Beginning with Maariv on Tuesday, December 5, 2023 v’tein tal u’matar livracha replaces v’tein bracha in the blessing of Bareich Aleinu in the Shemoneh Esrei.
This marks the transition from simply mentioning God’s power to bestow rain (which we do beginning on Shemini Atzeret) to actually asking Him for it.
We wanted to take the opportunity to review this beautiful tidbit about the interplay between individual and communal concerns, and between technical halacha and faith.
And as we think about this throwback tidbit in light of current events, we pray that the divine power we’ve been acknowledging since Shemini Atzeret will be expressed on behalf of our soldiers and the hostages held since then, as well as in abundant agricultural blessings.
