The Rabbinate in Israel has called for a day of prayer and fasting to beseech the Almighty, blessed be He to send rain to Israel. Only 40% of the normal rainfall has come so far.
Today is the tenth of the Hebrew Month Tevet, which is normally a fast day to mourn the siege of Jerusalem by the Babylonians and the destruction of the First Temple.
I am fasting today, as are many others. Please pray today for rain for Israel, and please broadcast this message as best you can. Below is the prayer, in English. The Hebrew version can be found here:
“Af-Bri is designated as the name of the angel of rain; to thicken and to form clouds, to empty them and to cause rain.
Water with which to crown the valley’s vegetation may it not be withheld because of our unredeemed debt.
In the merit of the faithful Patriarchs protect the ones who pray for rain.
(Chazzan (if praying with a minyan) bends his knees at Blessed’; bows at ‘You; straightens up at ‘HASHEM)
Blessed are You, HASHEM, Shield of Abraham. (Cong. – Amen.)
You are eternally mighty, my Lord, the Resuscitator of the dead are You; abundantly able to save.
May He obligate [the Angel Af-Bri] to give us portions of the segregated rain (3), to soften the wasteland’s face when it is dry as rock.
With water You symbolized Your might in Scripture, to soothe with its drops those in whom was blown a soul, to keep alive the ones who recall the strengths of the rain.”
“Our God and the God of our forefathers:
Remember the Patriarch [Abraham], who was drawn behind You like water. You blessed him like a tree replanted alongside streams of water. You shielded him, You rescued him from fire and from water. You tested him when he sowed upon all waters.
Cong.- For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the one [Isaac] born with the tidings of, ‘Let some water be brought. ‘ You told his father to slaughter him – to spill his blood like, water. He too was scrupulous to pour his heart like water. He dug and discovered wells of water.
Cong.- For the sake of his righteousness, grant abundant water!
Remember the one [Jacob] who carried his staff
and crossed the Jordan’s water.
He dedicated his heart and rolled a stone
off the mouth of a well of water,
as when he was wrestled by an angel composed of fire and water.
Therefore You pledged to remain with him through fire and water.
Cong. – For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the one [Moses] drawn forth in a bulrush basket from the water. They said, ‘He drew water and provided the sheep with water.’ At the time Your treasured people thirsted for water, he struck the rock and out came water.
Cong.- For the sake of his righteousness, grant abundant water!
Remember the appointee [Aaron] over the Temple, who made five immersions in the water. He went to cleanse his hands through sanctification with water. He called out and sprinkled [blood bringing] purity as with water. He remained apart from a people of waterlike impetuosity.
Cong. – For his sake, do not hold water back!
Remember the twelve tribes You caused
to cross through the split waters,
for whom You sweetened the water’s bitter taste.
Their offspring whose blood was spilt for You like water.
Turn to us – for woes engulf our souls like water.
Cong. – For the sake of their righteousness, grant abundant water!
Chazzan:
For You are HASHEM, our God,
Who makes the wind blow and makes the rain descend.
Cong. then chazzan – For blessing and not for curse. (Cong. – Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan- For life and not for death.
(Cong. – Amen.)
Cong. then chazzan – For plenty and not for scarcity. (Cong. – Amen.)
The last time this happened was in 2010 when Israel was in grave danger of a terrible drought.
I did the same thing then I'm doing today...I fasted, broadcasted a message much like this one and prayed to G-d for mercy and for rain, along with a great many other people far more pious and holy than I am.
G-d in his mercy responded two days later by opening the Heavens and gifting Israel with torrents of rain. May He be equally disposed to treat Israel with chesed, kindness on this occasion.
For those of you not of the Jewish persuasion, I'm sure a moment of prayer for rain for Israel today in whatever language you feel is appropriate would have much merit and help a great deal.
Please feel free tospread this one around
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