Birkat HaGashamim – Blessing for Rain Falling in Israel

Blessing for Rain Falling in Israel

Winter is the rainy season in Israel. A person should always remember that this world belongs to the Almighty, that it is under His constant supervision, and that everything happens according to His will. Therefore, we should bless the Almighty for everything we enjoy in this world. By doing so, we acknowledge Him as the Master of the world. Before eating, we recite brachot over various types of food. If someone buys a new garment, he recites Shehecheyanu; if he decides to eat fruit, Borei Pri Ha-Etz; if he wishes to smell a flower, Borei Atzei Besamim; and so on. When a person sees objects he has not seen for 30 days—high mountains, the sea, a Jewish cemetery, a rainbow, and so forth—he also recites a blessing. The same applies to rain. If a person owns a plot of land in Israel (a house with a yard), then when it rains in Israel, he should recite the blessing for rain—Birkat HaGashamim. However, the blessing is not recited at the very beginning of the rain, but only once puddles have formed. This is a sign that the earth is beginning to absorb the water. Blessing for Rain Falling in Israel מוֹדִים אֲנַחְנוּ לָךְ עַל כּל טִפָּה וטִפָּה שֶׁהוֹרַדְתָּ לָּנוּ. וְאִלּוּ פִינוּ מָלֵא שִׁירָה כַּיָּם, וּלְשׁוֹנֵנוּ רִנָּה כַּהֲמוֹן גַּלָּיו, וְשִׂפְתוֹתֵינוּ שֶׁבַח כְּמֶרְחֲבֵי רָקִיעַ, וְעֵינֵינוּ מְאִירוֹת כַּשֶּׁמֶשׁ וְכַיָּרֵחַ, וְיָדֵינוּ פְרוּשׂוֹת כְּנִשְׁרֵי שָׁמָיִם, וְרַגְלֵינוּ קַלּוֹת כָּאַיָּלוֹת – אֵין אֲנַחְנוּ מַסְפִּיקִים לְהוֹדוֹת לְךָ... וּלְבָרֵךְ אֶת שִׁמְךָ עַל אַחַת מֵאֶלֶף אַלְפֵי אַלְפִים וְרֹב רִבֵּי רְבָבוֹת פְּעָמִים הַטּוֹבוֹת נִסִּים וְנִפְלָאוֹת שֶׁעָשִׂיתָ עִמָּנוּ וְעִם אֲבוֹתֵינוּ. מִלְּפָנִים מִמִּצְרַיִם גְּאַלְתָּנוּ... מִבֵּית עֲבָדִים פְּדִיתָנוּ, בְּרָעָב זַנְתָּנוּ וּבְשָׂבָע כִּלְכַּלְתָּנוּ, מֵחֶרֶב הִצַּלְתָּנוּ, מִדֶּבֶר מִלַּטְתָּנוּ, וּמֵחָלָיִם רָעִים וְרַבִּים דִּלִּיתָנוּ. עַד הֵנָּה עֲזָרוּנוּ רַחֲמֶיךָ וְלֹא עֲזָבוּנוּ חֲסָדֶיךָ. עַל כֵּן, אֵבָרִים שֶׁפִּלַּגְתָּ בָּנוּ, וְרוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה שֶׁנָּפַחְתָּ בְּאַפֵּנוּ, וְלָשׁוֹן אֲשֶׁר שַׂמְתָּ בְּפִינוּ, הֵן הֵם יוֹדוּ וִיבָרְכוּ וִישַׁבְּחוּ וִיפָאֲרוּ אֶת שִׁמְךָ מַלְכֵּנוּ תָּמִיד. בָּרוּךְ אֵל רֹב הַהוֹדָאוֹת Modim anachnu lach al kol tipah ve-tipah she-horadta lanu. Ve-ilu pinu male shirah ka-yam, u-leshoneinu rinah ka-hamon galav, ve-siftoteinu shevach ke-merchavei rakia, ve-eineinu meirot ka-shemesh ve-ka-yareach, ve-yadeinu perusot ke-nishrei shamayim, ve-ragleinu kalot ka-ayalot— ein anachnu maspikim lehodot lecha... u-levarech et shimcha al achat me-elef alfei alafim ve-rov rivei revavot pe'amim ha-tovot, nisim ve-niflaot she-asita imanu ve-im avoteinu. Milefan im-Mitzrayim ge'altanu... mi-beit avadim ped itanu, be-ra'av zantanu u-ve-sova kilkaltanu, me-cherev hitzaltanu, mi-dever milat tanu, u-me-chala'im ra'im ve-rabim dilitanu. Ad henah azarunu rachamecha ve-lo azavunu chasadecha. Al ken, evarim she-pilagta banu, ve-ruach u-neshamah she-nafachta be-apeinu, ve-lashon asher samta be-finu—hen hem yodu vi-yevarechu, ve-yeshabchu, ve-yefa'aru et shimcha Malkeinu tamid. Baruch El rov ha-hodaot! (We thank You for every single drop that You have sent down to us. Even if our mouths were filled with song like the sea, and our tongues with rejoicing like the roar of its waves, and our lips with praise like the expanse of the heavens, and our eyes shone like the sun and the moon, and our hands were spread out like the wings of the eagles of heaven, and our feet were swift like the feet of deer— we still would not be able to thank You sufficiently or bless Your Name for even one of a thousand thousand thousands and the countless multitudes of times for the goodness, miracles, and wonders that You have performed for us and for our forefathers. From ancient times—from Egypt You brought us out, from the house of bondage You redeemed us, during famine You sustained us, and in times of plenty You supported us, from the sword You saved us, from plague You delivered us, and from many severe illnesses You raised us up. To this day, Your mercies have helped us, and Your kindness has never abandoned us. Therefore, the limbs with which You have endowed us, and the spirit and soul that You breathed into our nostrils, and the tongue that You placed in our mouths— let them thank, bless, praise, and glorify Your Name, our King, forever. Blessed is G-d, Who is the source of abundant thanksgiving.) (Based on a lesson by Rabbi Alexander Tzvi Sypkov) Brachot for Fragrances /en/теилим-150-и-брахот-на-запахи/ Brachot in the Days of Mashiach's Arrival /en/молитва-рамхаля-о-машиахе-и-брахот-в-дн/ 10 Rarely Recited Brachot /en/10-редко-произносимых-брахот/ The Morning Brachot—Hidden Meaning /en/скрытый-смысл-утренних-брахот/ Sheva Brachot /en/7-сеудот-перед-йом-кипур-кенегед-шева-бр/

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Tags: Berakhot, Birkat HaGeshamim — Blessing for the Rainfall in the Land of Israel, Birkat HaGeshamim, Blessing for Rain Falling in Israel, Blessing for Rain, Blessing for Rain in Israel

24 Dec 2025 Share