Q. The Eida Chareidis in Yerusholayim posted an announcement that the population should begin saying the addition of “Va’aneinu Borei Olam” in the Bracha of Shomei’a Tefilah, since the dearth of rain in Eretz Yisroel is alarming.

An important individual related to me that he heard from Rav Shteinman zt”l that people should not make that addition to Shemoneh Esrei ever, for two reasons:

1) If the public would concentrate on the words of Tefilah in general, the rains would fall. It is not a good thing to add more words to Tefilah that will be said without concentration.
2) The Chazon Ish held that this addition is only to be added to the Tefilah in the context of a fast day for rain and when the other additional Brachos added on such an occasion are said (as described in the Tur, Orach Chaim 579).

What is Rav Miller’s view on the matter?

A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in principle one should follow the traditions of the community he belongs and davens there. The Rov suggested that you can add those tefilos in Elokay netzor, before Yehi leratzon.

Rabbi A. Bartfeld as revised by Horav Shlomo Miller Shlit’a