Community Magazine December 2009

The op 10 WHAT IS THE PURPOSE 1 OF BARECH ALENU? The text of the ninth blessing of the Amida prayer, in which we pray for a good livelihood and a fruitful year, changes with the seasons. In the spring and summer, we recite Barechenu , the shorter of the two texts, which speaks generally of prosperity and success. The lengthier Barech Alenu text, which contains prayers for abundant rainfall and produce, is recited in the autumn and winter months. WHEN DO WE BEGIN SAYING 2 BARECH ALENU? Generally speaking, communities in the Diaspora begin reciting Barech Alenu 17 days before the winter solstice which generally falls on the night of December 4 th , during the arbit prayer. In 2009, December 4 th falls on Shabbat, when we do not recite the standard weekday amida prayer. We therefore begin reciting Barech Alenu this year on Mossa’ei Shabbat. In Israel, where the winter rains are more critical than in other regions, Barech Alenu is recited already from the 7 th of Heshvan. WHEN AND HOW SHOULD 3 CONGREGANTS BE REMINDED TO BEGIN RECITING THE BLESSING? After the kaddish preceding the amida of arbit on the night of December 4 th , the shammosh (synagogue attendant) should announce that Barech Alenu should now be recited. Of course, the congregation should recite Barech Alenu even if no announcement is made. IF ONE RECITES ARBIT BEFORE SUNSET 4 ON THE NIGHT OF DECEMBER 4TH, SHOULD HE RECITE BARECH ALENU? One recites Barech Alenu in arbit on the night of December 4 th regardless of when he recites arbit . WHICH TEXT IS RECITED WHILE VISITING 5 ISRAEL DURING THE INTERIM PERIOD? The poskim ( halachic authorities) debate the question of which text one recites if he visits Israel from abroad during the period in between 7 Heshvan and December 4 th . Some authorities maintain that a visitor to Israel recites Barechenu , as he would in the Diaspora, unless he intends to remain in Israel at least for that entire year. The Hida, z.s.l. (Rabbi Haim Yosef David Azoulay, 1724-1806), however, ruled that visitors should follow the custom of Israeli residents, to recite Barech Alenu during this period, regardless of the length of the trip. If a traveler returns home from Israel before December 5 th , he resumes the recitation of Barechenu . Hacham Ovadia Yosef rules like the opinion of the Hida. However many other contemporary Sephardic poskim rule that one should add “veten tal umatar livracha” in the blessing Shome’ah Tefila and say Barechenu in accordance with the custom of the Diaspora. WHICH TEXT DOES AN ISRAELI 6 RESIDENT RECITE WHILE VISITING THE DIASPORA ? An Israeli resident who leaves Israel after 7 Heshvan continues saying Barech Alenu . Regarding a case where one left Israel before that date, we find different views among the poskim . Some maintain that he should follow the custom of Israel and begin reciting Barech Alenu on 7 Heshvan. Others, however, maintain that he follows the custom of Israel only if he will return home at some point during the winter or, according to some, the entire year, or if he has a wife and children in Israel. Otherwise, he follows the Diaspora custom to recite Barechenu until December 4 th . The Hida advocates a third view, namely, that in all cases an Israeli traveler should follow the custom of the place he is visiting. In order to satisfy all opinions, contemporary poskim advise those returning to Israel within the year or who have a family in Israel to add the passage, “ veten tal umatar ” in the Shome’a Tefila blessing, and to recite Barechenu in accordance with the custom in the Diaspora. WHAT DOES ONE DO IF HE FORGOT 7 TO SAY BARECH ALENU ? If he realizes his mistake after completing the amida , he must repeat the entire amida , even if he has not stepped back from his place. If he remembers while he mistakenly recites Barechenu , then he begins saying Barech Alenu at that point. If he remembers only after he completed the beracha and began the next beracha , then he should continue the amida and add the words “ veten tal umatar livracha ” in the blessing of Shome’a Tefila , before the words “ ki ata shome’a .” If he remembers only after completing Shome’a Tefila , but before the end of the amida , he returns to the blessing of Barech Alenu . DO WE CONTINUE SAYING 8 BARECH ALENU IN THE SUMMER DURING A DROUGHT? One never recites Barech Alenu during the summer, even during a drought, If necessary, the text “veten tal umatar livracha” may be added in Shome’a Tefila . WHAT SHOULD ONE DO IF HE RECITED 9 BARECH ALENU IN THE SUMMER? If he realizes his mistake in the middle of the amida , then he returns to Barechenu . If he remembers only after finishing the amida , he must repeat the entire amida . WHAT SHOULD ONE DO IF HE IS 10 UNSURE WHICH TEXT HE RECITED? Within 30 days of the day when we begin reciting the new text, one must assume that he recited the incorrect text and must repeat the amida. After 30 days, he may assume that he recited the correct text. Questions & Answers on Barech Alenu (blessing for livelihood and rain) Reviewed by Rabbi Shmuel Choueka of Congregation Ohel Simha, Long Branch, NJ. The Halachot and customs listed here are not presented in any particular order. These summaries represent a very brief overview of the subject matter to promote general awareness and encourage further study. As always, readers should consult their rabbi with specific queries. 90 Community magazine