Kesher Talk

Pesach countdown - still Day 0. We sing Hallel of course, and during the musaf service, the hazzan chants T'filat Tal, the once-a-year petition for dew. (Its counterpoint, the once-a-year petition for rain, is chanted 6 months later during the musaf service for Sh'mini Atzeret.) Both of these prayers have lovely melodies and - since they are special occasions - cantorial improvisation is expected. The change-over is also reflected in two verses in the daily Amidah. The first verse echoes the Tal-Geshem switch. The second is a bit more complicated, but also refers to rain and dew and has a switch at Pesach.

Prayers for rain or dew are aligned with the climate and growing seasons of Eretz Yisrael - one more example of how Jews throughout the diaspora for centuries kept alive their connection with their homeland - and reminds us that Pesach was originally a harvest festival.

posted by Judith @ 4/17/2003 08:59:45 AM