In the previous Halachot, we have discussed the basic Halachot of requesting dew and rain in the “Blessing of the Years.” We have likewise mentioned that if one has completed the Amida prayer and remembers that he has not requested rain, one must repeat the entire Amida prayer, for one is considered to have omitted a blessing from the Amida and thus not prayed at all. We shall now discuss the law regarding one who has completed the Amida and is unsure whether or not one requested rain in his prayer.
The Words of our Sages Regarding the “Routine of the Tongue”
Our Sages in the Talmud Yerushalmi (beginning of Masechet Ta’anit) teach us that when one is unsure whether or not he has requested rain in his prayer, until thirty days have passed, we must assume that he has not prayed properly. This means that until thirty days elapse from the day the change is implemented in the Amida prayer (the 7th of Cheshvan in Israel or the 4th/5th of December outside of Israel), we must assume that one prayed based on the “routine of his tongue,” i.e. the way he is accustomed to. Since one has not been accustomed to request rain in the prayer during the summer months, when in doubt, we must assume that he has indeed not done so and must repeat the Amida prayer again. The Poskim, as well Maran Ha’Shulchan Aruch (Chapter 114), rule likewise.
Indeed, this law quoted from the Yerushalmi is primarily cited with regards to mentioning “Mashiv Ha’Ruach” in “Ata Gibor” and not with regards to requesting rain in the “Blessing of the Years.” Nevertheless, the Poskim write that since there is no distinction between them, the same law applies to the requesting rain in the “Blessing of the Years.”
Does this Law Depend on “Thirty Days” or “Ninety Prayers”?
There is a disagreement among the Acharonim regarding the meaning of this law. Does it mean that after thirty days, one’s tongue becomes accustomed to the variation in the text of the prayer or does it mean that one becomes accustomed after ninety prayers (for there are three prayers a day). There is indeed a great halachic implication here, for the “Blessing of the Years” is not recited in the Amida prayer ninety times in thirty days, for rain is not mentioned on Shabbat at all. Based on this, we must discern the law of a person who is unsure whether or not he has requested rain in the Amida prayer at a time during which thirty days have elapsed from when the change was implemented but ninety prayers have not yet been recited. Must he repeat the Amida prayer or not? Similarly, if thirty days have elapsed since the change in the prayer has been implemented, but for whatever reason, the individual has not recited all of the prayers during the thirty days. Shall he repeat the Amida as a result of his doubt, for he has not recited all ninety prayers, or should he not repeat the prayer since thirty days have elapsed?
Halachically speaking, since this matter is subject to a disagreement among the Poskim, if an individual is unsure whether or not he has requested rain in the Amida prayer close to the 7th of Cheshvan (or the 4th/5th of December outside of Israel), it is proper to repeat the Amida prayer. Nevertheless, before beginning to pray, one should stipulate and say as follows: “If I am obligated to repeat the Amida, I am hereby repeating it. If I am not obligated to do so, this prayer should be considered a voluntary prayer.” By doing so, one avoids all concerns. The Sefer Halacha Berura (Chapter 114, Section 14) rules likewise.
Summary: If one is unsure whether or not one has requested rain in the Amida prayer, if this occurs within thirty days of the initial change in the prayer, one must repeat the Amida prayer, for we must assume that he did not request rain. If this occurs once thirty days have elapsed and one has already recited ninety prayers including a request for rain, one need not repeat the Amida prayer, for we can assume that he has already become accustomed to saying the change that has been implemented in the prayer. If this occurs once thirty days have elapsed but one has not yet recited ninety prayers including a request for rain, one must repeat the Amida prayer and make the aforementioned condition.
