What we term “nature” is inextricably linked to our spiritual growth
“And I will establish My covenant with you, and never again will all flesh be cut off by the flood waters, and there will never again be a flood to destroy the earth.” (Bereishis 9:11)
With His promise, Hashem establishes the stability and blessing of rain. The Gemara (Taanis 7a) quotes Rav Yehuda saying, “The day of rains is as great as the day on which the Torah was given, as it is written (Devarim 32:2): “My lesson [likchi] will come down like the rain,” lekach referring to Torah.
The Anshei Knesses Hagedolah, when compiling the siddur, placed the petition for rain adjacent to the brachah of techias hameisim, because both are above the laws of nature. Although rain camouflages itself as nature, we must realize we need our tefillos to release this brachah. (Rabbi Yakov Barros)
Seminary year, after Succos, I started waiting for those freezing rains I’d been warned about. Yet well into Cheshvan, the country was still enjoying a long, balmy Indian summer.
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