V’Sain Tal u'Matar

Q. This Motzei Shabbos, December 5th, 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?

A. If a person said “v’sain bracha” 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 livracha in the bracha of Shema Koleinu, before the words “Ki ata shomeiya”. However, if the bracha of Shema Koleinu was already completed, the individual must return to the beginning of the bracha 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, up until thirty days from December 5th, it can be assumed that the wrong phrase (v’sain bracha) was used, and Shmoneh Esrei must be repeated. After thirty days have elapsed, when in doubt, Shmoneh Esrei need not be repeated. It can be assumed that v’sain tal umatar was said out of habit and second nature.

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 intent. The fact that he cannot remember is inconsequential because people do not typically remember such details after a significant amount of time has passed. Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt”l (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 Shemoneh 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.