Rain

Found 19 Search results

1. The Security of Canaan

   Rabbi Michael Hattin

   The Egyptian farmer labors mightily in order to irrigate his tract of land, but he rarely fears that his source of water will dry up. The situation of the farmer in Canaan is more precarious, necessitating a spiritual and emotional effort in farming his lands in addition to the physical.

2. Eliyahu on His Way to Appear Before Ahav

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   God commands Eliyahu to go to Ahav, and tells him that He will bring rain. Eliyahu sets off to fulfill his mission with mixed feelings. His experiences over the past two years lead him to recognize the unconditional necessity of rain for the world. On the other hand, he knows that thus far Ahav has not done teshuva. God will continue convincing Eliyahu of the justness of restoring rain to the world because his strategy thus far has been ineffective.

3. Eliyahu on His Way to Appear Before Ahav

   Part 2

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu’s meeting with Ovadya prior to meeting Ahav is intended to show Ahav that Eliyahu is not capitulating to Ahav, and strengthen the God fearing presence of Ovadya in Ahav’s house. Eliyahu’s miraculous disappearance over the past years makes Ovadya think that Eliyahu’s intention is to provoke Ahav and to continue his disappearance.

4. Eliyahu on His Way to Appear before Ahav

   Part 3

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   A subtle criticism of Ovadya is apparent in Eliyahu’s claim that Ahav – not he – is Ovadya’s master. Ovadya insists that his life-risking activity - not cowardice – leave him in Ahav’s service and unworthy of a punishment of death. The literary structure of Ovadya’s speech to Eliyahu sheds light on the apparent repetitiveness of his words.

5. Eliyahu on His Way to Appear Before Ahav

   Part 4

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Why does the text eternalize Ovadyahu's mistake and record his speech in such detail? Ovadyahu's emotional speech is a condemnation of Eliyahu and his approach. It expresses how Eliyahu was perceived by the righteous people of his generation. The parallels that exist between Ovadya’s speech and Eliyahu’s experiences during the drought magnify the destructiveness of Eliyahu’s decree. Eliyahu has chosen the path conflict followed by cutting off contact. Ovadyahu has chosen precisely the opposite path: a path of brave cooperation with the wicked king in an attempt to influence from the inside.

6. The Second Encounter Between Eliyahu and Ahav - Part 1

   Rabbi Elchanan Samet

   Eliyahu's second appearance before Ahav is the opposite of the first: It takes place not on Eliyahu’s initiative, but rather as a result of God's command, its purpose is a renewal of the rains, and ultimately there is cooperation between Eliyahu and Ahav. This dialogue serves as the first in a series of actions by Eliyahu that are aimed at changing the national reality such that Israel will be worthy of God restoring the rain. Ahav, who understands the gravity of the situation, goes to Eliyahu submissively. However, upon seeing him, Ahav rebukes Eliyahu with a subtle comparison to Akhan who had brought catastrophe upon his nation out of personal interests.

7. Ahav: An Introduction

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   Following his father's legacy of alliance with Phoenicia, Ahav marries Izevel and together they transform the worship of Ba'al and Ashera into the national religion. The Canaanit culture and religion are attractive for many reasons. The rebuilding of Jericho signifies the spiritual low the nation has reached. But if Ahav is the most serious sinner thus far amongst the Israelite kings, why is his kingdom flourishing?

8. Eliyahu Prays for Rain

   Rabbi Alex Israel

   What does this episode of Eliyahu's prayer for rain add to the wider story? The storyline before and after Eliyahu's prayer appears to be stalled at the same point: Eliyahu encouraging Achav to proceed to Yizra'el hastily because the rain is on its way.  Classic commentators suggest that an immediate rain was necessary to impress Ahav or to make the clear connection between the sin of idolatry and the drought. However, there might be an additional lesson for Eliyahu himself. Though he decreed the drought, ultimately it is by God's word that the rain will come or go.

9. Parshat Eikev - Dependence and Independence

   Rabbi Alex Israel | 37 minutes

   This shiur analyzes the structure and content of Parshat Ekev, which discusses the reward and punishment that come with the covenant, and emphasizes that Israel’s tenure in the Land is contingent upon upholding the Torah. The main section also relates to different concerns “If you would say in your heart” and answers them with a call to remember something. There are responses for different mindsets and moments in life. Under-confidence- as well as certain types of overconfidence- are both religious errors. The motif of water that recurs in the parasha, especially in the contrast between the Land of Israel and Egypt, serves to highlight the tension between the human desire for independence and the Divine demand for dependence on God and adherence to the covenant.

    

10. Rain: Danger of Destruction or Dawn of Redemption?

    Elisheva Brauner

11. The Garden of Eden in the Torah

    Dr. Yael Ziegler

    תאריך פרסום: תשס"ז | | 31 minutes

    The Torah begins with an idyllic, harmonious description of the creation of life in the Garden of Eden.
    Why is Gan Eden not a central feature of the rest of Torah? Why is there no attempt of people to find it? Only Lot seems to search for it.

    In fact, the major personalities do seek it, but it is no longer called “Eden:”  life in Eretz Yisrael is meant to recreate the Garden of Eden, but with a major difference: no easy irrigation source(a deliberate contrast with Egypt and Mesopotamia). We must recognize our dependence on God and cultivate a dynamic relationship. The goal of the Torah is to return to the harmony of the Garden of Eden in the Land of Israel, where life of blossoming and blessing is dependent on commitment to God.

12. Could Sedom Become the Garden of Eden?

    Rabbi David Silverberg

13. Rain in Tanakh

    HaTanakh.com Staff

14. Chagai on Hoshana Rabba and Chanukah

    Shani Taragin | 4 minutes

    In the second chapter of Haggai, Rabbanit Shani Taragin notes how Haggai speaks on days that are significant to us today for different reasons. On the 21st of Tishrei- Hoshana Rabba – Haggai further encourages people to continue building, saying that  God will make this Mikdash great- and provide much – needed rain. Haggai turns to the Kohanim, quizzing the delegated teachers about purity and impurity. The book of Haggai concludes on the 24th of Kislev with a call for a political turnover in addition to the glorification of the Mikdash. Though Zerubavel does not not heed his call, the prophecy continues to reverberate in later generations.

15. The 24th of the 9th Month - Biblical Hanukka

    Elisheva Brauner

16. Raining on the Request for a King

    Rabbi David Silverberg

17. Eikev: Rainfall, Risk, and Introspection

    Rabbi David Silverberg

18. Sukkot and the Attribute of Justice

    Rabbi Amnon Bazak

    If we compare the way in which the festivals in the month of Tishrei are treated by the Torah and by Chazal, we arrive at an interesting observation: the impression one gets from the Torah's description is of days of joy and happiness, in apparent contrast to the dimension of justice so strongly emphasized by Chazal. Through an analysis of the holiday of Sukkot, we can understand the central motif of the prayers for rain, which occupies an important position in the Sukkot ritual. 

19. Rain

    Rabbanit Dr. Michal Tikochinsky