Parashat Eikev

Rain: Where Heaven and Earth Meet

by:Rav Yosef Zvi Rimon

Founder and Board Chairman, JobKatif

When the parasha explains the thing that is most special about Israel it begins to speak about the rain:

“For the land that you will possess is not as the land of Egypt, from where you came out where you sowed seed… but the land, That you will possess, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinks water as the rain of heaven cometh down; a land which the LORD your God cares for; the eyes of the LORD your God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year.” (Devarim 11:11)

Why is the land of Israel described precisely by the rain?

The Gemarah Tanit 6b states: Abbahu said: when do we say the bracha on the rain – when the groom comes out and calls to his bride. What is the bracha? Rav Yehudah said in the name of Rav: “We thank you to the LORD our God for every drop that falls.”

What is the connection between a bride and groom and rain?

The Sages say that rain is as important as the day the sky and the land were created. The rain brings life in to the world and it cannot continue to live without it.

Another idea is that supposedly the Nile is better because it gives water each year. The Torah says that Israel specifically points out that “it is not the land of Egypt …” The usual explanation is that Israel depends on the rain and rain comes from the heavens. The rain falls only when the people of Israel do God’s will. Rain is an expression of G-d’s care of us.

Perhaps the meaning of the rains is not just that it shows that G-d plays a role in this world, but it shows that there is a connection between heaven and earth. Rain is similar to the manna that fell from the sky. We are sent down things from heaven to connect two seemingly detached pieces of this world.

We have the ability to do this by taking the profane and sanctifying it. When we add holiness to the mundane we uplift this world. The two are not only connected when the top drops down but also when the top “drops” back up!

The connection between the sky and the earth, i.e. the rain is expressed at a wedding because this is the epitome of a continuation of creation. There is a physical connection that actually connects the couple to the spiritual world. The physical connection and a special spiritual power is what create life. This is the special connection that allows us humans to continue the story of Creation.

Our goal is to connect heaven and earth, to the sacred and profane. Our goal is not to disengage from material reality, but to sanctify it. This is the largest elevation: to add sanctity everywhere.

Shabbat Shalom!