Do different countries have different times for saying V’sein Tal U’Matar?

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 Mishna and Gemara, Jews outside of Eretz Yisroel lived in Bavel, where the rainy season did not begin until that time. One of the Rishonim asks why this timing still applies to Jews today, who live throughout the world in various places that have different needs for rain. He questions whether the timing should be linked to a community’s specific needs. He specifically mentions that in Germany, rain was important from Pesach until Shavous. He proposes a modification of the halacha but concedes that this does not seem to be the accepted practice. In deference to his point, 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.

סי' קי"ז ס"ב ס"ק י' ביה"ל ד"ה ומיהו

If one said V’sein Tal U’matar on Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan, does he have to repeat Shemoneh Esrei?

The poskim disagree about whether the above-mentioned argument distinguishing between Bavel and other lands applies to areas which, at a given time, do not need rain but would not regard rainfall as a curse. Practically, if one did say V’sein Tal U’matar in such a case, he must daven again and stipulate that if he is obligated his tefilla is a chovah but otherwise it is a nedavah. If a person in Eretz Yisroel added V’sein Tal U’matar sometime between the end of Sukkos and the seventh of Cheshvan, the poskim disagree about whether he must repeat Shemoneh Esrei. Some say that this is also a time for rain, and it is therefore not necessary to go back.

ס"ק י"א ביה"ל ד"ה הצריכים ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 16

When should people in the Southern Hemisphere say V’sein Tal U’matar?

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: 1) They should follow the custom of people throughout the rest of the world. If rain during that period will be damaging for them, however, they should say V’sein Brocha throughout the year. If they ever need rain, they can add a request into the brocha of Shema Koleinu. 2) They should completely adhere to the halachos of the rest of the world. B’dieved, if they said V’sein Tal U’matar during their winter, they are yotzei. 3) They should completely adapt the halachos to fit with their circumstances—i.e. V’sein Brocha in their summer and V'sein Tal U’matar in their winter.

ביאורים ומוספים דרשו 13

• During the brocha of Refoeinu, a person may add a special supplication on behalf of a specific person who is sick. If the sick person is in front of the one who is davening, he does not need to specify his name. Otherwise, he should say his name and the name of his mother.

• There should not be large gatherings to daven on behalf of people who are terminally ill. If the tefillos are not fulfilled, there may be a weakening in some people’s emunah.

• If an Israeli arrived in Chutz L’Aretz before he started saying V’sein Tal U’matar, he should begin saying it on  Zayin Cheshvan but only add it during the brochah of Shema Koleinu. If he has already started saying it before he arrived, he may continue saying it in its proper place.

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

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

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