Feature Tidbit Serious about Rain On Sukkot, rain is not considered a blessing; it is understood as a sign of G-d's disapproval - we prepare to perform the mitzva of Sukka and He, so to speak, rejects our offer by exempting us from the mitzva.Yet Sukkot is the time we are judged for rainfall, and many aspects of the Chag - the 4 Species, the mitzva of Aravot(which we commemorate on Hoshana Rabba), and the Temple mitzva of Water Libation - relate to the judgment for rainfall and are considered "non-verbal petitions" for rain. Then comes Shmini Atzeret and T'filat Geshem, with the commencement of Mashiv HaRu'ach U'Morid HaGashem, the pointed reference in every Amida to G-d's power as the Weather-Maker. Although Mashiv HaRu'ach is not in the form of a request, nor is it in the request portion of the Amida, it is considered to be an indirect requestfor rain. And then, two weeks later (in Eretz Yisrael - longer in Chutz LaAretz), we begin asking for rain in a direct manner. The Torah reading that immediately precedes our request for TAL U'MATAR is Parshat No'ach. (The 7th of Cheshvan always falls during the 6 days following No'ach.) With the predominant theme of the parsha being the Flood, we cannot fail to see the additional message. No'ach's generation were judged for rainfall. And the judgment was for a tremendous amount of rain. But it wasn't LIVRACHA. Nor L'CHAYIM, nor L'SOVA. It's still happening. We see it on the news. Floods in this place or that. Deaths, injuries, damage. The Mishna in Taanit gives us a timetable of when we start fasting in years when the rain does not fall "on time". The first date on the list is the 17th of Cheshvan. Only 10 days after we start TAL U'MATAR, and the Mishna says that if it has not yet rained by that date, individuals (not yet the community) would acceptupon themselves to fast on behalf of the community. The 17th of CHeshvan is mentioned in Parshat No'ach as the day the rains of the Mabul began. Can't be a coincidence. No rain is not good, but neither is the wrong kind of rain. We need the right kind, in the right amounts, at the right times. That's a lot to ask of G-d. So, at least, let's ask for all of that properly. And that's the point of this review. Hundreds of times, we will be calling G-d the MASHIV HARU'ACH... with its implied plea for rain. Hundreds of times, we will ask for TAL U'MATAR LIVRACHA. If we leave Tal U'Matar out of our Amida - even though we would be asking G-d to give us a Bracha - our Amida will be invalid andwe will have to repeat the entire Amida. Remember, as a child, ever saying, GIMME a cookie, or words to that effect? Remember being told by father or mother that it is not a nice way to ask for things. Please, may I have... is much better. The same goes for our davening in general, the Amida in particular. A rushed, kavana-lacking Mashiv HaRuach or V'tein Tal U'Matar is rude and smacks of insincerity. Why should G-d grant our requests if they are carelessly presented? We each have a challenge and a responsibility to daven well. We say BAREICH ALEINU, S'LACH LANU, SH'MA KOLEINU, etc. Bless US, forgive US, hear OUR voices - always in plural. A Jew who does not daven at all, and a Jew who does not daven properly, is falling short of his personal obligations to Torah and Mitzvot, AND isnot fulfilling his obligations to Klal Yisrael. A Jew is constantly challenged to improve himself and to help improve his society. Blessed rainfall is just one part of the deal G-d made with us. There are many wonderful things at stake. May we be blessed by a GISHMEI BRACHA and all good things. [The N'oach Homepage]
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