[Avodah] Saturday evening begin Prayer for Rain

[Ari Meir Brodsky]

Dear Friends,

It's that time of year again, when I know many of you are expecting my
annual friendly reminder....

Jews outside of Israel should include the request for rain in daily
prayers, beginning with Maariv this motzei Shabbat (Saturday evening),
December 5, 2020, corresponding to the evening of 20 Kislev, 5781.  The
phrase *ותן טל ומטר לברכה* "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.  [Sephardim replace the entire
blessing of ברכנו with the alternate text beginning ברך עלינו - thanks to
Prof. Lasker for the reminder.]  I encourage everyone to remind friends and
family members of this event, especially those who may not be in shul at
that time.

Diaspora Jews begin requesting rain on the 60th day of the fall season, as
approximated by Shmuel in the Talmud (Taanit 10a, Eiruvin 56a). This year,
the calculated beginning date falls on Shabbat, so that the request for
rain, which is part of the weekday prayers only, begins after Shabbat.  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 discussion on why we begin praying for rain when we
do:
https://www.lookstein.org/professional-dev/veten-tal-u-matar/
(Thanks to Russell Levy for suggesting the article.)

In unrelated news:
If you're wondering why Yaakov sent Eisav 220 goats in this week's parasha,
follow this link for an explanation using some number theory:
http://cheshbon.weeklyshtikle.com/2010/11/goats-and-amicable-numbers.html

Wishing everyone a happy Chanukka (which will begin on a Thursday evening
this year, for the first time in 20 years).
Stay healthy!
-Ari

---------------------
Dr. Ari M. Brodsky
Lecturer, Mathematics Department
Shamoon College of Engineering
Be'er Sheva, ISRAEL

ד"ר אריה מאיר בראדסקי
מרצה, היחידה למתמטיקה
המכללה האקדמית להנדסה ע"ש סמי שמעון
באר שבע
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