Prayer for Rain

“... IF THE CROPS HAVE UNDERGONE [AN UNUSUAL] CHANGE THE ALARM IS SOUNDED AT ONCE. THE SAME TOO IS DONE IF FORTY DAYS ELAPSED BETWEEN THE FIRST AND THE SECOND RAINFALL BECAUSE IT IS THEN A PLAGUE DUE TO DROUGHT.” Talmud Ta’anit 18b

“It is a commandment, for every Jewish community, when they are beset with trouble, God forbid, to fast and pray to God.” Kitzur Shulchan Aruch ch. 121.

“IT HAPPENED THAT THE PEOPLE SAID TO HONI THE CIRCLE DRAWER, PRAY FOR RAIN TO FALL. HE PRAYED AND NO RAIN FELL...WHAT DID HE DO? HE DREW A CIRCLE AND STOOD WITHIN IT AND EXCLAIMED, MASTER OF THE UNIVERSE, THY CHILDREN HAVE TURNED TO ME BECAUSE THEY BELIEVE ME TO BE AS A MEMBER OF THY HOUSEHOLD;.....RAIN THEN BEGAN.” Talmud Ta’anit 19a.

Three Blasts of the Shofar are sounded as alarm:

Leaders: We, the Mothers and Elders of Israel call upon HaShem to let the living waters come down. In the blessed name of the prophets Sarah, Rebeckah, Rachel, Leah, and Miriam we declare:

All: Rain Precious Rain, unto your land forlorn,
Pour out Your Blessings in Your Exultation,
To Strengthen us with ample wine and corn,
And give Your chosen city a safe foundation in rain!

Leaders: Rain, precious rain, the good years crown we wait,
That earth in pride and glory may be fruited,
And that the city once desolate
Into a gleaming crown be transmuted by Rain!

All: Rain, precious rain, let it fall upon the land,
From heaven’s treasury be this accorded,
So shall the darknes by beam be spanned,
The faithful of Your vineyard be rewarded with Rain!

Leaders: Rain, precious rain, to make the mountains sweet,
The savor of Your excellence recalling,
Deliver us from exile, we entreat,
So may we sing Your praises, softly falling as Rain!

All: Rain, precious rain, our grainaries to fill,
And us with youthful freshness to enharden,
Beloved God, uplift us at Your will
And make us as a richly watered garden with Rain!

Leaders: Rain, precious rain, that we our harvest reap,
And guard our fatted flocks and herds from leanness.
Behold the people follow You like sheep, (cont. next page)
And looks to You to give the earth her greenness with Rain!

All: You are the Lord our God who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.

For a blessing and not a curse! AMEN!
For life, not for death! AMEN!
For abundance, not famine! AMEN!

Three Blasts of the Shofar are sounded:


Leaders: We the Fathers and Elders of Israel, in the blessed name of the prophets, Abraham, Issac, Israel, Joseph, Aaron and Moses, beseech Ha Shem to let the waters of heaven descend!

All: Our God and God of the ancestors:

Leaders: Remember Abraham, his heart poured out to you like water.
You blessed him, as a tree planted near water;
You saved him when he went through fire and water.

All: For Abraham’s sake, do not withhold water!

Leaders: Remember Isaac, his birth foretold while angels drank cool water.
At Moriah his blood almost spilled like water;
In the desert he dug deep to find springs of water.

All: For Isaac’s sake, grant the gift of water!

Leaders: Remember Jacob, who with his staff forded Jordan’s water.
Gallantly he showed his love beside a well of water;
He struggled, victoriously, with a creature of fire and water.

All: For Jacob’s sake, do not withold water!

Leaders: Remember Moses, whose basket rocked in reeds and water.
In Midian he gave his sheep ample grass and water;
He struck the rock and the tribes drank sweet water.

All: For Moses’ sake, grant the gift of water!

Leaders: Remember Aaron the priest, and his ritual immersion in water.
On Yom Kippur he kept the rites of water;
He read from the Torah and bathed himself in water.

All: For Aaron’s sake, do not withold water!

Leaders: Remember Israel’s tribes; You brought them through water.
For their sake brakish marsh became sweet water;
Their descendants blood was spilled for you like water.

All: For all the people’s sake, GRANT THE GIFT OF WATER!!!

All: You are the Lord our God who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall.

For a blessing and not a curse! AMEN!
For life, not for death! AMEN!
For abundance, not famine! AMEN!

Three Blasts of the Shofar are sounded: