For every calamity that may befall the community we sound [the shofar] concerning them, except for excessive rain. It once happened that [the people] said to Choni HaMe'agel, “Pray that rain should fall.” He said to them, “Go and bring in the ovens [used] for [roasting] the Pesach sacrifices, lest they dissolve [because of the rain].” He prayed, but no rain fell. What did he do? He drew a circle and stood within it and said before Him, “Master of the Universe! Your children have turned to me because I am like a member of Your household. I swear by Your great Name that I shall not move from here until You have mercy on Your children.” Rain began to trickle. He said, “Not for such [rain] have I prayed, but for rain [that will fill the] water holes, ditches, and caves.” [Rain] began to fall with a vengeance. He said, “Not for this have I prayed, but for rain of good will, blessing, and grace.” [The rain] fell nor-mally until the Jews left Jerusalem for the Temple Mount in the face of the rain. They came and said to him, “Just as you prayed for them to fall, pray that they cease.” He said to them, “Go out and see whether the Stone of the Strayers has been washed away.” Shimon ben Shatach sent him [a message] saying: “Were you not Choni, I would pronounce a ban upon you. But what can I do to you, since you are like a [favorite] child before the Omnipresent, and He fulfills your wishes as a son who makes himself like a young child before his father and he fulfills his wish. Concerning [people like] you, Scripture states: May your father and mother be glad, and she who bore you rejoice.”

[If] they had been fasting, and rain began to fall before sunrise, they need not complete [the fast]. [If the rain began to fall] after sunrise, they must complete [the fast]. R' Eliezer says: [If it began to rain] before midday, they need not complete [the fast, but if the rain began] after midday, they must complete [the fast]. It once happened that a fast was decreed in Lod and rain fell before midday. R' Tarfon said to them, “Go out, eat and drink, and proclaim a holiday.” They then went out, ate, drank, and proclaimed a holiday. In the afternoon, they returned [to the synagogue] and recited the Great Hallel.