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Cheshvan: Blessing for the first rainfall

Question

Is there a special blessing we're supposed to say for the first rainfall?

Answer

Rabbi Netanel Oyerbach | 29 Tishrei 5786

Upon the first rainfall, when puddles form and it is possible to see raindrops falling in them, one should say the following blessing (without the opening of Baruch atah Hashem):

מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ, ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ וֵאלֹהֵי אֲבוֹתֵינוּ, עַל כָּל טִפָּה וְטִפָּה שֶׁהוֹרַדְתָּ לָנוּ. וְאִלּוּ פִינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה כַּיָּם, וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה כַּהֲמוֹן גַּלָּיו, וְשִׂפְתוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבַח כְּמֶרְחֲבֵי רָקִיעַ, וְעֵינֵינוּ מְאִירוֹת כַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְכַיָּרֵחַ, וְיָדֵינוּ פְּרוּשׂוֹת כְּנִשְׁרֵי שָׁמַיִם, וְרַגְלֵינוּ קַלּוֹת כְּאַיָּלוֹת – אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ, ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ, וּלְבָרֵךְ אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ, עַל אַחַת מֵאֶלֶף אֲלָפִים וְרֹב רִבֵּי רְבָבוֹת פְּעָמִים הַטּוֹבוֹת, נִּסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ וְעִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. מִלְּפָנִים מִמִּצְרַיִם גְּאַלְתָּנוּ, ה' אֱלֹהֵינוּ, מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים פְּדִיתָנוּ, בְּרָעָב זַנְתָּנוּ וּבְשֹׂבַע כִּלְכַּלְתָּנוּ, מֵחֶרֶב הִצַּלְתָּנוּ, מִדֶבֶר מִלַּטְתָּנוּ, וּמֵחֳלָיִם רָעִים וְרַבִּים דִּלִיתָנוּ. עַד הֵנָּה עֲזָרוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ וְלֹא עֲזָבוּנוּ חֲסָדֶיךָ. עַל כֵּן אֵבָרִים שֶׁפִּלַּגְתָּ בָּנוּ, וְרוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּפַחְתָּ בְּאַפֵּינוּ, וְלָשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתָּ בְּפִינוּ, הֵן הֵם יוֹדוּ וִיבָרְכוּ וִישַׁבְּחוּ וִיפָאֲרוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ תָּמִיד. בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' אֵל רֹב הַהוֹדָאוֹת.

We thank You, O Lord our God, for each and every drop that You have made fall for us!

 

If our mouths were as full of song as the sea,

and our tongue with jubilation as its myriad waves,

if our lips were full of praise like the spacious heavens,

and our eyes shone like the sun and moon,

if our hands were outstretched like eagles of the sky,

and our feet as swift as hinds –

still we could not thank You enough,

LORD our God and God of our ancestors,

or bless Your name

for even one of the thousand thousands

and myriad myriads of favors

You did for our ancestors and for us.

You redeemed us from Egypt, LORD our God,

and freed us from the house of bondage.

In famine You nourished us; in times of plenty You sustained us.

You delivered us from the sword, saved us from the plague,

and spared us from serious and lasting illness.

 

 

Until now Your mercies have helped us.

Your love has not forsaken us.

 Blessed are You, G-d, to Whom abundant thanksgivings are offered.

(Ta'anit 6b, Berachot 59b; Shulchan Aruch OC 221:2)

 

For the responsum in Hebrew, complete with sources, see here.