Agriculture Minister Uri Ariel announced there will be a major gathering at the Kosel on Thursday, 10 Teves, at 3:30pm, which will include a tefilla for rainfall in Eretz Yisrael led by the Chief Rabbis, Rabbi David Lau Shlita and Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef Shlita.

Batei Din around Eretz Yisrael including the Chief Rabbinate of Israel and the Eida Chareidis have called for the inclusion of ‘Va’aneinu’ in one’s Shmona Esrei.

Ariel told Kol Chai Radio Betzalel Kahn on Monday morning 7 Teves that while there has been rainfall in many areas in the past 24 hours, there is not even a small drop in the bucket when one realizes just how much rain is required.

Some however feel there is no longer a need to daven for rain as rain is falling around Eretz Yisrael since Sunday.

Former Jerusalem Religious Council Posek HaGaon HaRav Eliyahu Schlesinger Shlita told Kahn, “Rain is life and we are not having the rain we need…The rain comes for a brief visit and that is all”. Rav Schlesinger explained those who feel the rain has fallen and therefore we should not continue being mispallel are mistaken, saying there is a critical need for tefilos as we are facing another drought year chas v’sholom as we are in Teves and there has yet to be significant rainfall.

“I am confident tefilos are accepted as was the case during the previous generations. Even the non-Jewish king of Morocco called on Jews to daven for rain and the rain came. HK”BH hears tefilos and in this case, we must daven a great deal and Va’aneinu must be said by individuals and in the repetition of Shmona Esrei”.

(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)