The Mishnah Berurah says the אוקינוס ים. The Vezois HaBerachah explains that this refers to both the Atlantic and the Pacific.
R’ Shlomah Zalman also rules that strictly speaking one should recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis”, however, if one wants to add “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol” he can. R’ Avigdor Nevenzahl (Yerushalayim B’Mo’adeho, Shavous pg. 214) brings that he saw R’ Shlomah Zalman do this.
What Berachah Should One Make on the Atlantic?
The sefer Sha’ar Ho’ayin (Perek 8, he’orah 12) brings from R’ Elyashiv and the Shevet HaLevi that one should recite “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol”, like we saw in the Mishnah Berurah and he brings that this is the minhag of many gedodim in America.
On the other hand, R’ Sroya Davlitsky (Zeh HaShulchan, 1:228) writes, since there is a machlokes, one should recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis”. This is also the opinion of Teshuvos V’Hanagos (3:228) and the Chayei Adam (Klal 63, 3) who writes that on all seas one should recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis” and doesn’t make any exceptions. This is also the opinion of the Aruch HaShulchan (228:4).
The Border of Gibraltar
When flying over the border of Gibraltar one can see both the Mediterranean and the Atlantic. According to R’ Sroya Davlitsky (Zeh HaShulchan 1:228) if one hasn’t recited the berachah “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis” in the last thirty days, who can recite on both of the seas together “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol”, as now according to all opinions at least on one of the two seas one should be reciting “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol”. This is also the opinion of R’ Nissim Karelitz (Sha’ar Ho’ayin pg. 266).
According to the Shu”t Betzel HaChochmah (2:17) one should still recite just “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis” as it’s a berachah which includes everything.
According to the Shu”t Minchas Yitzchok (1:110, 4) one should recite both berachos within toich kdei dibbur.
The Shu”t Divrei Yatziv (Orach Chaim 95) writes that one should recite both berachos.
Maaseh Rav
There is a story cited in Derech Sicha in Parshas Bereishis: R’ Chaim Walkin entered with another Yid into R’ Chaim Kanievsky, and he mentioned that this Yid was from Gibraltar. Suddenly, R’ Chaim got all excited. When they asked R’ Chaim what was so exciting, he said that there is a machlokes Achronim cited in the Mishnah Berurah over which sea we recite the berachah “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol”, and whether it is the Mediterranean or it is the Atlantic, therefore, we recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis” out of doubt. However, in Gibraltar one can see both seas, therefore, according to all opinions the berachah of “she’osah es HaYam HaGadol”, can be recited.
What Berachah Should Be Made on the Kinneret?
The Mor U’Ketziah (siman 228) writes that one should recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis”. The sefer Sha’ar Ho’ayin (pg. 84) brings from R’ Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg and R’ Moshe Sternbuch that one should recite “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis”. This was also the minhag of R Shlomah Zalman Auerbach.
They bring from R’ Elyashiv that since part of the Kinneret was widened by man after it was originally created and has not been around since the time of creation, just like the Mishnah berurah (228:5) brings that rivers that were dug and their routes were altered by man one doesn’t make a berachah, the same thing should be by the Kinneret. Therefore, unless one sees the entire Kinneret, he shouldn’t recite a berachah. However, the Sha’ar Ho’ayin points out, that if one sees the middle of the Kinneret, certainly that part hasn’t been changed, therefore, one can recite the berachah.
What About the Yam HaMelech [Dead Sea]?
Although the Dead Sea is one of the wonders of the world, it is unclear if it gets a berachah so one should not say “oiseh ma’aseh bereishis”. The reason for this is because it is apparent from Chazal that the Dead Sea did not exist since creation; rather, channels of water flowed to the area, resulting in the Dead Sea (see Shevet HaLevi 9:47). This is also the opinion of R’ Elyashiv (VeZois HaBerachah, Perek 17, pg. 155) and R’ Shlomah Zalman (Halichos Shlomah, Vol. 1, Perek 23, he’orah 43).
If one wants, he may recite the berachah without Shem U’Malchus.
However, the Chut Shoni (Shabbos, Vol. 3, pg. 229) takes on that one should make a berachah.
