[Avodah] Thursday Evening begin Prayer for Rain

[Ari Meir Brodsky]

Dear Friends,

	This is a friendly reminder to Jews outside of Israel that our daily
prayers should include the request for rain, beginning with Maariv this
Thursday evening, December 4, 2008, corresponding to the evening of 8
Kislev, 5769.  The phrase "Veten tal umatar livracha" - "Give us dew and
rain for a blessing" is inserted into the 9th blessing of the weekday
shemone esrei, from now until Pesach.  I encourage everyone to remind
friends and family members of this event, especially those who may not have
occasion to be in shul at that time.  I've already seen one calendar with
the wrong date listed this year, so please don't forget to start on Thursday
evening.

	We begin requesting rain in the Diaspora on the 60th day of the fall
season, as approximated by Shmuel in the Talmud (Taanit 10a, Eiruvin 56a).
For more information about this calculation, follow the link below, to a
fascinating article giving a (very brief) introduction to the Jewish
calendar, followed by a detailed discussion on why we begin praying for rain
when we do:  www.lookstein.org/articles/veten_tal.htm

Wishing everyone a happy Chanukka,
-Ari Brodsky.

-----------------------
Ari M. Brodsky
ari.brodsky at utoronto.ca