When to ask for Rain in the Southern Hemisphere
During the rainy season we add a request for rain in the Shemoneh Esrei, saying ותן טל ומטר לברכה. The request for rain is added into the blessing ברך עלינו, the blessing for Parnoso[1].
In Eretz Yisroel they begin requesting rain from the 7th of Cheshvan. This follows the view of Rabban Gamliel quoted in the Mishna[2]. Even though Eretz Yisroel requires rain immediately after Sukkos, we delay our request for rain for 15 days to allow the last person who had travelled to the Beis Hamikdosh to cross the Euphrates River before rain would make the roads impassable[3].
Even after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh we continue to delay the request for rain until the 7th of Marcheshvan as many Jews would continue to be Oleh L’regel in Yerushalayim even after the Churban[4].
Outside of Eretz Yisroel, in the exile (a reference to Bavel), they begin requesting rain from the 60th day after the Tekufah of Tishrei – the Autumn Equinox[5]. Bavel was a low-lying region and did not require rain until later. Earlier rainfall would damage the fruits and crops which were still out in the field. Based on the halachic calculation this falls on the eve of the 5th of December and the eve of the 6th of December in the year preceeding a secular leap year.
In both Bavel and Eretz Yisroel we conclude requesting rain at Mincha on Erev Pesach which marks the end of the winter months. After Pesach one may no longer request rain. If they did so in error, they are required to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei.
What about countries outside of Bavel and Eretz Yisroel who have different rainy seasons and different rainfall requirements?
The Rif and Rambam[6] only quote the dates listed in the Gemora. The Ramba”m writes that in Egypt and Syria they begin requesting rain from the 60th day from the Tekufah, following the Minhag of Bavel. Lechem Mishna explains that since the Gemora uses the generic term “the exile”, it refers to all countries outside of Eretz Yisroel.
In contrast, the Rosh asserts that the request for rain depends on the rainy season of each country or region. In his commentary on the Talmud[7], the Rosh questions why we follow the practise of Bavel in this matter, suggesting that lands who require rain earlier should be able to begin requesting rain from the 7th of Cheshvan. He notes that this was the practise of the communities in Province.
In a Teshuvah of the Rosh[8] he takes his argument a step further. The Teshuvah begins with an introduction written by his son;
In the year 5073 (1313) the land was in drought throughout the rainy season. On the first night of Pesach Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel (the Rosh) told his students that he had long been bothered why we should be bound by the custom of Bavel. Why in Ashkenaz, whose crops require rain until Shavuos, not continue to mention and request rain after Pesach? He instructed that the Chazzan continue to say משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם in all of the Yomtov prayers. A tumult ensued and in response, even though it was Chol Hamoed, the Rosh wrote his Teshuvah setting forth his position[9].
The Rosh writes that since his opinion was not accepted by the community, he deferred so as not to create divisions within the Kehillah.
The Shulchan Aruch[10] rules like the Ramba”m and Ri”f, that throughout Chutz Laaretz we begin requesting rain from the evening of the 60th day from the Tekufah.
However, the Rosh’s view is not discounted completely. The Shulchan Aruch adds[11] that if one lives in a country which requires rain in the summer and they mistakenly said ותן טל ומטר לברכה after Pesach, they do not need to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei. In this case we rely on the Rosh who would say that one had in fact davened correctly. If they wish to, they can daven a voluntary Shemoneh Esrei but are not obliged to do so[12]. This ruling is also echoed by the Levush, the Alter Rebbe and Mishna Berura.
This discussion is relevant in the Southern Hemisphere where from Pesach until Sukkos is our winter (rainy) season and from Shemini Atzeres until Pesach is our summer season.
There is a great deal of correspondence from the 1800s between communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina and the Gedolei Haposkim in Erope and Eretz Yisroel addressing how they should conduct themselves with regards to requesting rain in the Shemoneh Esrei[13].
Based on the above ruling of the Shulchan Aruch, the consensus of most Poskim[14] is that in Southern Hemisphere countries where rainfall in our summer months is not harmful – either to crops or to people’s health – we should request rain from the 60th day of the Tekufah until Pesach.
Even though it is not our rainy season, it is the rainy season for the majority of the (Jewish) world who live in the northern hemisphere and we are requesting for them. In our winter we do not request rain in ברך עלינו since it is after Pesach.
