Parshat Vayera
October 25, 2002

Vehaya Im Shamoa III

“Venatati metar artzichem Beito yoreh umalksosh veasafta deganecha...
Venatati esev besadcha livhemtecha veachalta vesavata – And I will give you rain in your land at the appropriate times; and I will give you grass in the fields for your animals and you will eat and be sated.”

There are so many important points contained in these two sentences. Here are a few:

1. Our daily sustenance is directly related to the fulfillment of the first part of this prayer – “ And if you will listen…to my mitzvot.. .”

2. We need to understand and appreciate that when providing  rain G-d calculates the amount, time of day and year that it falls, and that it should actually bring forth the crops from the earth.

3. Since the verse first mentions food for animals and then people, the Talmud teaches that one must feed their animals before providing for themselves.

4. It is one blessing to have what to eat and enjoy. It is an entirely different blessing to feel sated with ones lot.

These two sentences in the middle of the second paragraph of Shema present some of the great ideas of Torah and Jewish thought. Namely - that there is a G-d that rewards and withholds based on our performance in His world, there are specific instructions and directions how to fulfill His will on earth, and the lot he bestows upon us is a blessing that needs to be appreciated.

In our world of sophisticated goods and things, we would do well to digest and incorporate these lessons and especially #4. The Talmud states clearly that when one obtains one hundred he wants two hundred. If he obtains one million he wants two million. Our sages remark that people die fulfilling only half of their desires on earth. Therefore it is clearly human nature to desire more, and more, and more. We must aim higher then our nature. The Mishna in Avot teaches: “ Who is happy, one who is satisfied with their portion”. Every single one of us has a great portion. We just have to learn to appreciate it. “Veachalta vesavata – you will eat and be satisfied” – something we all should strive for.

Shabbat Shalom.

Rabbi Ephraim Epstein

*Helpful Hint* Jot down some of the interpretations you learn into the margins of your personal siddur. This will enable you to access and utilize these and other Tefilla tips more easily.