Watered by Wisdom (Haazinu)

“A drop of water, if it could write out its own history, would explain the universe to us.” – Lucy Larcom

In the rare song of Moses, Haazinu, he uses the metaphor of water to describe Torah, coming down from above and being absorbed by different audiences:

“Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. May my teachings drop like the rain, may my utterance flow like the dew; like storm winds upon vegetation and like raindrops upon blades of grass.”
Deuteronomy 32:1–2

Rabbi Ovadia Sforno explains that the same Torah, the same instruction, is valuable yet experienced differently by a spectrum of people.

“Rain” is for those with understanding, who absorb the essence of wisdom.

“Dew” is for the simple person. Even a little bit, like dew upon vegetation, is very good and provides knowledge.

“Storm winds” are for the insightful, who will perceive wonders.

“Raindrops” are again for the simple person, but with extended exposure they gain an understanding of their Creator, which raises them toward the level of understanding.

The order of ascendancy, according to Sforno, begins with dew, followed by raindrops, then rain, and finally storm winds.

Though Moses presents it in an alternating structure, my sense is that the pattern is repetitive, like rainfall, and continually ascending. Once a person reaches the highest rung of a certain level, the insightful, they begin again at the lowest rung of a higher level, the simple. In this way the process of growth continues, level after level, through steady exposure and involvement with Torah.

May we seize the opportunities this year to grow in every dimension of life: physical, educational, social, financial, and spiritual.

Gmar Chatima Tova and Shabbat Shalom,

Ben-Tzion

Dedication

 To Col. (Res.) Hezi Nechama, for killing the terrorist this week during a ramming and stabbing attack in our area.

https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-869135