Tal Umatar Reminder - Begin Tonight - Thursday night at Maariv

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Don’t Forget.... we begin saying Vtein Tal Umatar Tonight - Thursday Night 12/4/25 at Maariv!

Vsein Tal Umatar

Starting Thursday Night! V’tein Tal Umatar

Halacha Corner:  Beginning Tonight - THURSDAY NIGHT - DECEMBER 4, 2025 at MAARIV we begin saying “V’tein Tal U’Matar Livracha” in the Maariv Shmoneh Esre.  (They already say this in Israel) This year we begin “Tal Umatar” this Thursday night  December 4th at Maariv. 1) In the Bracha of “Barech Aleinu” in Shemona Esrei, the Bracha where we request Parnassah from Hashem, in the winter months we insert the words “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha, [Hashem please] Give us dew and rain for blessing [i.e. in its right time and in abundant supply]“, in place of “V’tein Bracha, [Hashem please] give us [abundant] blessing, that is recited in the summer months.” (See Mishna Berura Siman 114:14) 2) In Eretz Yisroel [and its surrounding cities] “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” is inserted [instead of V'tein Bracha] beginning on the seventh day of the month of Cheshvan, whereas in Chutz L’Aretz it isn’t said until sixty days after the Tekufah of Tishrei (The halachically calculated autumn equinox), which according to the current way of calculating falls out on December 4 th (or 5th when by a secular leap year). (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 117:1. According to the Abudreham, When February has 28 days we start on December 4 and when February has 29 days we start on December 5) V’tein Tal U’Matar is said until Erev Pesach. On Motzaei Yom Tov of the first days of Pesach, we begin saying “V’tein Bracha”. 1) If one omitted “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” during the winter months, and they remembered while still in middle of the Bracha of “Bareich Aleinu”, before saying the name of Hashem at the end, they go back and say “V’tein tal U’Matar L’Vracha” and continue from there. 2) If the name of Hashem was already recited at the end of the Bracha , do not go back, rather finish the Bracha ad continue Shemona Esrei and add in “V’tein Tal U’matar L’Vracha” during the Bracha of “Shma Koleinu”. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 117:5. See Kitzur Shulchan Aruch Siman 19:6 and Kaf HaChaim Siman 117:37 that just the 4 words “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” are added and no further text. However, Aruch HaShulchan Siman 117:6 seems to say, according to some interpretations, that some additional words are added, i.e. “Al Pnei Ha’adama…”, presumably to say a complete  thought.)This is done in the same place Anenu is added on a fast day before "Ki Ata". 1) If the Bracha of Shma Koleinu was finished and there too “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” was omitted, if the Bracha of “Retzei” was not yet started, “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” can be said right then and there. (Shulchan Aruch Siman 117:5) 2) If one already began “Retzei”, as long as one is still in middle of Shemona Esrei (i.e. did not say the second “YihYu L’Ratzon in Elokai Netzor for those who say it twice. See Mishna Berura Siman 117:18), he/she should go back to the beginning of the Bracha of “Bareich Aleinu” and say from there until the end of Shemona Esrei again, and this time remember to say “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha”. If one already finished the entire Shemona Esrei, he/she needs to repeat the entire Shemona Esrei from the beginning. 1) If during the time period that “V’tein Tal U’Matar” was supposed to be said, one can’t recall if he/she remembered to say it, if it is in within the first thirty days of when it was added to the Tefilah, we assume that one was still used to the old text of “V’tein Bracha” and thus did not remember to add “V’tein Tal U’Matar”, and therefore must follow the guidelines outlined in Halachos regarding repeating the Shemona Esrei. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 114:8 and Mishna Berura S”K 37) 2) The same thirty day rule applies to after Pesach when “V’tein Bracha” is supposed to be added, and one cannot recall if he/she remembered to say it or inadvertently kept saying “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” as was etched in their brain for the past few months.   1) After thirty days of saying “V’tein Tal U’Matar” in the winter, (Or practicing it 100 times)or saying “V’tein Bracha” in the summer (Or practicing it 100 times) we assume that one’s brain is already used to saying the proper text. Thus, if after this time period one doesn’t remember if the proper text was said, we assume that indeed it was and we do not require him/her to repeat Shemona Esrei. 2) The magical “thirty days” is not so much due to its being a month, rather it is due to having ninety Tefilos prayed in that period, and once something is said or done ninety times, it becomes “second nature”.(In fact,  something that is done, or not done, for ninety days, is scientifically proven to become easier to maintain. This is true for breaking addictions as well as for changing other human habits etc.) (See Mishna Berura Siman 114:37) 1) Based on the “ninety days” logic another halachically acceptable option to “train” the brain to say “V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha” in the winter or to say “V’tein Bracha” in the summer, is to practice and say 100 times in succession the entire segment of the Bracha, “…V’et Kol Minei tevuAtah L’Tovah, V’tein Tal U’Matar L’Vracha (or “V’Sein Bracha” in the summer) Al Pnei Ha’adama” 2) Once this is done, anytime we are in doubt we can assume that it was said with the proper insertion. (See Shulchan Aruch Siman 114:9 and Mishna Berura S”K 39-44) 1) This method of reciting the words 100 times, applies to “Mashiv HaRuach U’Morid HaGeshem” as well. In fact, in many Yeshivos they have a minhag, dating back to pre-war Europe, to sing with a special tune the words “Mechayeh Meisim Atah Rav L’Hoshea, Mashiv HaRuach U’Morid HeGeshem Mechalkel Chaim…” 100 times on the day that Tefilat Geshem is recited, in order to ingrain in their brains to say it properly during Shemona Esrei and some do it on Simchat Torah during dancing. 2) All the Halachot regarding the guidelines of when to repeat Shemona Esrei when one omitted “V’tein Tal U’Matar”, “V’tein Bracha”, “Mashiv HaRuach”, Ya’aleh V’yavo” etc. apply equally to men and women.  ———————— Please take care of your 5786 membership,  and any outstanding yizkor pledges  or past due donations. 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