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<DIV>Tephilas Tal is done on the 1st day of Pessach while Geshem is done on
Shmini Atzeret. The common reason given for not doing Geshem on the 1st day of
yomtov is that we delay the reference to rain until after we have completed the
mitzvoh of Succah. I wonder if there may also be an astronomical reason as well.
Since the earth’s orbit is elliptical and the velocity of the planet varies with
the season. The result is that the “half year” from spring equinox through
summer to the fall equinox, is about 7-8 days longer than the “half year”
from the fall equinox through the winter back to the spring equinox. Thus it
would make sense that Geshem would be delayed by the week of yomtov while Tal
would not be. Of course the Rambam’s constant length for the tekuphot is
an average number – the same for all of them. Does anyone offer this
reasoning?</DIV>
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<DIV>Kol tuv</DIV>
<DIV>Chaim Manaster</DIV>
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