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Written by Horav Yosef Yeshaya Braun, member of the Badatz of Crown Heights

For various halachic reasons, the date we begin asking for rain by saying “V’sein tal umatar” in the brachah of Mevarech Hashanim in Shemoneh Esrei depends on our location: Those in Eretz Yisroel begin on the 7^th of Cheshvan, whereas in chutz la’aretz (areas that are outside of Eretz Yisroel) we begin on the 4^th or 5^th of December (60 days after the tekufah [September equinox]). This raises the question of what someone who travels from Eretz Yisroel to chutz la’aretz, or vice versa, should say.

Poskim advance many different opinions on this issue, but a widely accepted position is to follow the practice of the country where we presently are. Therefore, if we leave our home country before making the change, we should adopt the practice of the country of our destination as soon as we arrive. This is regardless of other factors, such as how long we’re staying or what our intentions concerning returning are, etc. Thus, if we travel to Eretz Yisroel before December 4^th or 5^th, we should begin saying v’sein tal umatar when we get there, and someone traveling to chutz la’aretz before the 7^th of Cheshvan should wait to begin until everyone else in chutz la’aretz does.

Although we generally follow the practice of the country where we currently are, once we have already begun asking for rain we should not stop. Therefore, if we leave Eretz Yisroel after the 7^th of Cheshvan – since we’ve already begun davening for rain in Eretz Yisroel – we should not stop when we are in chutz la’aretz.

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