The Ben Ish Chai tells a story that happened to R’ Moshe Galanti, zt”l. One year, there was a drought in Yerushalayim. The winter had passed without any rain. In Yerushalayim, where there are no rivers or lakes, a lack of rain meant no drinking water and no crops. It was a great tzarah. Reb Moshe Galanti declared a yom tefillah with the tefillos to be held at the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik. He told people to go there with raincoats and raingear because “by the time we finish our tefillos, it will be raining.”
Together, the community of Yerushalayim marched through the Shaar Shechem gate of Yerushalayim to get to the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik. The Arab guard at the gate laughed when he saw the Jewish community dressed in raingear. He questioned them, “Is today Purim? Why are you dressed in costumes?”
They replied how their Rav, Reb Moshe Galanti, told them that Hashem would answer their prayers and that it would rain that day. The Arab thought it was preposterous. When Reb Moshe Galanti passed the Arab guard, the Arab punched him in the face, r”l, because he thought that he was lying to the Jewish community. Reb Moshe Galanti looked at the Arab and didn’t respond.
Loud, inspirational tefillos were held by the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik. Throughout the whole time, Reb Moshe Galanti leaned over the kever, whispering words. Suddenly, clouds started forming, winds stared blowing and it began to pour. The Arab guard ran to the kever of Shimon HaTzaddik and asked forgiveness from Reb Moshe Galanti. He carried Reb Moshe Galanti home on his shoulders and promised to be his slave forever.
The Ben Ish Chai writes that this story is an example of davening with confidence. Reb Moshe Galanti was certain that Hashem would answer their tefillos and, therefore, didn’t mind telling everyone to come with raingear. He wasn’t afraid that people would mock him because he was certain it would rain. (HaChaim v’HaShalom by the Ben Ish Chai)
