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Why do we start saying Mashiv HaRuach on Shemini Atzeres yet we do not say V'Sain Tal Umatar until Dec 4 / Dec 5 (In Chutz L'Aretz)? Why should they not be on the same day when they are similar Tefilos?

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This looks like two questions (why we start the one on the one day and why we start the other on the other day). Combining them into one question makes it seem like you have some reason for thinking the two events should be the same day: can you incorporate that reason into the question, please? – msh210♦ Dec 7 '11 at 15:42
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Why should they not be on the same day when they are similar Tefilos? – Gershon Gold Dec 7 '11 at 15:52
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I've taken the liberty of adding that to the question. Please edit further to represent better your intention. – msh210♦ Dec 7 '11 at 16:03
one is a praise, and the other is request – Menachem Dec 8 '11 at 2:46

1 Answer

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This question is, of course, the subject of a large part of the 1st Perek in Ta'anis. The reason we begin to mention Hashem's power of rain on Shemini Atzeres (Mashiv Haruach) is discussed in Ta'anis 2a-3a and is related to the Nisuch Hamayim in the Bais HaMikdash. The reasons we don't actually begin asking for rain then (V'Sain Tal Umatar)are:

  1. Rain on Sukkos is a sign of Hashem's anger (Chas VShalom) (Ta'anis 2a R' Yehoshua)
  2. We pray for rain only close to the rainy season (Ta'anis 2a anonymous mishna)
  3. To give time for people to get home from the Bais Hamikdash after Yom Tov (Ta'anis 10a Rabban Gamliel)

The specific date we begin saying V'Sain Tal U'matar in Chutz La'Aretz is given on Ta'anis 10a. Rashi explains that this is later than in Eretz Yisroel because in Bavel they didn't need the rain as much and also that that is when the rainy season begins in Bavel.

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