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Rain in Jewish Tradition
Culled from
The Jewish Sourcebook on the Environment and Ecology
by Ronald H. Isaacs)
Wow, has our reaction to rain changed over the centuries! Today, we wake up, look outside and say, "Oh, it's raining" and view the rain as
"good" or "bad" depending on whether we plan to be outdoors or not. Rain has become just another facet of life. But it didn't always use to be this way. Once upon a time, our ancestors viewed rain
very differently. They would wake up, look outside and say, "Thank you, God, for your life-giving blessing of rain." They realized that rain was the key to their survival and to the survival of the
world. They knew that too little rain or too much rain could destroy the crops that provided their food.
Rain, in Jewish tradition, is far more than just a natural resource. It is considered nothing less than a magnificent blessing. Rabbi Tanchum
ben Chiyya taught: The sending of rain is an event greater than the giving of the Torah. The Torah was a joy for Israel only, but rain gives joy to the whole world, including birds and animals, as it is
said: You take care of the earth and irrigate it. (Psalm 65:10) (Middrash Psalms117). Nor was rain viewed merely as a natural phenomenon determined by wind, air pressure, dew point or other
meteorological conditions. The second part of the Shema makes it clear that there is a direct relationship between the rains we receive and the life-choices we make. And if you will carefully obey my
commands which I give you today…I will give rains for your land at the right season…Beware lest your heart…turn and serve other gods and worship them, for then the Lord's anger will blaze against you, and He will
shut up the skies so that there will be no rain. The Jerusalem Talmud (Taanit 3) goes on to tell us that four specific actions can result in the lack of rain: For four sins rain is withheld –
idolatry, unchastity, bloodshed and because of those who promise publicly to give charity but do not.
And not only do we speak of rain in the Shema, we actually insert into our worship service, at the conclusion of Sukkot, a special prayer for rains to fall on
the land of Israel.
Ultimately, Jewish tradition views rain as it views rainbows – a part of nature that directly represents God's "personal" involvement in Creation.
Rainbows are a sign of God's pledge never again to destroy the world with water. Rainbows are created directly by God, just as rain is. Talmud Taanit 2 tells us, Three things are kept in God's hands
and never delivered to an angel: one of them is the key to rain.
The next time you awake with eager anticipation of heading off to Six Flags and it's pouring down rain, remember the words of Taanit 8: Great is the
period of rain. Even the penny in the purse is blessed by it. The Bostonner Rebbe once taught me that it is especially effective to pray when it is raining. With a twinkle in his eye, he would
say, "When Creator is giving out b'rachot (blessings), take advantage of it."
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