains bad.

If one was sitting in the bathroom [and heard thunder] - if it is possible to go out and say the blessing toch kedei dibbur, they should leave, otherwise not.

Rabbi Yirmiyah wondered: if one was sitting at home naked [and heard thunder], could they stick their head out the window, making the house into their garment, and say the blessing?

It happened that R. Shimon ben Gamliel was on the steps of the Temple and saw a beautiful female idol-worshipper. He said "How great are your creations, O God!". Rabbi Akiva also saw the wife of Tyranus Rufus the wicked - and spat, laughed, and wept. [...] he wept, because such beauty was to go to the grave. [...]

Why did they act like this? Because they were thankful, and it has been taught that on encountering any beautiful creature one says "Blessed is He, who has created such things in His world!"

And may one look [at such women]? It has been taught the opposite [...] rather, they met at the [street] corner.

(6) All blessings may be recited in any language, provided that the form instituted by the sages is followed. And if the form has been changed, the duty of reciting the blessing is discharged, since the name of God and His sovereignty as well as the subject matter of the blessing have been mentioned, even though in a foreign tongue.

One must explore further the case of those who push the plant known as tobac into a pipe and light it and inhale the smoke into their mouths and the exhale. It needs further consideration, as to whether it is similar to [food] that is tasted and then spat out, in which case no blessing is recited; or whether it is [more] similar to a fragrance, on which one should bless, and how much more so in this case, where one's entire body benefits. For many are satisfied by this as if they had eaten and drunk - and the matter certainly needs further consideration.