The Mishnah on Fasting and Praying for Rain

1:1. From what time do we mention the Power of Rain [in the second blessing of the Prayer]?

R. Eliezer says: From the first festival day of the Festival [Sukkot].

R. Joshua says: From the last festival day of the Festival.

R. Joshua said to him: Since rain is only the sign of a curse during the Festival, why should one mention it [then]?

R. Eliezer said to him: Even I did not say to request rainfall [during the Festival], only to mention “Who who causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall” in its proper season.

He [R. Joshua] replied to him [R. Eliezer]: If that is the case, then one should mention it at all times!

2. We only request rainfall near the rainy season.

R. Judah said: [With respect to] the one who passes before the ark [to lead the Prayer] on the last day of the the Festival: the last [to lead the Prayer] mentions it; the first does not mention it.

On the first day of Passover, the first mentions it; the last does not mention it.

Until when do we request rainfall?

R. Judah says: Until Passover has passed.

R. Meir says: Until [the month of] Nisan is over, as it says: He makes the rain fall for you as formerly, the early rain and the late (Joel 2:23).

3. On the third day of [the month of] Marheshvan we request rainfall.

Rabban Gamaliel says: On the seventh day, fifteen days after [the end of] the Festival, so that the stragglers among Israel may arrive at the Euphrates [without getting inundated by rain]. [ . . . ]

2:1. What is the order of fast days?

We bring out the ark into the town square and put ashes on the ark and on the heads of the patriarch and the head of the court. And everyone puts ashes upon their own heads, and the oldest among them says before them words of admonition:

“My brothers! It was not said about the people of Nineveh, ‘God saw their sackcloth and their fasting’; rather, God saw their deeds, that they turned back from their evil ways (Jonah 3:10), and in the tradition it is written: Rend your hearts and not your garments! (Joel 2:13).”

2. [When] they stood in prayer, they would bring before the ark [to lead the congregation in prayer] an elder who was fluent [in prayer], who had chidren and whose home was empty [of sustenance], so that he would pray wholeheartedly. And he would recite before them twenty-four blessings: the daily eighteen blessings, to which he would add six.

3. And these are: Remembrances [zikhronot], Shofars [shofarot], In my distress I called to Adonai, who answered me (Psalm 120), I turn my eyes to the mountains (Psalm 121), Out of the depths I call to You, O Adonai (Psalm 130), A prayer of the lowly man when he is faint (Psalm 102).

R. Judah says: There was no need to recite Remembrances and Shofars; rather, he recites in their place: If there is a famine in the land, if there is pestilence (1 Kings 8:37) and The word of Adonai that came to Jeremiah concerning the droughts (Jeremiah 14:1), and he recites their perorations [concluding blessings; lit., seals].

4. Over the first [of these] he recites [as the concluding blessing]: May the one who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who redeems Israel.

Over the second he recites: May the one who answered our ancestors at the Reed Sea answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who calls to mind that which is forgotten.

Over the third he recites: May the one who answered Joshua at Gilgal answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who hearkens to blasts.

Over the fourth he recites: May the one who answered Samuel at Mizpeh answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who hearkens to cries.

Over the fifth he recites: May the one who answered Elijah on Mount Carmel answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who hearkens to prayer.

Over the sixth he recites: May the one who answered Jonah from the belly of the fish answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who responds in a time of distress.

Over the seventh he recites: May the one who answered David and Solomon his son in Jerusalem answer you and hearken to the sound of your cries this day! Praised be You, Adonai, who has compassion for the land.