Simhat Torah is the time to rejoice and to celebrate the completion of the reading of the Law. Yet a little known, but important, aspect of the holiday is the fact that Jews pray for rain. After all the joyous processions with the Torah scrolls, after the singing, dancing and merriment, when the scrolls are returned to the Ark, we recite the prayer for rain.
Why pray for rain, and why at this particular time? For Jews who live in the Southern Hemisphere it doesn’t even make sense, for in that part of the world summer is approaching, yet they are still required to make the petition. And is a winter of hard rain really necessary in Chicago?
Historically, when the Jewish nation was forced to leave its homeland and scatter in the Diaspora, the holidays related to Judaism were already firmly intertwined with the physical realities of the Land of Israel, with its landscape, nature and agricultural problems. Tishrei, the seventh month, is linked to the start of the winter rains. Even today, in an era of irrigation, crops in Israel will no doubt fail if a winter of drought is realized.
Read More