More Discussions for this daf
1. When did the Jewish people bow down in the Mikdash 2. The Keruvim that did not take up any space 3. The Angel of rain
4. Terumas ha'Deshen and Hotza'as ha'Deshen 5. Shulchan 6. Does one mourn the loss of parents more than the loss of children?
7. Fire on the Mizbe'ach 8. Differences Between the First and Second Beis Ha'Mikdash 9. Grammar and Deeper Meaning
10. אלו חמשה דברים שהיו בין מקדש ראשון למקדש שני 11. ענינא דיומא (לא עלינו)
DAF DISCUSSIONS - YOMA 21

Sam Kosofsky asked:

Rebbe,

On daf 21 we learn that the malach in charge of rain is called Raydya (or something similar). On Shemini Atzeret, however, in the tefilla of geshem we say af bri ootat is the name of the sar of rain. How do we reconcile this apparent setira?

B'kavod,

Sam Kosofsky

The Kollel replies:

Af Bri (not Bri Utas), is the name of the angel in charge of bringing rain, based on the verse in Iyov 37:11 (see Rashi there) 'When he sees that the water is clear and clean ("Af Bri"), he gathers the clouds in the sky'. He is called 'Af' because sometimes he brings the rain in a storm (from the word 'Af' = anger), and 'Bri' because sometimes he brings it in a way that sustains ('Lehavros' [Mateh Levi]). Where the rain falls or how it is distributed is not his domain.

Ridaya, on the other hand, Rashi describes as the angel in charge of watering the earth, whether it comes from the clouds or from the depths. He has no control over whether or when it rains, or over how much rain falls.

Clearly then, these two angels serve quite different functions.

Be'Virchas Kol Tuv

Eliezer Chrysler