Q. On question 3437 regarding the proper bracha for seeing the sea when traveling by plane, you wrote: “Mishna Berura (2) debates and quotes opinions if the Yam Hagadol is indeed the Mediterranean Sea and is so named because of the importance of the Land of Israel, or as many Poskim maintain, it is the ‘Yam Okianus’ or what is named ‘Ocean,’ is what carries the name of The Great Sea, since it covers in its connections the whole world. That would be the Atlantic and Pacific oceans that also connect to the Mediterranean.
It would seem from Biur Halocho (ibid.), that it is better to recite ‘Ose Maase Bereishis,’ on all since after the fact you comply with that blessing all possibilities.”
You added that “Halichos Shlomo (H. Tefillah 23: 27) rules that If one said a brocho upon seeing one ocean and then sees another ocean, one should recite another bracha even if it’s within 30 days. Therefore, it is preferable to have in mind when seeing the Mediterranean, and reciting ‘Ose Maase Bereishis,’ since one knows that soon one will be gazing at the Atlantic Ocean, to have in mind the Atlantic and any other upcoming sea.”
I don’t understand, if the Atlantic Ocean is indeed a different sea from the Mediterranean, should not one have to say again the bracha when he crosses over Europe and reaches the Atlantic, after all it is a different sea from the Mediterranean?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that since both seas are interconnected they are not considered different oceans. Moreover, even if it is a different ocean, when traveling in the single span of a day from one to the other and having had in mind to recite the brocho on both, one does not have to repeat the blessing.
Rabbi A Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller, Horav Dovid Pam and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a