(Mishnah): [Starting] on the third of Cheshvan we request rain;

R. Gamliel says, [we start] on the seventh, 15 days after Sukos, in order that the last person in Yisrael (furthest from Yerushalayim) will reach the Pras river.

(Gemara): [The first Tana of] our Mishnah is like R. Meir, for it was taught, what is the time of the Revi'ah (first rainfalls)? R. Meir says, the early [Revi'ah] is on the third [of Cheshvan], the middle is on the seventh, and the late is on the 17th;

R. Yehudah says, the early is on the seventh, the middle is on the 17th, and the late is on the 23rd;

R. Yosi says, the early is on the 17th, the middle is on the 23rd, and the late is on the 30th day [of Cheshvan];

Source: We find that individuals begin to fast only on Rosh Chodesh Kislev.

(R. Avmari, the brother of R. Yosi): All agree that the 17th [is the time of one of them], for it is when [Mazel] Kimah sets. On that day, the flood descended to the world.

What is the source? "[B'Shiv'ah Asar Yom la'Chodesh] ba'Yom ha'Zeh Nivke'u Kol Mayanos Tehom Rabah.''

(R. Aba bar Zamina citing R. Lazar citing R. Hoshayah): The Halachah follows the opinion that says that on the third of Cheshvan we [begin to] request rain.

Question: Why didn't he say "[the Halachah is] like R. Meir''?

Answer: There are some who switch the opinions [of the Tana'im].

Question: How much rain must fall, and then one must bless on it [ha'Tov veha'Metiv]?

Answer #1 (R. Chiyah citing R. Yochanan): At first (the first rain of the year, the normal) amount of the Revi'ah. At the end (rain fell previously), enough to rinse (dissolve) the surface of a shingle.

Answer #2 (R. Yanai bei R. Yishmael citing Reish Lakish): At first, the amount of the Revi'ah. At the end, enough to soak a plug [for a barrel, made of hardened mud].

Objection: Does a cork get soaked?!

Answer: Rather, we view [the ground] as if it is soaked (if it is soft enough to seal a barrel without adding any water).

Answer #3 (R. Yosah citing Rav Yehudah, and R. Yonah citing Rav Yehudah citing Shmuel): At first, the amount of the Revi'ah. At the end, any amount. (OHR LA'YESHARIM - Rav Yehudah himself taught this, and R. Yonah holds that he taught it in the name of Shmuel.)

(R. Yosah citing R. Ze'irah): [All of these Shi'urim] were said to cease a fast [due to lack of rain]. (At first is the limit of how much rain we could receive, and still we decree a fast. At the end is the amount of rain needed to interrupt a fast.)

R. Chizkiyah, R. Nachum and Rav Ada bar Avimi were sitting. R. Nachum said to Rav Ada bar Avimi is it not reasonable that these Shi'urim were said for Brachah?'' He said "yes''.

R. Chizkiyah (to Rav Ada bar Avimi): Is it not reasonable that it was said regarding interrupting a Ta'anis?! He said "yes''. Why did you tell [R. Nachum] that it is not so? He holds like his Rebbi.

R. Mana asked R. Chizkiyah, who is [R. Nachum's] Rebbi? He said, it is R. Ze'ira.

Question (R. Mana): We say that R. Yosah said in the name of R. Ze'irah that [these Shi'urim] were said to cease a fast!

(Rav Yehudah bar Yechezkel): So my father Yechezkel used to bless on rain - "Yisgadel Yiskadesh Yisbarach Yiromam Shimcha Malkeinu for every drop that You bring down to us, that You separate one from another;

It says "Ki Yegara Nitfei Mayim Yazoku Matar l'Edo.'' [Yegara refers to withholding,] like it says "v'Nigra me'Erkecha.''

(R. Yudan, father of R. Masnah): Not only this, rather, further - You bring down [rain] by measure - "u'Mayim Tiken b'Midah.''

R. Yosah bar Yakov went to visit R. Yudan Migdalya (who was sick). When he was there, rain came. He heard [R. Yudan] say "millions we must thank Your name for every drop that You bring down to us, that You bestow good to the liable.''

[R. Yosah] asked, what is your source to bless so? He said, so R. Simon used to bless on rain.

Question: How much rain must fall, and it is the Shi'ur of Revi'ah?

Answer #1: It is to fill a furrow made by plowing tools, [i.e. a depth of] three Tefachim. R. Meir says so;

R. Yehudah says, in the first [Revi'ah] it is a Tefach, in the second it is two Tefachim, and in the third it is three Tefachim.

(Beraisa - R. Shimon ben Elazar): No Tefach [of rain] descends from above that the land does not raise two Tefachim [of water from the Tehom] corresponding to it;

What is the source of this? "Tehom El Tehom Korei l'Kol Tzinorecha.''

(R. Levi): The upper water is male, and the lower water is female. What is the source? "Tiftach Eretz va'Yifru Yesha.'' Tiftach Eretz - the land will open like a female, who opens in front of a male. Va'Yifru Yesha - this is Peru u'Rvu.

"U'Tzedakah Tatzmi'ach'' - this is rain falling. "Ani Hash-m Barasiv'' - I created it for the fixing and settlement of the world.

(R. Acha, and some teach it in the name of R. Shimon ben Gamliel): Why is it called Revi'ah? It is Rove'a the land (enables it to beget Peros).

(R. Chaninah Brikah citing Rav Yehudah): Roots of wheat break through the land 50 Amos. Soft roots of fig trees break through [land as hard as] rock.

(Beraisa - R. Shimon ben Elazar): Only the surface of the land drinks.

Question: If so, what do roots of carob and sycamore trees (they are very deep) do (to absorb water)?

Answer (R. Chaninah): Once every 30 days, [water from] the depth rises and waters them. What is the source? "Ani Hash-m Notzrah li'Rega'im Ashkenah.''

(Beraisa): If the year was Chaser, we give it its Chisaron. (Three of the months from Nisan to Tishrei should have 29 days, and three should have 30. If an extra month or two has 29, we add one or two days to the date the Revi'ah.) If not, we follow the normal order (e.g. the third, seventh or 17th of Cheshvan, even if the coming year will be a leap year with an added month). R. Shimon ben Gamliel says so;

Rebbi says, we always follow the normal order.

If the year was [declared to be] a leap year, we go according to the added month (the Revi'ah is in Kislev, five months before Nisan).

Question: Rebbi contradicts himself! There (regarding Chaser months), he follows the normal order. Here, [even] he goes according to the added month!

Answer (R. Ze'irah citing R. Yosah citing R. Shmuel bar Rav Yitzchak, and some say citing R. Yochanan): This is needed for the end. (The Beraisa means that if last year was a leap year, the Revi'ah is in Cheshvan, even though it is 13 months after last year's Revi'ah. We explained this like HA'GAON RAV C. KANIEVSKY, SHLITA.)

(Mishnah): If the 17th of Cheshvan came and rain did not fall, individuals begin to fast. They eat and drink after dark (until dawn of the fast), and they are permitted Melachah, bathing, Sichah (anointing), wearing shoes and Bi'ah.

(Gemara): These are individuals - those who are appointed leaders over the Tzibur.

Question: Once he is appointed leader over the Tzibur, he prays and he is answered?!

Answer: Rather, once he is appointed leader over the Tzibur, and he is found to be faithful [in serving the Tzibur], he is worthy to pray and be answered.