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In the US we usually start asking for rain in the amida on the fourth of December at night. The halacha states that this is on the sixtieth days of tekufat Tishri (the fall season). But the fall season falls usually around September twenty one. There is a difference of about two weeks. Why?

Elyahu
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  • Related question that might help: https://judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/11985/praying-for-rain-in-the-diaspora/11991#11991 – yydl Sep 30 '20 at 02:16
  • https://www.amazon.com.au/Seasons-Soul-Historical-Philosophical-Perspectives/dp/0899068529 has a chapter on this, as far as I remember. – The GRAPKE Sep 30 '20 at 02:29
  • Maybe this will help – robev Sep 30 '20 at 02:48
  • @yydl or https://judaism.stackexchange.com/a/98187/759 – Double AA Sep 30 '20 at 02:50
  • It is because of the difference between the Julian and Gregorian calendars. Once the Sanhedrin is reestablished, the date will be set by the Sanhedrin. – sabbahillel Sep 30 '20 at 02:57
  • @sabbahillel is that true? Why would it change? Because the tekufos are slowly becoming inacurate? – robev Sep 30 '20 at 03:14
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    @robev The calendar used is basically the Julian calendar which has three extra leap years every 400 years. As an example, when the switch was made in England, 15 days were removed from the calendar. Thus when the Gregorian calendar skips a leap year (years divided by 100 but not 400 at the end of each century) the discrepancy grows by one day. Thus, this century had a leap year in 2000 but skipped in 1900 and will skip again in 2100. – sabbahillel Sep 30 '20 at 03:38

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