Parshas Ki Savo: Reign in the Rain

 

Torah Parallels Weekly

Parshas Ki Savo

💭 A Thought on the Parsha:   Reign in the Rain                         Immediately after the Torah lists the curses of those who violate various mitzvos, the Torah writes about the goodness that comes when we in fact listen to the word of Hashem and follow His commandments.  The passuk describes that one of the rewards we receive from listening to Hashem is that Hashem will open His storehouse and allow it to rain. The Torah here is clearly communicating the connection between the world of ruchniyus and gashmiyus. The fact that there are physical ramifications based on whether we listen to Hashem or not, is no doubt a promise that only Hashem Himself could guarantee.               The Gemara  quotes Rabbi Yochanan as saying that there are three keys which Hashem has kept in His own hands and has not entrusted to any messenger:  the Key of Rain, the Key of Childbirth, and the Key of techiyas ha'meisim. The mishna says that we mention the power of rain in the second beracha of shemoneh esreh, in the beracha known as 'gevuros' (G-d's might). It is no coincidence that the other two main topics we mention in this beracha are the facts that Hashem is the One Who sustains life and Who is able to revive the dead. We refer to Hashem as gibbur because of His power to sustain life, control rain, and revive the dead.               What is the connection between these three powers of Hashem?               The Gemara vaguely explains that the reason the power of rain is mentioned specifically in this beracha is because it is equivalent to resurrecting the dead. The meforshim explain that the common denominator between the three keys of reviving the dead, childbirth, and rain is that they all provide life. As a common denominator, we could understand the relationship between these three “keys”. However, in no way do they seem of equal strength. The concept of techiyas ha'meisim is of course extraordinary, a true power. Childbirth perhaps would make second place since it is such a miraculous event and has dependency on receiving a neshama. Rain, however, seems by far the “easiest” feat for Hashem to do. Rain is just so normal and happens so often that it almost seems ridiculous to associate this with Hashem being a “gibbur” on par with techiyas ha’meisiim and childbirth. How could we understand the association of rain joining the ranks as one of these special keys that demonstrates ultimate gevurah?               Perhaps we could get a better understanding of what rain is by understanding what it is not: Skydiving.               Skydiving is quite a thrilling sport. However, those who just do not get excited enough while free falling through the air, might raise the thrill level up a notch and join a group of friends to attempt what is called formation skydiving. Formation skydiving is the sport of a group of people jumping out of a plane right after another and collectively direct your falling in certain ways to speed up or slow down to be able to hold hands in the air and form various mid-air formations. Although the risks of colliding in this sport are obvious to all, when it comes to “sky diving” raindrops, it is a completely different story. The medrash relates that Hashem appoints a malach over each and every drop of rain. Even though the drops fall a great distance from a tremendous height, the drops never attach to each other. Rather each droplet of rain is controlled by a specific ratzon of Hashem to serve a unique purpose in the exact location it falls in. There is not even one drop of rain that falls without a specific instruction and intention from Hashem.               This is precisely the common denominator between the three keys. All three represent the fact that all of life is dependent on nothing other than Hashem Himself. For anything to exist at any given point it has to be connected to Hashem's ratzon. Hashem is the only source of life, as He is Life itself. Ein od melvado. Quite literally, if not for Hashem everything would cease to exist. These three keys demonstrate this point that Hashem is the ultimate gibbur on Whom everything else is dependent. He intentionally sustains us by willing us to be in this world and could bring a person back even after death. Hashem is the source of life for every aspect of all His creations. Everything is here for a purpose and everything is here only because of Hashem's ratzon.               With this understanding, we could perhaps better appreciate the connection in this week's parsha between the spiritual realm and the physical world. If we listen to Hashem and keep His mitzvos, we become attached to Hashem Himself and He in turn showers us back with life. Indeed the Torah and mitzvos are our life as we say every night during tefillas ma'ariv,  “...For they [the Torah and mitzvos] are our life and the length of our days and about them we will contemplate day and night....” Our task is to keep the Torah and mitzvos, conquer our yetzer harrah and become a gibbur ourselves. We become a gibbur when we give ourselves the ability to live. As the Mishna states, “Who is strong (gibbur)? One who conquers his personal inclination”. Hashem is the ultimate gibbur because He provides all life.               As we head into the second half of the month of Ellul and get closer to Rosh Hashanah we must start thinking about the fact that Hashem is the Melech over the entire world. Not merely a Ruler Who has subjects that must listen because they live within His land, but a King whose people must obey because they exist only through His will. We must utilize our bechira to want to become gibborim and choose life as the passuk says, “u'v'charta b'chayim” - and you should choose life.               With this in mind may we merit to achieve what we ask Hashem for in Shemoneh Esreh during the eseres y'mei teshuvah that just as Hashem is “mi chamocha ba’al gevuros”, may He demonstrate Himself to us as, “mi chamocha av harachamim…”