V’sain Tal Umatar - If Forgotten

QUESTION: Wednesday evening, December 4th, 2024, we begin reciting V’sain Tal Umatar in the Shmoneh Esrei of Maariv. What happens if one forgot to say V’sain Tal Umatar and what is the halacha if one is uncertain?

ANSWER: If If a person said “v’sain beracha” instead of “v’sain tal umatar livracha”, and he realized his error after ending Shmoneh Esrei, the entire Shmoneh Esrei must be repeated.

If the error was caught while in the middle of Shmoneh Esrei, corrective action may be taken by inserting the phrase of v’sain tal umatar livrocha in the beracha of Shema Koleinu, before the words of “Ki ata shomeiya”. If the beracha of Shema Koleinu was already completed, but he did not yet begin the beracha of Retzei, Shulchan Aruch (117:5) writes that the phrase v'sain tal umatar livracha should be inserted between the two berachos. However if he already began the beracha of Retzei, the individual must return to the beginning of the beracha of Bareich Aleinu and use the proper phrase of v’sain tal umatar.

What if a person does not remember if he said v'sain bracha or v’sain tal umatar? Since he has no recollection, we assume the bracha was recited without thought, out of habit, in the manner that he was accustomed to saying it. Halacha assumes that habits of davening are established with thirty days of repetition. As such, thirty days after December 4th, when in doubt, Shmoneh Esrei need not be repeated. It can be assumed that v’sain tal umatar was said out habit and second nature. Before thirty days, it can be assumed that the wrong phrase (v'sain bracha) was used, and Shmoneh Esrei must be repeated.

The Mishna Berura (114:38) qualifies this last halacha and says that if the person intended to say “v'sain tal umatar” in Shmoneh Esrei, and later in the day he cannot remember what he said, he need not repeat Shmoneh Esrei. This is because it can be assumed that he recited the bracha properly, since that was his intention. The fact that he cannot remember is inconsequential because people do not typically remember such details after a significant amount of time has elapsed. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auervach, z”tl (Shmiras Shabbos Kehilchoso 57:17) notes that each person’s memory span is different. For someone whose memory is poor, the last halacha would apply even if one cannot remember soon after reciting Shmoneh Esrei.

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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.