Haazinu 5777 - English

By Rabbi Daniel A. Kripper

Beth Israel - Aruba.

“My lesson will drip like rain; my word will flow like dew…”

With these first words from his Chant, Moses bids goodbye to the people, poetic words that resonate through the generations. 

The expressions from the Torah are compared to the rain.  When rain falls in winter, it does not leave a perceptible mark on trees and vegetation.  Only when the sun in spring breaks through the clouds, by warming the earth and stimulating growth, do we notice the effects of the rains from the previous season. 

Something similar happens spiritually.  Rabbis and teachers frequently feel some frustration when our words fall on deaf ears, in the midst of the incessant cacophony of our environment, fearing that they will not leave a long-lasting impression.  

However, this isn’t necessarily so.  Like the chant says, the teachings of the Torah are similar to the winter rains, its effect rarely perceptible.  They require a period of incubation, in certain cases, up to several years or decades.  For spiritual ideas, experiences and values, once they are assimilated, never go away.  Many times they must hibernate, waiting for a sign to revive them, as long as the soul is ready to flourish and bear fruits.  

This might be why the Shema reads as follows, “And these words which I command you today shall be upon your heart.”  One sage noted that the text should actually say “in your heart.”  “Upon your heart” suggests that the Torah should be transmitted with an optimist spirit, even though its words might not seem to dig deep into the heart, but stay just on the surface.  For we cannot know which circumstances in life can influence the heart and make it more open and sensitive to the spiritual.  

Thus, Moses concludes his life’s mission with a chant, beyond any judgment or reproach to his people.  Moses trusts that through a vibrant and positive education process, future generations will effectively turn back towards their roots in search for moral and spiritual sustenance.  

From a different angle, Rabbi Louis Jacobs analyzes the initial verse where rain and dew are compared.  

In an agricultural society, the farmer prays for rain at the correct time.  If the rain takes too long in coming, it can be disastrous for the fields.  The same thing will happen if there is excessive rain or if it continues to rain for longer than necessary.  On the contrary, a soft dew is always welcome, as the sages say: “Rain is sometimes wanted and sometimes not, while dew is wanted at all times.”

Judaism is compared to rain and dew.  Just like the rain, it is necessary for the big rites of passage, life cycle events such as births, weddings, etc.  During those times, one experiences powerful emotions and ineffable feelings of elevation, like sparks of mysticism.   

This also happens during the grand occasion of the Jewish calendar and its festivities, each one with its own distinctive rituals.  Through them, Jewish life becomes vital and relevant, rising above the monotony of everyday life.  We all need reminders, like the High Holidays we are celebrating these days, to consider who we are and the meaning of our tradition.    

The comparison with dew represents the other side of Judaism, the Judaism that is expressed day to day, not so spectacularly as the first but no less significant. For example, the way in which we face our relationships, our habits, our commitment to others, our regular prayer and study.  

The combination of both elements leads to the transcendence of the human spirit and to the beauty of holiness. 

Rabbi Daniel Kripper