Rain

#Haazinu #seferdevarim #devarim #parashathaazinu #yomkippur #thegatesofheaven #rain #taanit #masechettaanit #dafyomi #wordshavewings #theprayerforrain #maymydiscoursecomedownasrain #autumn #clouds

Parshat Ha'azinu, Moshe's poem to the people, speaks in the rich language of poetry, and is a final plea to the Israelites to listen (הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ) to the voice of Gd, no matter how undeserving they are of Gd's attention. The parsha calls upon the heavens and earth to witness this final speech.

In Devarim 32:2-3 the author uses the images of different types of rain to suggest that the content will soak in and be remembered. It is interesting that the rabbis refer to different types of rain in the Talmud. In Masechet Ta'anit (the rules of fasting) a fascinating variey of rains are mentioned. Among them:

Rain in the Bible (Directly taken from Flowersinisrael.com/BibleRain_page.htm)

There were two seasons of the year in which the rain fell abundantly. In the latter part of October and early November (the Hebrew month of Heshwan) came the early rains, מורה moreh, "early rain," יורה yoreh, "former rain.”

The second downpour came in the spring in the latter part of March and the first part of April (the Hebrew month of Nisan), the rains were called מַלְקוש malqosh, "latter rain," “spring-rain” (i.e. showers of March-April; important, as strengthening and maturing crops).

There are two main Ancient Hebrew words for rain used in the Hebrew Bible: גשם (geshem) and מטר (matar); they are used for different types of rain.

Geshem: rain, shower, גשם, in the Bible, it is usually associated with a heavy rain.

Matar: rain, מטר ( water falling from the clouds in the shape of drops of different sizes at different speeds), and the related word ממטיר (mamtir), meaning “to cause to rain down”, are sometimes used with negative connotations, for example, the word ממטיר was used in the story of Noah when the Lord caused a flood which was literally of Biblical proportions upon the earth (Genesis 7:4–5 ). מטר is also used in the story of Sodom and Gomorrah when the Lord causes fire and brimstone to rain down on the city and its evil inhabitants (Genesis 19:24). In the Jewish tradition, מטר is included during the winter months in a prayer for rain said three times a day. ממטיר and מטר , their Biblical Hebrew meaning would be a type of rain which is perhaps more directly or intentional caused by G-d than normal everyday rain.

Other names for rain:

• Tal, dew, טָל night mist

• Rebibim, רְבִיבִים, abundant showers; rabab: to be or become many or much רָבַב

• Dalaf, (דלף (טורד (dropping of rain) – water dropping in a continuous flow. Proverbs 27:15 a day of steady rain, rainy day.

• Sagrir: סַגְרִיר, steady or persistent rain, Proverbs 27:15 a day of steady rain, rainy day.

• Zarziph, זרזיף a drop, dripping, זַרְזִיף Psalm 72:6 Like showers that water the earth.

Parshat Ha'azinu, with its striking language and its references to rain, is read during the week of Yom Kippur and the idea of rain being an agent for change resonated with me. Almost six years ago when the current Daf Yomi cycle began, the first Masechet we learned was Ta'anit . At that time, as a photography project, I tried to glean one idea from the many presented on every page and incorporate the simple text into an image. The images presented below are from that project and attempt to illustrate different types of rain.

The seasons are changing, it is time for the rains to begin falling and we are still asked to remember the messages of Torah. High above us the gates of judgement are open. Some things never change.

With wishes for a quiet Yom Kippur, an easy and meaningful fast and a good year ahead.

May this New Year bring good news and, of course, ample rain.

Chatimah Tovah,

Leann

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Rain

Summer is seeping away,

with its lazy dawns and early dusks,

while the sweet scent of rain

ripples down,

filling spaces between sulking clouds,

creating a tableau of what was

and what can be.

Somewhere far above

are clouds we see, but never touch,

The Gates remains open.

Iridescent raindrops

tasting of wind and sky, 

reflect the earth below as they tumble,

as the greens of the earth fade to browns.

Far below, a labyrinth of footprints

crisscross the land,

as though an artist with her brush

has created

a map of actions;

my movements and theirs,

ours and theirs;

our intentions

painted in footprints.

One footstep leads to another;

toe, heel, toe.

Pointing, circling. 

Far above the rain and the clouds

The Gates remain open.

A radiant army of raindrops gently descend.

Their task is to fall;

drop upon drop

they erase yesterday's footsteps

First a heel, then a toe,

a sole,

one footprint at a time.

Raindrops

soak the earth to erase the old,

make way for the new;

the earth refreshed .

Creating a fresh landscape

for a New Year.

Above the ground,

Above the raindrops and the pouting clouds

in a hallowed space,

The Gates remain open.

יַעֲרֹ֤ף כַּמָּטָר֙ לִקְחִ֔י        תִּזַּ֥ל כַּטַּ֖ל אִמְרָתִ֑י כִּשְׂעִירִ֣ם עֲלֵי־דֶ֔שֶׁא        וְכִרְבִיבִ֖ים עֲלֵי־עֵֽשֶׂב׃

May my discourse come down as the rain,

My speech distill as the dew,

Like showers on young growth,

Like droplets on the grass.

Deuteronomy 32:2

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