How Choni HaMa'agal Prayed For Rain

One year, the Land of Israel was afflicted with a terrible drought. There lived at that time a great man named Choni, and it was to him that the Jews flocked. They pleaded with him to add his holy prayers for rain to those of the congregation. Choni promised that he would pray, and with this assurance, the people returned to their homes to await the rain.

Choni prepared himself for the awesome task of praying on behalf of the water-parched holy land and its holy inhabitants. He prayed fervently, but to no avail.

Choni grabbed a stick and planted himself firmly in one spot in a field. With the end of the stick he drew a circle around himself on the earth. Then he cried out, "Master of the Universe, Your children need rain desperately. They have asked me to pray to You, and I swear that I will not step out of this circle until You have answered Your children."

The hint of a cloud appeared in the sky. The air became heavy. Slowly, tiny droplets began to fall. The excited people ran outside, but when they saw the meager rainfall they asked, "Will a rain like this suffice to help us? It seems to be just enough to release the righteous one from his vow to not leave the circle."

A delegation returned to Choni and begged him to pray again, but this time for a strong rain to satisfy the parched fields. Choni prayed once more and in minutes clouds overtook the sky. A heavy rain burst forth, flooding the earth and sending people running for shelter from the sheets of rain. This was a rain never before seen. Each drop held the volume of four cups!

The terrified people ran to Choni. He wrapped himself in his prayer shawl and prayed once more, crying out, "This is not the kind of rain I requested. Please send your children good rain." Slowly a blessed rain descended, filling wells, drenching the cracked earth, falling and falling without end.

The people left their homes and gathered high on the Temple Mount to escape the flood. Alas, again they came to Choni, pleading for him to pray that the rain stop. But this time he refused, saying: "My teachers taught me that it is not permitted to pray to take away a blessing."

The people were baffled by their dilemma. How could they show proper gratitude to G-d but still ask him to stop the downpour? Finally they came up with an answer. They brought Choni a cow to be used as a thanksgiving sacrfice. Laying his hands on the cow's head, Choni said the following prayer: "Master of the Universe, Your children are unable to stand too much bad or too much good. Please, G-d, stop this rain and bring peace to the world."

Choni's prayers were accepted. The people returned to their homes and fields, overjoyed that G-d had answered their prayers. The recently barren fields were full of ripe mushrooms and other edible plants that they picked and ate. Then, the people were able to understand that the rains had been a true blessing, and they offered thanks to G-d.

The head of the Jewish Court sent Choni a letter saying: G-d grants your requests in the same way as a father answers his favorite son. The son asks for a warm bath, then wants a cold one; then he asks for fruits and nuts, which the loving father hurries to provide. So does G-d hurry to fulfill your wishes. Fortunate are the parents who bore you. Our generation was filled with darkness and sorrow, but your prayers have led us to light and joy."

From that time on, Choni became known as "Choni HaMa'agal - Choni the circle-maker" because of the circle he drew around himself and refused to leave until his prayers were answered.