Good rain, bad rain, no rain
At the risk of giving away a TTriddle or two, let's take a look at something that cannot be past off as a coincidence of the calendar.

We read Parshat No'ach in the beginning of the month of Cheshvan. We read about the MABUL (Flood) which began and ended during the second month; there is a dispute as to whether that is Cheshvan or Iyar. It is in Cheshvan that we begin to ask G-d for blessed rainfall. (In Eretz Yisrael, that is.) In fact, the Mishna speaks of the situation in Israel where rain has not fallen by the 17th of Cheshvan, that individuals would accept upon themselves to fast three fasts, to intensify their prayers and petition to G-d for rainfall. That is the very date given by the Torah for the beginning of the Flood.

So far, we've spoken of no rain, destructive rain, and blessed rain. And that is the point. Rain (like other things in nature) can be good and can be bad. And it is actually up to us - as a community and each of us as individuals, do our part in getting blessed, beneficial rainfall - not too much, not too little, and certainly not in the destructive form of devastating storms but rather GISHMEI BRACHA.

We know the harm that hurricanes and tsunami waves have wrought in certain parts of the world. We are equally aware of the devastation of drought. What can we do about these things?

We said T'FILAT GESHEM on Shmini Atzeret. We've been saying that G-d is the MASHIV HARU'ACH UMORID HA- GASHEM (or GESHEM) since then. We're about to start asking for rain. Is that all there is to it?

No way! Take a look at what caused the almost total destruction of the world. It wasn't people omitting TAL UMATAR. It was corrupt and immoral behavior of society that brought about G-d's "regret" (so to speak) that He had created mankind.

And it is our challenge as human beings and as Jews to see to it that G-d never has cause to regret our existence. That G-d never has cause to consider the terrible punishments and destructions that come in many different forms.

Can we change the world? Yes we can. Starting with ourselves, we must unceasingly strive to uphold Torah values and practice. Big job, but worth it.

[The Parshat No'ach Homepage]
[The TORAH tidbits Homepage] [How to use TORAH tidbits]
[About The OU/NCSY Israel Center] [About TORAH tidbits]
[www.ou.org]