Q&A: Requesting Rain When It Isn’t Needed
Originally published:
This is an English translation (via GPT-5.4). Read the original Hebrew version.
Requesting Rain When It Isn’t Needed
Question
Rabbi, as I understand it, we’re no longer dependent on rain. There’s already so much water that desalinated water is being pumped into the Kinneret, so we’re no longer occupied with the water level question.
The question is: is there still a reason to pray for rain, if we’re no longer dependent on it?
Answer
In my personal opinion, in any case these prayers don’t help, even if there were a need. So beyond the obligatory prayer, I wouldn’t add anything.
Discussion on Answer
I don’t experience anything. I say it because there is an obligation to say it.
Does the Rabbi pray by virtue of the obligation? If so—and this is a personal question, so only if you’re comfortable answering—how do you experience prayer? As suffering… meaningless mumbling… do you דווקא connect to it… and isn’t it hard to live that way, if the experience is difficult, and pray three times a day?