[Avodah] rain on Succot

[Saul Mashbaum]

RMBluke:
>>
Take a look at the Meiri and Ritva on Taanis 2b (where the Gemara
comments that rain on succos is a siman klala). They both say that it
refers to all of succos. Then they bring down the pshat of R'
Ephrayim(I believe) who says that it only refers to the first day.
>>
Indeed, the simple reading of the Rambam in Peirush HaMishnayot in
Succa, which says that rain "b'tchilat Succot" is a siman klala
indicates that the siman klala is restricted to the first day.
However, the Rambam himself in Perush HaMishnayot at the beginning of
Taanit indicates that the siman klala applies to the entire chag,
which is in fact stated in the mishna.
This stira in the Rambam himself is so puzzling that I was sorely
tempted to consider the possibility that there is an error in the
printed editions of the Rambam,and we should read "mitchilat Succot"
rather than "b'tchilat Succot". However, I consulted the new
translation from the original Arabic by R. Yosef Kapach, who also
gives "b'tchilat", so this possibility (never too plausible) can
safely be eliminated. (In general, I would venture to say that RYK's
translation is the one to consult on any question about  Peirush
HaMishnayot of the Rambam; the printed version is the work of various
translators, and the translations themselves, as well as the printed
texts of these translations, are not watertight).
RMBerger's suggestion that "the beginning of Succot" means only to
exclude Shmini Atzeret is tempting, under the circumstances, although
obviously strained. OTOH, even if we accept this explanation of the
Rambam,we still are left with R. Ephrayim, cited by RMBluke, who also
says that the siman klala is the first day. I am unclear as to wheter
this applies only to the first night, or the entire first day (this is
also true of the Rambam in PhM Sucaa - what exactly is "t'chilat
Succot"?)

In any event, since this question has halachic impact (regarding
starting to say "Mashiv haruach umorid hagashem") which has definitely
been decided in favor of the position that rain on all of Succot is a
siman klala (as is explicitly stated by the Mishna Brura in the
beginning of SA OC 114), it seems fair to say that the statement "rain
on succot is a siman klala only until midnight of the the first night"
is at best that of a minority position not accepted by the halacha.
Both RMBluke and I have cited the Rama OC 639 who also indicates that
the siman klala of rain is all of Succot.


Saul Mashbaum