shealat hageshem
She'alat Hageshem (asking for rain)
In Israel, she'alat hageshem in the tefillah is easy - 7 Cheshvan.In the diaspora however, it was established in the Talmud Bavli that "she'alat hageshem (the asking for rain in the tefillah) would commence 60 days after tekufat Tishrei. The date of asking for rain is calculated according to Rav Shmuel's tekufot, which correspond to the Julian calendar. In the 20th and 21st centuries, asking for rain would begin on the 5th of Dec, and the 6th of Dec in years that fall before a leap year. Since this calculation is based on Rav Shmuel's tekufot (which is based on the Julian calendar), the dates slide forward as the years progress. In the 22nd century, the correct dates for asking for rain in the diaspora will the 6th and 7th of December.
Many older diaspora siddurim show that asking for rain starts on Dec. 4 in the diaspora. For example, my copy of the Shilo Siddur (a siddur commonly used in America) states that asking for rain commences on December 4. This would be correct for the 19th century. Well, almost correct, since no mention is made of years that fall before a civil leap year, which would begin Dec 5. However, in the 20th century, the correct date would be the 5th of December, and the 6th of December in years that fall before a leap year.
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