If rain in the summer is harmful, we would not request rain at all during our Shemoneh Esrei at any time during the year.
The leniency of the Shulchan Aruch which relies on the Rosh would apply in the Southern Hemisphere and if one mistakenly requested rain after Pesach, they would not be required to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei.
There is a minority view[15] that in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are completely inversed, we should request rain in ברך עלינו in our winter months from Pesach until Shemini Atzeres.
In a Sicha[16] on the topic, the Rebbe suggests that this view makes sense. However, he stresses that this is only as a theoretical Torah discussion. Once the Minhag has already been established especially when it has been observed for generations, we should not change so as not to make Machlokes. Whether we request rain or not and whether the Shemoneh Esrei is thereby invalidated is a case of doubt. Whereas avoiding Machlokes is expressly forbidden by the Torah “you should not be like Korach and his followers”.
It should be noted that anywhere in the world that requires rain or are experiencing drought between Pesach and Shemini Atzeres, they can (and should) request rain in the blessing שומע תפילה where one may add their personal requests.
__________________________________
[1] Brachos 33a
[2] Taanis 10a
[3] Mishna ibid according to Rashi
[4] See Shulchan Aruch Harav 117:1 in brackets quoting the Ra”n Taanis 2a.
[5] Taanis 10a
[6] Hilchos Tefillah 2:16
[7] Taanis Ch. 1 Siman 4
[8] Teshuvos Harosh Klal 4 Siman 10
[9] In the Teshuvah he quotes the Rambam Pirush Hamishnayos which seems to take the same stance.
[10] O.C. 117:1
[11] O.C. 117:2
[12] Ibid with Ram”o
[13] See Teshuvos Btzel Hachochma siman 85 who records the history of correspondence and the responses of Rabbi Shmuel Salant (Yerushalayim), Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Spektor (Kovno), Rabbi Nosson Adler (London) and others. See Hisvaduyos 5743 volume 1 p389 for a a comprehensive list of sources.
[14] Including modern day Poskim including the Minchas Yitzchok 6:171.
[15] Shevet halevi 1:2
[16] Hisvaduyos 5742 4:2119 and 5743 1:389
In Eretz Yisroel they begin requesting rain from the 7th of Cheshvan. This follows the view of Rabban Gamliel quoted in the Mishna[2]. Even though Eretz Yisroel requires rain immediately after Sukkos, we delay our request for rain for 15 days to allow the last person who had travelled to the Beis Hamikdosh to cross the Euphrates River before rain would make the roads impassable[3].
Even after the destruction of the Beis Hamikdosh we continue to delay the request for rain until the 7th of Marcheshvan as many Jews would continue to be Oleh L’regel in Yerushalayim even after the Churban[4].
Outside of Eretz Yisroel, in the exile (a reference to Bavel), they begin requesting rain from the 60th day after the Tekufah of Tishrei – the Autumn Equinox[5]. Bavel was a low-lying region and did not require rain until later. Earlier rainfall would damage the fruits and crops which were still out in the field. Based on the halachic calculation this falls on the eve of the 5th of December and the eve of the 6th of December in the year preceeding a secular leap year.
In both Bavel and Eretz Yisroel we conclude requesting rain at Mincha on Erev Pesach which marks the end of the winter months. After Pesach one may no longer request rain. If they did so in error, they are required to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei.
What about countries outside of Bavel and Eretz Yisroel who have different rainy seasons and different rainfall requirements?
The Rif and Rambam[6] only quote the dates listed in the Gemora. The Ramba”m writes that in Egypt and Syria they begin requesting rain from the 60th day from the Tekufah, following the Minhag of Bavel. Lechem Mishna explains that since the Gemora uses the generic term “the exile”, it refers to all countries outside of Eretz Yisroel.
In contrast, the Rosh asserts that the request for rain depends on the rainy season of each country or region. In his commentary on the Talmud[7], the Rosh questions why we follow the practise of Bavel in this matter, suggesting that lands who require rain earlier should be able to begin requesting rain from the 7th of Cheshvan. He notes that this was the practise of the communities in Province.
