V’sain Tal Umatar, Habit Establishment

QUESTION: In the last Halacha Yomis we quoted the Shulchan Aruch that after saying V’sein Tal Umatar for thirty days, a new habit of recitation is established. After that point, it can be assumed that V’sein Tal Umatar was said correctly, even if the person has no recollection of what was said. The Chasam Sofer (O.C. 20, quoted also by MB 114:40) disagrees with the Shulchan Aruch. Why is this so?

ANSWER: The Shulchan Aruch’s basis for the thirty-day transition period is a statement in the Talmud Yerushalmi, that after thirty days it can be assumed that a person will say Mashiv Haruach Umorid Hatal correctly.  The Chasam Sofer has a different understanding of the Yershalmi. He points out that within the span of thirty days, Morid Hatal, which we begin to recite on the first day of Pesach, is repeated 101 times (because of the additional mussaf prayers on Yom Tov, Chol Hamoed, Shabbos and Rosh Chodesh). The Chasam Sofer suggests that it is the repetition 101 times that effects the transition and not the repetition for 30 days. The Chasam Sofer notes that 101 times is significant, based on the Gemara (Chagigah 9b) that states one cannot compare 100 times of review to 101.

As such,V’sein Tal Umatar, which we begin to recite on December 5th, 2023 does not become a habit until it is repeated 101 times, which will take longer than thirty days. Nonetheless, in deference to the Shulchan Aruch, the Chasam Sofer agrees that, bidieved, after 30 days of repeating V’sein Tal Umatar, Shmoneh Esrei should not be repeated in cases of uncertainty.

Though the Chasam Sofer defers to the Shulchan Aruch bedieved, there is one situation where his position is relevant. The Shulchan Aruch (114:9) allows the repetition of Mashiv Haruach 90 times in one day, to establish a new habit of recitation. The Chasam Sofer says that lichatchila it should be repeated 101 times (based on his position), and only bidieved, if repeated 90 times, Shmoneh Esrei would not be repeated when an uncertainty arises (in deference to the Shulchan Aruch). 

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.