Yeshiva
Beit Midrash
- Torah Portion and Tanach
- Bereshit
- Noach
we began to ask for rain with the prayer Mashiv
HaRuach U'Morid haGashem. This Motzei Shabbat
(Oct. 21) which is 7 Cheshvan, we in Israel
insert an additional petition for rain - V'tayn
tal u'matar - in the Amida’s "Barech Aleynu"
bracha, where we ask for Hashem's sustenance,
which is linked to rain, which is much needed at
this time in Israel. Shmuel the Sage established
the Diaspora petition to begin on the 60th day
after the autumnal equinox (when rain was needed
in Babylonia), a solar figure which falls on
either Dec. 4 or 5. This remains the Diaspora
date, no matter where one resides in the
Diaspora. One who forgets this petition must say
the Amida over again. If in doubt, he must repeat
the Amida, unless he has said the phrase for 30
days (or repeated it 90 times!) to habituate
himself to saying it. An Israeli who began to say
V'tayn tal u'matar & then travels abroad,
continues to say it there, unless he acts as Chazan.
Rabbi Stewart Weiss
Was ordained at the Hebrew Theological College in Skokie, Illinois, and led congregations in Chicago and Dallas prior to making Aliyah in 1992. He directs the Jewish Outreach Center in Ra'anana, helping to facilitate the spiritual absorption of new olim.
Jewish Laws and Thoughts Shul “etiquette:” can we honor Hashem while respecting our fellow congregants?
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
fast navigation