In a Teshuvah of the Rosh[8] he takes his argument a step further. The Teshuvah begins with an introduction written by his son;
In the year 5073 (1313) the land was in drought throughout the rainy season. On the first night of Pesach Rabbi Asher ben Yechiel (the Rosh) told his students that he had long been bothered why we should be bound by the custom of Bavel. Why in Ashkenaz, whose crops require rain until Shavuos, not continue to mention and request rain after Pesach? He instructed that the Chazzan continue to say משיב הרוח ומוריד הגשם in all of the Yomtov prayers. A tumult ensued and in response, even though it was Chol Hamoed, the Rosh wrote his Teshuvah setting forth his position[9].
The Rosh writes that since his opinion was not accepted by the community, he deferred so as not to create divisions within the Kehillah.
The Shulchan Aruch[10] rules like the Ramba”m and Ri”f, that throughout Chutz Laaretz we begin requesting rain from the evening of the 60th day from the Tekufah.
However, the Rosh’s view is not discounted completely. The Shulchan Aruch adds[11] that if one lives in a country which requires rain in the summer and they mistakenly said ותן טל ומטר לברכה after Pesach, they do not need to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei. In this case we rely on the Rosh who would say that one had in fact davened correctly. If they wish to, they can daven a voluntary Shemoneh Esrei but are not obliged to do so[12]. This ruling is also echoed by the Levush, the Alter Rebbe and Mishna Berura.
This discussion is relevant in the Southern Hemisphere where from Pesach until Sukkos is our winter (rainy) season and from Shemini Atzeres until Pesach is our summer season.
There is a great deal of correspondence from the 1800s between communities in Melbourne, Sydney, Brazil, Uruguay and Argentina and the Gedolei Haposkim in Erope and Eretz Yisroel addressing how they should conduct themselves with regards to requesting rain in the Shemoneh Esrei[13].
Based on the above ruling of the Shulchan Aruch, the consensus of most Poskim[14] is that in Southern Hemisphere countries where rainfall in our summer months is not harmful – either to crops or to people’s health – we should request rain from the 60th day of the Tekufah until Pesach.
Even though it is not our rainy season, it is the rainy season for the majority of the (Jewish) world who live in the northern hemisphere and we are requesting for them. In our winter we do not request rain in ברך עלינו since it is after Pesach.
If rain in the summer is harmful, we would not request rain at all during our Shemoneh Esrei at any time during the year.
The leniency of the Shulchan Aruch which relies on the Rosh would apply in the Southern Hemisphere and if one mistakenly requested rain after Pesach, they would not be required to repeat the Shemoneh Esrei.
There is a minority view[15] that in the Southern Hemisphere, where the seasons are completely inversed, we should request rain in ברך עלינו in our winter months from Pesach until Shemini Atzeres.
In a Sicha[16] on the topic, the Rebbe suggests that this view makes sense. However, he stresses that this is only as a theoretical Torah discussion. Once the Minhag has already been established especially when it has been observed for generations, we should not change so as not to make Machlokes. Whether we request rain or not and whether the Shemoneh Esrei is thereby invalidated is a case of doubt. Whereas avoiding Machlokes is expressly forbidden by the Torah “you should not be like Korach and his followers”.
It should be noted that anywhere in the world that requires rain or are experiencing drought between Pesach and Shemini Atzeres, they can (and should) request rain in the blessing שומע תפילה where one may add their personal requests.
__________________________________
[1] Brachos 33a
[2] Taanis 10a
[3] Mishna ibid according to Rashi
[4] See Shulchan Aruch Harav 117:1 in brackets quoting the Ra”n Taanis 2a.
[5] Taanis 10a
[6] Hilchos Tefillah 2:16
[7] Taanis Ch. 1 Siman 4
[8] Teshuvos Harosh Klal 4 Siman 10
[9] In the Teshuvah he quotes the Rambam Pirush Hamishnayos which seems to take the same stance.
[10] O.C. 117:1
[11] O.C. 117:2
[12] Ibid with Ram”o
[13] See Teshuvos Btzel Hachochma siman 85 who records the history of correspondence and the responses of Rabbi Shmuel Salant (Yerushalayim), Rabbi Yitzchok Elchonon Spektor (Kovno), Rabbi Nosson Adler (London) and others. See Hisvaduyos 5743 volume 1 p389 for a a comprehensive list of sources.
[14] Including modern day Poskim including the Minchas Yitzchok 6:171.
[15] Shevet halevi 1:2
[16] Hisvaduyos 5742 4:2119 and 5743 1:389