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eikeV ב ֶק ֵע £Secrets of Rain£Secrets of RainSecrets of Rain
£

The portion of Eikev remarks on the importance of rain twice. In the
first, the Torah compares the lands of Egypt and Israel:
£The Fiftieth Gate of UnderstandingThe Fiftieth Gate of Understanding
££The Fiftieth Gate of Understanding For the land that you are coming there to inherit it is
not like the land of Egypt that you left there, where you
would plant your seed and irrigate it with your foot like
The portion of Eikev, which describes the rewards promised the a vegetable garden. But the land that you cross over to
Jewish people for keeping the mitzvot, begins with the words “and inherit is a land of mountains and valleys; from the rain
it will be” (vehayah). Later in the portion, the Torah uses the same of heaven you will drink water. (Deuteronomy 11:10-11)
words to introduce what is commonly known as the second paragraph
of the Shema: “And it will be that if you listen….” Near the end of The land of Egypt, where rainfall is quite infrequent, was and still
the book of Deuteronomy, the portion of Ki Tavo, which describes is totally dependent on the Nile River for its water. In ancient times,
the Jewish people’s entry into the Land of Israel, also begins with the Egyptians would irrigate their fields by forcing the Nile’s water
the same Hebrew word “vehayah.” Our Sages have noted that when “with their feet” into irrigation canals that would either carry the
a book or Torah portion begins with this word, this phenomenon water directly to the fields or to higher places closer to the fields
signals great joy. which could then be irrigated by hand. Even today satellite photos
dramatically show the Nile’s importance to Egypt as the areas near
This joy appears to be related to the Land of Israel, for in all three
cases the Land of Israel is central to the ensuing verses. In Eikev, the Nile are green with vegetation and the surrounding areas are
the most exquisite and detailed description of the Promised Land is parched and brown. The Land of Israel, which has only one large
woven into the portion. The second paragraph of the Shema clearly body of fresh water, is a completely different story. It was, and still
links the reward and punishment for mitzvah observance to the remains, dependent on rainfall. Significantly, Israel’s dependence
people’s residence in the Land. If the Jewish people observe the laws on rainfall and God’s promise that rain would fall from the heavens
of the Torah, they will be deemed worthy of living in the Land in a appear immediately before the verse quoted in the previous section
state of peace and contentment, whereas if they do not observe the that stresses how God constantly keeps his eyes on the Land.
laws, they will be driven out of the Land. The great joy associated The second mention of rain in the portion comes shortly after these
with just being in the Land of Israel is still palpably felt by those verses and is in the section commonly known as the second paragraph
who visit or immigrate to Israel. Despite (or, perhaps, because of) all of Shema. This paragraph is recited twice daily during prayers:
the Jewish people have experienced throughout history, just being
in the Land is still a unique thrill. It will be that if you hearken to My commandments
that I command you today, to love God, your God, and
One phrase the Torah uses to describe the Promised Land’s to serve Him with all your heart and with all your soul,
bounty is “you will lack nothing there” (Deuteronomy 8:9). A more then I shall provide rain for your land in its proper time,
literal translation of this verse reads, “you will not lack – everything the early and the late rains, that you may gather in your
is in it.” It is truly amazing that in such a small country there are grain, your wine, and your oil. I shall provide grass in

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