It was dry and the sun was hot as the drought went into its second month. The rabbis decreed a fast day and special prayers and psalms be recited. During the time of drought the whole community is invited to join in prayer so that the rain will come. Hopefully the non-observant will be moved by the serious condition caused by the drought join the community in prayer.
In one community which was in a drought area, the rabbis proclaimed a fast day. Strains of Psalm 130 (traditionally said in times of drought) were heard from the old synagogue. “Out of the depths I call You, Hashem….”(Psalm 130: 1)
One of the rabbis tried to urge a non-observant person named Yonah to join in the public prayer. Yonah adamantly refused. “You certainly do not think that the prayers of someone like me will have any effect on G-d,” Yonah offered.
The rabbi tried to impress upon Yonah that the prayers of every person are important, and that on the contrary, when someone who is distant from religious observance turns to the Holy One, blessed be He, their prayer is very special and effective.
“I take it from this,” the Yonah said, “that you are implying that it is my sinfulness that made G-d angry and caused the drought. I resent that!”
“No need to worry about that,” the rabbi said. “I could not possibly think that you caused the drought. In fact, we know that it was people like yourself who once caused “the rain fell on the earth forty days and forty nights. (Genesis 7: 12)”
The voices from the synagogue continued, “O Hashem, listen to my cry; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. (Psalm 130: 2). The prayers went up to the very Throne of Mercy and That evening the sky grew dark and the rains came in answer to the prayers of the people. But this was very displeasing to Yonah, and he became angry. (Yonah 4:1)
Ribbono shel olam – Master of the universe, who lovingly hears the prayers of Your children
Stir up Your kindness and love for us — for Your sake. Prepare our hearts, and help us pray to You with every fiber of our hearts and souls. Make it so that we can pray to you with all our heart, with all our soul and with all our strengths. Let our prayers flow fluently from our mouths at all times, freely and without interference.
You listen in mercy to the prayer of Your people. Baruch atah Adoshem, shomei-a t’filah – Blessed are You, O L-rd, who listens to prayer.
May all your tales end with Shalom (peace)
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Tell it to your children, and let your children tell it to their children, and their children to the next generation. (Joel 1:3)