On Shemini Atzeres we began reciting mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem in the second berachah of Shemoneh Esrei. This praise of Hashem who controls the wind and rain is recited in the berachah that praises Hashem for many of His mighty attributes.
There seem to be differing customs on the correct pronunciation of the word “geshem – rain” in this berachah. Some say geshem with a segol under the gimmel and others say gashem with a kamatz under the gimmel.
The reason it would be pronounced gashem is because it is the last word before a pause. In Lashon Kodesh any word, or even a name, with a segol under its first letter, receives a kamtaz under that letter instead if it is at the end of a pasuk or before a pause in a pasuk. For example, in Parshas Bereishis, the Torah lists Adam HaRishon’s lineage. The Torah (Bereishis 5:15) says that Mehalalel fathered a son named Yared (with a kamatz under the yud). The following pasuk states that Mehalalel lived for 830 years after he begot Yered (with a segol under the yud). So, was his name Yered or Yared? The answer is that his name was Yered but when the name is at the end of a pasuk the pronunciation is changed to Yared.
There are sources that document both pronunciations – geshem and gashem. Yet, the minhag in Europe and in many yeshivos was to say gashem.
Let us explore what the underlying machlokes is about. We must begin with understanding the nature of the statement “mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem.” Is it part of the berachah of Techiyas Hameisim or merely inserted in this berachah for part of the year? The first three berachos of Shemoneh Esrei are praises of Hashem. The second berachah of Techiyas Hameisim praises God’s might. Is mentioning Hashem controlling the rain and wind one of the integral praises of this berachah?
If mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem is a part of the berachah of Techiyas Hameisim, there should be no pause after saying it; it flows together with the other praises, and the word should therefore be pronounced geshem with a segol under the gimmel.
However, if it is a separate independent passage that we insert in this berachah to obtain favor in Hashem’s eyes, we should pause after saying it and consequently the word should be pronounced as gashem with a kamatz under the gimmel.
It is evident from the Gemara (Taanis 2b, 4b) that we recite mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem in order to praise Hashem and to gain favor in His eyes before asking for rain. It is apparent therefore that mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem is not an integral part of the berachah of Techiyas Hameisim; rather it is an independent praise that we mention to become worthy to ask for rain. It is not merely a praise of Hashem; it is designed specifically to procure our favorability to be able to plead for rain.
Another indication that mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem is not part of the actual berachah of Techiyas Hameisim is from the halacha that if a person omits mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem and has completed the berachah but has not yet begun the following berachah, he can recite it after the conclusion of the berachah (Orach Chayim 114:6). If mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem were indeed part of the berachah of Techiyas Hameisim, it would have to be recited as part of the berachah, not after it.
Yet further support for the argument for the pronunciation of gashem is the nigun chazanim use for this berachah; all of them pause after reciting mashiv haruach u’morid hagashem.
Rav Moshe Feinstein (Igros Moshe, Orach Chayim 4, 40, 15) rules that the correct pronunciation is gashem.