From when do we mention the powers of rain? R' Eliezer says: From the first Yom Tov of the festival. R' Yehoshua says: From the last Yom Tov of the festival.  R' Yehoshua said to him: Since rain is but a symptom of curse during the festival, why mention [it]?  R' Eliezer replied to him: I, too, did not say to re-quest [rain], but [merely] to mention “He causes the wind to blow and the rain to fall,” in its proper season.  He responded: If so, one should always mention [the powers of rain]!

We do not request rain except close to the rainy season.  R' Yehudah says: Of those [chazzanim] who stand before the Ark on the last Yom Tov of the festival —- the last [chazzan] mentions [the powers of rain, but] the first [chazzan] does not mention [it]. On the first Yom Tov of Pesach, the first [chazzan] mentions [the powers of rain, but] the last [chazzan] does not mention [it].  Until when do we request rain? R' Yehudah says: Until Pesach is over; R' Meir says: Until Nissan is over, as it is said: He caused rain to fall for you —- the early rain and the late rain —- in the first month.

On the third [day] of MarCheshvan we request rain; Rabban Gamliel says: On its seventh [day], fifteen days after the festival, so that the last [pilgrim straggler] of Israel may reach the Euphrates River.

If the seventeenth [day] of MarCheshvan arrived but rain did not fall, the [distinguished] individuals would start fasting [a series of] three fasts: They may eat and drink after dark, and they are permitted to work, bathe, anoint [themselves with oil], wear shoes, and have marital relations.

If Rosh Chodesh Kislev arrived but rain did not fall, Beis Din decrees [a series of] three fasts upon the [entire] community. They may eat and drink after dark, and they are permitted to work, bathe, anoint [themselves with oil], wear shoes, and have marital relations.

If these [fasts] passed and they were not answered [with rain], Beis Din decrees [a series of] three more fasts upon the [entire] community. They may eat and drink [only] while it is still daytime, and they are forbidden to work, bathe, anoint [themselves with oil], wear shoes, and have marital relations. Also, they must lock the [public] bathhouses.  [If] these [fasts] passed and they were not answered [with rain], Beis Din decrees [a series of] seven more [fasts] upon them —- totaling thirteen fasts upon the [entire] community.  These [latter seven fasts] are more stringent than the earlier ones, for on these they sound the shofar and lock the stores; on Monday they may open [the store doors] partially toward evening, but on Thursday they are permitted [to keep the doors open] in honor of the Sabbath.

[If] these [fasts] passed and they were not answered [with rain], they must decrease commerce, construction, planting, betrothals, marriages, and greeting one another —- as [befits] people censured by the Omnipresent.  The [distinguished] individuals resume their fasting until Nissan is over. If after Nissan ended rain fell, it is a symptom of curse; as it says: Is today not the wheat harvest ...?

What is the order [of service] for fast days? They would bring out the Ark to the town square and place ashes upon the Ark, the head of the Nassi, and the head of the Chief of the Court, and everyone [else] places [ashes] upon his [own] head.  The eldest among them would preach words of inspiration before them: “Our brethren, it is not stated regarding the people of Nineveh: And God saw their sackcloth and their fasting, but [rather]: And God saw their deeds, that they repented their evil ways. And in the admonition he states: Now rend your hearts and not your clothing.”

They [then] began to pray.  They send before the Ark a well-versed elder, who has children and whose house is empty, so that his heart should be fully [devoted] in prayer. He recites before them twenty-four blessings: the eighteen which are [recited] every day, and six more which are added.

And they are as follows: Zichronos, Shofaros; To Hashem in my distress I called and He answered me; I shall lift my eyes to the mountains etc.; From the depths have I called You, Hashem; A prayer of the afflicted when he faints.  R' Yehudah says: He was not obligated to say Zichronos and Shofaros. But in their place he says: If there be a famine in the land, if there be a pestilence etc.; and The word of Hashem which came to Jeremiah regarding the droughts. He then says their [proper] endings.

After the first he says: “He Who answered Abraham on Mount Moriah, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who redeems Israel.”  After the second he says: “He Who answered our forefathers at the Sea of Reeds, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who remembers the forgotten.”  After the third he says: “He Who answered Joshua in Gilgal, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hearkens to the sounding of the shofar.”  After the fourth he says: “He Who answered Samuel in Mizpah, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hearkens to a cry.”  After the fifth he says: “He Who answered Elijah on Mount Carmel, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who hearkens to prayer.”  After the sixth he says: “He Who answered Jonah from the fish's belly, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed >are You, Hashem, Who answers in time of distress.”  After the seventh he says: “He Who answered David and his son Solomon in Jerusalem, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day. Blessed are You, Hashem, Who has mercy on the land.”

It happened in the days of R' Chalafta and R' Chananyah ben Teradyon that one went before the Ark and completed the entire blessing, but they did not respond Amen after the blessing.  “Sound the tekiah, O Kohanim, sound the tekiah.” “He Who answered our father Abraham on Mount Moriah, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day.” “Sound the teruah, O sons of Aaron, sound the teruah.” “He Who answered our forefathers at the Red Sea, He shall answer you and hearken to the sound of your cry this day.”  When the matter came before the Sages, they said: Such was not our custom except at the Eastern Gate and on the Temple Mount.