As once again fires are blazing in our Sonoma County, it would not be a bad thing to offer extra prayer for rain. This is Tefilat Hageshem, the grand rain prayer recited on Shemini Atzeret (just a few days ago). It identifies and invokes Af-Bri, the Angel of Rain, and then it asks for the free flow of water based on the merit of our ancestors and their watery connections. The English here is mostly borrowed or adapted from the Koren siddur, edited by Jonathan Sacks. The two verses about the merit of the matriarchs are my own addition.
Pray hard.
Blessed are you, Adonai, God of our Ancestors, of Abraham, Sarah, Isaac, Rebecca, Jacob, Rachel and Leah. You bestow acts of loving kindness and create all. You remember our ancestors' good deeds. And You will bring us redemption! You are our helper, savior and protector.
Af-Bri is the name of the angel of rain, who overcasts the sky, forms clouds and makes them rain water to crown the valley with green. May rain not be withheld from us because of our unpaid debts. May the merits of our ancestors protect all of us who pray for rain. Blessed are You, Adonai, Shield of Abraham and Helper of Sarah.
Our God and God of our Ancestors:
Remember Abraham who followed you like water.
You blessed him like a tree planted by streams of water.
You shielded him and rescued him from fire and water.
You loved him for he sowed righteousness by the water.
For his sake, do not withhold water.
Remember Jacob who carried his staff and crossed Jordan's water.
With steadfast heart he rolled away the stone from the well of water.
He wrestled with an angel composed of fire and water,
So You promised to be with him through fire and water.
For his sake do not withhold water.
Remember Rebecca whose life changed at the well of water.
While slaking the thirst of flocks and foreigners with many jars of water.
And whose niece Rachel met her son at the water.
Rachel, who wept for her children with tears that flowed like water.
For the sake of our Mothers, do not withhold water.
Remember Moses who in a reed basket was drawn out of the water.
They said: "He drew water for us, and gave the flock water."
When Your treasured people thirsted for water,
He struck a rock and out gushed water.
For his righteousness' sake, grant abundant water.
Remember Miriam who had the women meet their husbands at the water,
And set her brother in a basket in the water.
Who led the people in song and dance when we had crossed the water,
And whose faithful well supplied our folk with abundant, unlikely water.
For her sake, do not withhold water.
מַשִּׁיב הָרוּחַ וּמוֹרִיד הַגָּשֱׁם
Blower of wind and maker of rain:
May the rain come for blessing and not curse – Amen!
For life and not death – Amen!
For plenty and not want – Amen!