Posted on 10/13/21
Today, in Eretz Yisrael, it begins. On the seventh of Cheshvan, we begin to pray for rain. In the Amidah prayer, the focal point of the prayer service. Ashkenazim add the words "bestow dew and rain for blessing." How fitting to say these words precisely when rains of blessing have begun to fall in our land. And in the Sephardic community, starting from today, the added words are entirely about abundance. Not only is rain requested, but peace and hope and all-encompassing blessing, as well as deliverance from every type of misfortune and catastrophic circumstance. (Today, in the wake of the pandemic, we understand the importance of such deliverance.) And not only for ourselves do we pray, but for the whole world. Take a moment to read these beautiful words:
"Bless for us, Lord our God, this year, and every type of its produce for good, and provide dew and rain for blessing over the entire face of the land and quench the face of the earth, and satiate the entire world with Your goodness, and fill our hands with Your blessings, with the wealth of the gifts of Your hands. Protect and save this year from any bad thing, and any kind of destruction, and any kind of retribution, and make it a year of hope that ends in peace. Have compassion and mercy upon this year and upon all of its produce and fruits, and bless it with rains of goodwill, blessing and benevolence, and let its end be with life and satiety and peace, like all the good years of blessing, for You are a good and benevolent God and You bless the years. Blessed are You Lord, Who blesses the years."
Amen.