Israel – Rabbis Menashe Malka and Reuven Deri boarded a hot air balloon and ascended 1,000 feet in the air in order to pray for timely rain.
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The two were joined by Eshkol Regional Council Head Haim Yalin and Sdot Negev Regional Head Council Meir Yifrach, as well as beauty queen Shavit Wiesel and other worshippers.
The group, which took off from an open field near Kibbutz Ruhama in the Negev, was equipped with a prayer for rain drafted by late Rabbi Mordechai Eliyahu.
With no precipitation in sight, farmers in northern Israel estimate crop damages would reach up to NIS 50 million (about $13 million.)
Hot air balloon operator Moran Itzkovitz said that “a joint prayer, while looking down at the amazing scenary of the dry Negev fields, may open the gates of heavens and strengthen farmers across the country.”
Also on Thursday, worshippers gathered in the northern town of Hatzor HaGlilit, at the tomb of Honi HaM’agel, who became famous for his ability to successfully pray for rain during a year of draught.
The prayer was attended by chief Rabbis Yona Metzger and Shlomo Amar, council heads, rabbis and yeshiva students from the surrounding areas. The worshippers blew the shofar and recited a special prayer authored by Rabbi Metzger.
On Wednesday, dozens of Rabbis and guests gathered for a mass prayer for rain on board the Ein Gev tourist vessel at the Sea of Galilee, (as was reported by VIN News).
The prayer, which was organized by Emek HaYarden Regional Council rabbis and Ayelet HaShachar organization, was attended by Emek HaYarden Regional Council Head, Rabbi Shlomo Didi, Deputy Finance Minister Yitzhak Cohen and city of Rehovot Rabbi Simcha Hacohen Kook.
Shavua tov lekulam!
Once again, rabossai, I need your help. The fact that, so far this year, only 4 mm of rain have fallen in EY is a most serious matter, and I would definitely agree that prayers to the Almighty are called for.
So far, we have had Rav Simcha Kook praying on a boat in the middle of Yam Kinneret, and now this latest plea for divine intervention in a hot air balloon.
What happened to good old tefilla and tehillim, offered up by worshippers with their feet firmly on the ground – in both senses of the world?
Or do I sense a search for personal publicity by ship’s Captain HaRav Simcha Kook, airline Captain Rabbis Menashe Malka and First officer R’ Reuven Deri?
Hot air balloon? Strange! How about stopping abortion and achdut among Am Yisrael?
The igros moshe says that the closer we get to the ebeshter, the more liklely our tfilot will be heard and answered. I always thought this was a metaphor, but apparently not.
What an odd grouping of participants – Chief Rabbis and a beauty queen. I think that the next move is to have a group of Native Americans visit and perform a traditional rain dance. It couldn’t hurt.
‘as well as beauty queen Shavit Wiesel ‘ a fat lot that’s going to do to help the situation. Can anyone tell me what they were thinking sending up a beauty queen? What is this? The Taj Mahal?
Nu? Hashem hears you better if you’re higher up? If you want to dovin, go to shul!!
This is actually what made Rabbinic Judaism the dominant form of Judaism 2,000 years ago.
There were many forms of Judaic belief, and all of them claimed to have a valid tradition from Sinai, but the Rabbinic Jews instituted the idea that you don’t have to go to a Cohen to learn, and you don’t have to go to the Beis HaMikdash to pray.
It was this, combined with the eventual compilation of the Mishna in its written form that enabled us to survive as a people in the face of exile.
You see, people used to believe that if you wanted to speak to Hashem, you have to go somewhere, as if Hashem can’t hear you if you’re not there, but this isn’t what we believe!
We believe that which is said in Dvarim 30:12-14 “lo b’shamayim hu, laimor mi yaaleh lanu hashamaimah…Ki Karov aleicha hadavar m’od”! ‘That it is not in heaven that you should say “go up for us to heaven”…It is very close to you’!
Back in the day, Choni Hamaagel stood in a circle and vowed not to leave it until rain started pouring. Hashem listened to his davening. Today we have some media savvy rabanim that need a fan fare and excitement to make as if they are davening. How about normal tefillah, the type that have helped Jews througout the generations
They are trying to get closer and closer to G-d??? Why don’t they try a space shuttle next? I do not mean to minimize the dire situation of lack of rain in EY, but there is a reason that G-d’s answer thus far has been “no” and I don’t think the reason had anything to do with the fact that they were praying from the wrong place. I think we have to think deeper why G-d will not give what is essential to “LIVE” (water) to the land of EY and we need to do all we can to remedy that situation…. In other words, besides Tefila, almost certainly we need to do some sort of Teshuva!
We have an obligation not to forget our brothers in Israel. We in the galus must also do our part and pray for rain for Eritz Yisroel. I have begun to pray for rain for Israel in my Shimone Esrai and everyone should do the same. This is no joke. I would suggest that the the Jews in Israel pray at the Kotel, at the graves of Tzadikim, and in particular by Rebbe Shimon ZY”A as the Gemarah saids “We can rely on Rebbe Shimon beshas hadchak (in times of emergency). In the Shema it saids, that if we turn away from Hashem there will be no rain. Therefore, we must rectify our turning away from Hashem and return to Hashem in prayer and beg Him to send rain. May Hashem answer the prayers of all Israel. Amen!
Reply to #10
You should not under estimate the prayers by the graves of the Tzadikim they are very powerful. Calev ben Yefuna prayed at the Avos graves and was saved from the sin of the spies. People pray at the Machpala, Kever Rachel, Rebbe Shimon, Or HaChaim, Amuka etc. You shouldn’t mock what you don’t understand. The Schulchan Aruch talks about praying at the graves of Tzadikim and one’s parents before Rosh Hashana. This teaches us that Prayer at the graves of Tzaddikim are very helpful and important.
The hot air balloon rose higher than the Tower of Bavel. You think God might be a bit angry at people screaming closer into his ear?
These gimmicks do not serve us well. However, going up in a balloon is not very different than what Choni Hame’agel did. With Choni, there were rain clouds that would have brought rain in any case. Unfortunately for us, we have what the meteorologists predict and not much else.
I believe it says in seforim that Hashem is found everywhere equally. But maybe if people do strange things, Hashem notices more?
#13 and #15 – that’s not the way to talk about the RSO, not even for a joke. I don’t think that He appreciates such chutzpah, what nerve? Kindly do Teshuva. Do it, and do it now.
#16 no chutzpah meant, sorry. But please explain why a balloon is necessary? I can understand a half day fast, tehillim, tzedoka but a hot air?
You gotta hand it to them. They’ll pray until the tide goes out even if it takes them twelve whole hours!
All so much hot air. These attention-seekers are making fools of themselves and a mockery of Judaism. And taking along a beauty queen as well? Funny that the Rabbanut has sacked serious (if misguided) rabbis for much less, but no one is questioning these charlatans.
A beauty queen inches from the Rabbi. Since when is it permitted for a Rav to be in such close proximity with a beauty queen in a closed environment?
Seems to me like a bunch of hot air