Q. When I traveled recently to Eretz Yisroel, I said Tal umotor librocho in Shemoneesre like everyone else. Was that correct?

A. Poskim disagree in regards to the mention of Tal Umatar for someone residing outside of Eretz Yisroel who visits there temporarily. (Mishna Berura 117: 5) There are a number of variant scenarios to this question. If one traveled there after the seventh of Marcheshvan and plans to stay in Israel until after the day when we begin saying Tal Umatar in Chutz La’aretz, (December 4 or 5, or day 60th. After the beginning of the Tekufa of Tishrei) most Poskim agree that he should recite Tal Umatar like everyone else in Birchat Hashanim. The reason is that he is now in a place that requires rain and even more so if his place of permanent residence also requires rain. (Betzel Hachochmo 1: 62, Divrei Yatziv 1: 68, Ishei Yisroel 23: 37 et. al.) However, if he was planning to return before that day, some Poskim maintain that he should mention Tal Umatar only in the bracha of Shomea Tefila (Yom Tov Sheni Kehilchoso 10: 23, Teshuvos Vehanhogos 2: 55, Beer Moshe). Some opine that in this last case, (arriving in Israel after the seventh of Marcheshvan and departing before the 60th after the Tekufa of Tishrei) he is not required to mention Tal Umatar even on Shomea Tefila (See Piskey Teshuvos O.H. 117, n. 26).

Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shlit’a opinion is that in all the above mentioned cases, he should recite Tal Umatar only in Shomea Tefila.

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