The Torah of Character: Parshat Haazinu- May good rain down on us

Abstract

In these tense days of red alerts in Israel, we worry about rockets showering on us from the sky. But in our Torah portion for this week, what rains down from the sky does not destroy, it nourishes and grows us. Parshat Haazinu contains Moses’ spiritually and emotionally evocative song, poetically describing God’s relationship with the Israelites. Moses opens Haazinu comparing Torah to rain: “Let my teaching drop as rain, My words descend like dew, Like showers on new grass, Like abundant rain on tender plants” (Deut. 32:2). This vivid metaphor stimulates the Midrashic imagination. The Sifrei Deuteronomy, a collection of Midrash dating back to the 3rd century, provides multiple interpretations that elucidate the connection between teachings and water, students and seedlings. Each insight deepens our understanding of the dynamic interplay between Torah and character.