מדרש על יונה 3:8

R. Ami said: "Rains are withheld solely on account of the sin of robbery; as it is said (Job 36, 32) He covereth His hands with the lightning. His hands, refers to the robbery; as it is said (Jonah 3, 8) And from the violence which is in their hands; and light, refers to rain; as it is said (Job 37, 11) He spreadeth abroad the cloud of His lightning. What is its remedy? Increasing prayer; as it is said (Ib. 36, 32) And giveth it a charge B'mafgiah; and Mafgia refers to prayer; as it is said (Jer. 7, 16) Therefore pray not thou for this people, etc., neither Tifga, (shall thou make intercession to Me)."

(Fol. 16) GEMARA: Our Rabbis were taught: If there is an aged one among them, he should address the congregation; if not, then a scholar should address them. And if there is neither then a prominent man from amongst their own should address them." Does the venerable man mentioned above refer even to one who is not a scholar? Said Abaye: "It means that if the eldest among them was also a scholar, he should address them; otherwise a scholar, even if he was younger, should address them; and if there was no scholar among them, then a prominent man should address them saying: 'Brethren! Because neither sackcloth nor fasting causes [forgiveness], but repentence and meritorious deeds; for thus we find in the case of the Ninevites. It is not written that God regarded their having wrapped themselves in sackcloth and considered their fast-days, but that God saw their works, that they had turned from their evil way.'" (Ib.) And man and beast were covered with sackcloth. What did the Ninevites do? They separated the suckling animals from their mothers and said: "Sovereign of the Universe! If Thou wilt have mercy upon us then we will have mercy upon these; but if Thou wilt not have mercy upon us, we will not have mercy upon these." (Ib.) And they called unto God with might. What does with might signify? R. Samuel maintains that they said: "Sovereign of the Universe! If one is submissive, and the other is not; if one is capable of enduring, and one is not; a righteous, and a wicked; which should yield? (Ib.) And every one turned from his evil way, and from the violence which was in their hands. What does from the violence which was in their hands signify? Samuel said: "If a man had wrongfully appropriated a beam which he had used in building a house, he tore down the house and restored the beam to its lawful owner."