The Day that the Rains Came
When a drought plagued Eretz Yisrael in 1639, the ruler of Jerusalem, Mohammed Pasha, tried to placate his discontented subjects by blaming the Jews for the problem. Blaming the Jews for plotting the drought, he issued an ultimatum that they must produce rain within three days or face exile.
Unsuccessful in their attempts at begging and bribing this unreasonable ruler, the leaders of the community asked and received permission to pray at the Tomb of Zechariah at the foot of the Mount of Olives. All day long the revered tomb of the Prophet was the scene of prayer fervently offered by men, women and children. In the late afternoon clouds appeared and rain began to fall.
Even the Pasha himself was forced to concede that the long-awaited rain was a Heavenly response to the prayers of his Jewish subjects.
