* Translation by Yehoshua Siskin
Today’s date is the 7th of Cheshvan. Starting today, the Shemoneh Esrei (or Amidah prayer, recited three times daily) will include a request for rain. Here are 3 facts about this date:
1. Today’s date had special meaning in ancient Israel. Our sages stipulated that prayers for rain could only commence on the 7th of Cheshvan out of consideration for those traveling home from Jerusalem since It was a mitzvah in those days to go on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem three times a year — on Pesach, Shavuot, and Sukkot. Praying for rain while the pilgrims were still on the road could have led to their encountering inclement weather. By delaying the prayer for rain, those who lived farthest from Jerusalem would have time to reach home before rain would make their journey wet and muddy.
2. Today we begin to pray for the blessing of rain so that the land will produce bountiful harvests. Yet rain also represents every sort of blessing that comes down from heaven, including a prosperous livelihood and every other success imaginable.
3. In the Ashkenazi Amidah, the summer prayer of “Give blessing upon the earth” changes to “Give dew and rain for a blessing upon the earth.” In the Sephardic Amidah, there is a request not only for rain, peace, and realization of our hopes, but for relief from every kind of trouble and misfortune. Furthermore, we pray not only for us, but for the entire world. You are all invited to take out a prayer book and contemplate at length the beautiful words of this request.
May we be privileged to receive actual rain and a “rain” of good news as well.
