<p>The rav mentioned that we&nbsp;<em>cannot</em>&nbsp;request rain in the opening Amida Brachot, as these blessing are solely decitated for שבח (and not בקשה). We do, however, request in these <em>praise oriented Amida Brachot</em>&nbsp;"זוכרנו לחיים" etc (during Aseret Yemei Teshuva). Tosfot מתרץ that there is a difference between צרכי צבור and צרכי יחיד. aכלומר, because זוכרנו is a צרכי צבור request&nbsp;<em>we may</em> recite it in the first 3 blessings. But according to this explanation, why not ask for rain in these brachot? Is rain&nbsp;not צרכי צבור?&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>