Remember the Temple-priest who bathed five times in water;
He removed sins when he washed his hands with sanctified water;
He read from the Scriptures when he sprinkled purifying water;
He was kept at a distance from a people as turbulent as water.
Congregation:
For his sake, do not refuse water.
Remember the twelve tribes thou didst bring across the water;
Thou didst sweeten for them the bitterness of the water;
For thy sake was the blood of their descendants spilt like water;
Turn to us, for our life is encircled by foes like water.
Congregation:
For their righteousness’ sake, grant abundant water.
Reader:
For thou art the Lord our God, who causest the wind to blow and the rain to fall.
Congregation and Reader:
Congregation:
For a blessing and not for a curse.
Amen.
For life and not for death.
Amen.
For plenty and not for scarcity.
Amen.
“Thou sustainest the living” (page 610).
feature was the procession which accompanied the priest who had been allotted the duty of drawing the water for the libation ceremony from the pool of Siloam at Jerusalem. According to tradition, "whoever has not witnessed this celebration has never seen real rejoicing" (Sukkah 5:1). It was called (
Hebrew characters) ("the joyous procession to and from the well") because from there they drew inspiration. Compare Isaiah 12:3 ("With joy shall you draw water from the fountains of deliverance’’).
...(Hebrew characters) is referred to in the Mishnah as (Hebrew characters) (“the power of rain”), presumably because the reference to rain is inserted in the second benediction of the Shemoneh Esreh, beginning with the words (Hebrew characters) (“thou art mighty"). This benediction is called (Hebrew characters) since it recounts the omnipotence of God. According to a talmudic statement, the term (Hebrew characters) is used because rain comes down by the power of God (Ta‘anith 2a).
