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Chapter I

1. "When do we remember in prayer the heavy rain?" Rabbi Eleazar said,
"from the first holiday of the feast (of tabernacles)," Rabbi Joshua said,
"from the last holiday of the feast." To him said Rabbi Joshua, "when the
rain is no mark of blessing in the feast, why should one remember it?"
Said Rabbi Eleazar to him, "even I did not say to ask for it, but to
remember the blowing of the wind, and the descent of the rain in its
season." He replied to him, "if so, one can remember it always."

2. We ask for rain only near to the season of rains. Rabbi Judah
said,(315) "he who passes last before the ark on the last holiday of the
feast of tabernacles remembers it; the first does not remember it. On the
first holiday of the passover the first remembers it, the last does not
remember it." How long do we ask for rain? Rabbi Judah said, "till the
passover be ended." Rabbi Meier said, "till Nisan depart,(316) as is
said,(317) 'And He will cause to come down for you the rain, the former
rain, and the latter rain in the first month.' "

3. On the third day of Marchesvan(318) we ask for the rain. Rabban
Gamaliel said, "on the seventh, fifteen days after the feast, that the
last Israelite returning home from the feast may reach the river
Euphrates."

4. "If the seventeenth day of Marchesvan arrive, and the rain does not
come down?" "Men of eminence begin to fast for three days. They may eat
and drink by night. And they may work, and wash, and anoint themselves,
and put on their sandals, and use their couches."

5. "If the first day of the month Chislev(319) arrive, and the rain does
not come down?" "The tribunal proclaims three fast-days(320) for the
congregation. Persons may, however, eat and drink by night. And they may
work, and wash, and anoint themselves, and put on their sandals, and use
their couches."

6. "If these days pass over, and there be no answer?" "The tribunal
proclaims three other fast-days for the congregation. Persons may,
however, eat and drink while it is still day. But they are forbidden work,
and washing, and anointing, and putting on sandals, and the use of the
couch. And the baths are locked up." "If these days pass over, and there
be no answer?" "The tribunal proclaims for them seven more; these are
altogether thirteen fast-days for the congregation." "And what are these
fast-days more than the first six?" "Because during them men blow with the
trumpets and lock up their shops."