Thoughts on Parashat Haazinu--October 11, 2008
Thoughts on Parashat Haazinu--October 11, 2008
by Rabbi Marc D. Angel
The Haazinu poem is Moses' admonition to the people of Israel, recited to them shortly before his death. In the second verse, he uses the imagery of rain to symbolize his hope that his teachings will sink into the people and be beneficial to them.
Rabbi Haim David Halevy, late Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel-Aviv, commented on the significance of rain in religious imagery. Rain is vital for the growth of crops and vegetation. Yet, for the rain to be most effective, it is necessary for the soil first to be cultivated and that seeds be planted. In such a field, the rain leads to abundant produce. When rain falls on fallow, uncultivated fields, it does not result in optimal results. Likewise, wrote Rabbi Halevy, with "spiritual rain". Those who are most receptive and spiritually cultivated derive far more benefit from Torah than those who remain "fallow". For us to derive maximum spiritual satisfaction, we need to study Torah, observe the mitzvoth, and thereby attain higher levels of spirituality. If we don't prepare ourselves to receive the spirit of Torah, its "rain" may produce weeds and thistles. Nonetheless, the power of Torah is such that it can provide blessing even to the uncultivated.
The 19th century Hassidic Rebbe Simha Bunim observed that the holy words of Torah are compared to rain. The effects of rain may not be immediately evident since it may take weeks for the crops and vegetation to grow. Likewise, the words of Torah may not seem to make an immediate impact on the listener. Yet, like rain, it seeps in and does its beneficial work. Even if it seems that the words of Torah have little or no influence, yet in the course of time these words sink in and help one attain greater spiritual insight and happiness.
On Shemini Hag Atsereth, which we will be observing very soon, we have a special prayer for rain, asking God to grant blessed rainfall so that there will be abundance and prosperity in our world. Just as we pray for the physical rain to sustain our physical lives, so we should keep in mind to pray for the "spiritual rain" that will sustain our spiritual lives.
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