Perek Shirah - Dew Says

Saturday, February 13, 2016 · Posted in ,

טַל אוֹמֵר - Dew Says:
Hoshe'a 14:6
אֶהְיֶה כַטַּל לְיִשְׂרָאֵל, יִפְרַח כַּשּׁוֹשַׁנָּה; וְיַךְ שָׁרָשָׁיו, כַּלְּבָנוֹן
ehyeh chatal leYisra'el yifrach kashoshana veyach sharashav kaLvanon
I will be to Yisra'el like the dew; he will flower (blossom) like the lily, 
and strike his roots like the (as) Levanon.

Because the Jewish people, collectively and individually, will have repented, their source will not become dry and their spring will not be dried up. On the contrary, "I will be to Yisrael as dew."

Even as the dew does not cease coming down every morning, so My benevolence towards the Jewish people will not cease. As a result, "he will blossom like the lily." The lily blossoms, not during a fierce rain, but when moistened by the dew at night. Yisrael is likened to a lilly, and it will merit the "dew" of G-d's blessing.

Yisra'el is likened to the lily, as it says, "a lily among thorns" (Shir HaShirim 2:2). The comparison is not fully adequate. The lily has no roots, but Yisra'el's roots are "like the Levanon." The cedars of Levanon have extensive roots below ground. Rain tends to destroy the lily, but the dew causes it to blossom. Nor does it harm its fragrance.  The lily opens upward, and even so the little moisture provided by dew is helpful. Regarding the Jewish people, similarly, the Sages teach that whoever gazes upward will in the end come to the path of life. As it says, "They looked to Him, and are radiant" (Tehillim 34:6).

The Jewish people have no roots in exile. Eventually, however, they who are now rootless will strike roots, and "his roots" will be "as Levanon." Future generations of the Jewish people - "his branches" - will be living in the Land of Yisra'el, and these branches "will spread out far." Then "his beauty will be as the olive tree, and his gragrance as Levanon" (v14:7).

This will take place in the End of Days. Even as the olive tree gives rise to olive oil, which then provides light, their fruit will also give light. At that time, the Holy Spirit and the spirit of purity will rest upon Yisra'el in the Land of Yisra'el - place of purity and holiness.


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Perek Shirah - Lightning Says

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בְּרָקִים אוֹמְרִים - Lightning Says:
Tehillim 135:7
בְּרָקִים לַמָּטָר עָשָׂה מוֹצֵא-רוּחַ מֵאוֹצְרוֹתָיו
berakim lamatar asa motze-uach me'otzrotav
He makes lightnings for the rain; He brings forth wind from His treasuries.

King David depicts the wonders of rain. "He raises the vapor-clouds" from the sea at "the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain." After G-d has caused the clouds to ascend on high, "He brings forth wind from His Treasuries." He draws the winds from their place of confinement, and they move the clouds over the surface of the earth.

King David also depicts here the redemption of Yisrael, which he likens to rainfall. At first the clouds obscure the light, and at times there is wind and storm. But after the rain has fallen, the skies clear and everyone benefits from the rain. The redemption comes in a similar fashion. At first there is the darkness of bondage, but then there is a great light. That is what King David says: "He raises the vapor-clouds from the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain:; He also "brings forth wind from His treasuries." But in the end everything brightens.

G-d's might is evident when He does two opposite things at once. Fire and water are opposites, and yet "He makes lightning for the rain." The water does not extinguish the fire.

"He brings forth wind from His treasuries" to scatter the clouds, or else to drive them to the designated location, everything in accordance with His will. To scatter and to bring to a designated location, are also opposites.

Rains are a sign of Divine supervision. This it says "For I know that Hashem is great, and that our G-d is above al gods. Whatsoever Hashem wants, He has done, in heaven and on earth, in the seas and in all depths. He raises the vapor-clouds from the ends of the earth; He makes lightnings for the rain; He brings forth wind from His treasuries."

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Perek Shirah - Wind Says

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רוּחַ אוֹמֵר - Wind Says:
Yeshayahu 43:6
 אֹמַר לַצָּפוֹן תֵּנִי וּלְתֵימָן אַל-תִּכְלָאִי הָבִיאִי בָנַי מֵרָחוֹק וּבְנוֹתַי מִקְצֵה הָאָרֶץ
omar latzafon teni uleteiman al-tichlai havii vanai merachok uvenotai miktze haaretz
I shall say to the North, "Give forth!" and to the South, "Hold not back!" 
Bring back My children from afar, My daughters from the ends of the earth!

Fear not that you may lose your status due to the exile, for I shall gather you from all over the earth.  I shall bring back the lost Ten Tribes exiled to the East, and the Judeans exiled to the West.

I will bring back not only those who are distant geographically, at the "ends of the earth," but also those who are distant spiritually, "from afar."  Those who were forced to abandon Jewish practice but kept it secretly in their homes, and even those who had only kept the faith in their hearts.

When G-d spoke to the prophet about the return of the exiles, He said: “…bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth” (Yeshayahu 43:6). According to our Sages (Menachot 110a), “My sons” refers to the exiles in Babylonia, who were like sons, since their minds were settled and composed, while “My daughters” refers to the exiles in other countries, who were like daughters, since their minds were not settled and composed. 

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