During the winter, the phrase Veten tal u’matar livrakha, “and send dew and rain for a blessing,” is inserted in the ninth blessing of the weekday Amida prayer (Barekh Aleinu). This request for adequate rainfall is recited from the fifth of December (or the sixth of December in years when the following February has 29 days), until Passover.

In Israel, whose rainy season starts earlier and which needs a lot of rain at this time of year, this insertion is recited from the evening prayer service of the seventh day of the month of Marheshvan. In actuality, the rainy season begins on Sukkot, but the request is delayed until the seventh of Marheshvan, and is not recited immediately after the festival of Sukkot. This guideline was established out of sensitivity for the needs of individuals. On Sukkot, residents of the Land of Israel and many Jews from abroad would make the pilgrimage to the Temple. After the holiday, everyone would return to their homes, near and far. In order that the rains would not catch the pilgrims on the road and make their journey difficult, the inhabitants of the Land of Israel would delay the request for rain until the seventh of Marheshvan, by which date the inhabitants of the most distant locations, on the banks of the Euphrates River in Babylonia, would have arrived home.

According to Sephardic custom, the text of the entire ninth blessing of the Amida changes from the winter to the summer. In the winter, starting in Israel from the seventh of Marheshvan, one recites the text of the blessing that begins with the words: “Bless this year for us,” whereas in the summer (from Passover), one recites the version of the blessing that opens with the phrase: “Bless us, God.”

One who forgot to recite the request for rain in the ninth blessing may instead say the formula “And bring dew and rain for a blessing” in the blessing of Shema Koleinu (“Hear our voice”). If he has already completed the Amida prayer without asking for rain, he must repeat the Amida.

One continues the request for rain until the festival of Passover.

In countries where rain is required during other periods of the year, e.g., Australia and South Africa, locals may ask for rain in the blessing of Shema Koleinu, as one is entitled to insert his own personal requests in that blessing.

Further reading: For more on praying for rain, see A Concise Guide to the Sages, p. 352.

On Shabbatot in the winter, when the nights are long, some Sephardic communities have the custom of waking up early in the morning and gathering together before the morning service to sing various songs that depict the greatness of the Creator, as well as songs of supplication. Some do this on Friday nights after the meal.