What is the procedure for one who omits V’sein Tal U’matar?

The following are the halachos for one who omitted V’sein Tal U’Matar: 1) If he realized while he was still in the middle of the brocha, he may add it at whatever point he finds himself in the brocha . If he already said the words k’shanim hatovos, he should go back, say it in its proper place, and then continue onward. 2) If he realized the mistake after saying Hashem’s name or after finishing the brocha, he should continue onward and say it as an additional request in Shema Koleinu. It is generally added before the words ki Ata shomeya, but on a fast day he should add it before Aneinu. 3) If he missed it at that point as well and only realized the mistake after he said the name of Hashem, he should say the words lamdeini chukecha and go back to the point right before ki Ata, say V’sein Tal U’matar, and continue onward.

סי' קי סע' ד-ה, ס"ק ט"ו, ט"ז וי"ט

When is it necessary to repeat Shemoneh Esrei for omitting V’sein Tal U’matar?

If a person only realized his omission after finishing Shema Koleinu, the halacha is as follows: If he has not yet begun the next brocha, he should say it at that point and continue onward with Retzei. If he only realized after starting Retzei, he should go back to Barech Aleinu. If he realized the omission after completing Shemoneh Esrei, he must repeat the entire Shemoneh Esrei. Completing Shemoneh Esrei in this case means saying the verse yihyu l’rotzon (the final one) and having no plans to recite any more bakoshos. A person who realized his omission after Retzei, returned to Barech Aleinu and then forgot to say it again, should continue onward and say V’sein Tal U’matar in Shema Koleinu.

סי' קי"ז ס"ה ס"ק י"ח ביאורים ומוספים דרשו  25

If one says Hamelech Hamishpat during the year, does he have to go back?

Rema rules that if a person does not modify the ending of the brocha of Hashiva Shofteinu during Aseres Yemei Teshuva, he is still yotzei. This is because even the brocha that is used throughout the year contains the word melech. If one said Hamelech Hamishpat during the year, he is also yotzei. During Aseres Yemei Teshuva he must be certain to start each word with a hei when adding Hamelech Hamishpat. B’dieved, if he said Melech Hamishpat he is yotzei.

סי' קי"ח ס"ק א'-ג'

• Outside of Eretz Yisroel, V’sein Tal U’matar only starts to be inserted sixty days after the onset of the tekufah. During the period of the Mishnah and Gemara, Jews outside of Eretz Yisroel lived in Bavel, where the rainy season did not begin until that time.

• Shulchon Aruch rules that if a person lives in an area that needs rain and he mistakenly adds V’sein Tal U’matar into Barech Aleinu, he should only repeat Shemoneh Esrei as a nedavah. Rema adds that davening again is optional.

• There are three views among the poskim as to how people living in the Southern Hemisphere should conduct themselves with regard to saying V’sein Tal U’matar.

• May a person make requests for anticipated needs during Shemoneh Esrei?

• Is there a difference between making requests for individuals or requests for groups?

• Why is the health of a gadol b’Yisroel a public need?