Synagogues Across Israel Begin Reciting Traditional Prayers for Rain

Synagogues across the country began reciting prayers for rain on Saturday night, marking the traditional transition two weeks after the conclusion of the Tishrei holiday season.

Ashkenazi congregations add the brief phrase "V'ten tal umatar livracha" (Give dew and rain for a blessing) to their daily prayers, while Sephardic communities recite a significantly longer passage three times a day, asking for abundance, good crops, and protection from drought.

The two-week delay between the end of the holidays and the start of the rain prayers originates from ancient Temple times. Pilgrims who traveled to Jerusalem for Sukkot needed adequate time to return safely to their distant homes, including those traveling as far as Babylonia.