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It is very appropriate that the final Shabbat reading of this year’s Torah cycle deals with rain. Before he dies, Moses imparts his final words to the Israelites, delivered in the form of a Biblical poem that begins:

“May my discourse come down as the rain,

My speech distill as the dew,

Like showers on young growth,

Like droplets on the grass.”

It’s a beautiful image—so in keeping with the theme of the High Holidays.

As the Book of Kings reminds us, life’s changes do not come about through storms, earthquakes or fires. These overwhelming natural events, and their aftermaths affect us, perhaps, for a week or two.

Rather, change comes from the small things we do—support one another, provide an ear for someone struggling emotionally, and choose positivity in this often complex and cynical world.

Moses teaches that a life of Torah begins with a series of droplets. But over time, they combine to form a shower of goodness, kindness, compassion, and care.

We often shy away from the idea of rain. It is viewed as being inconvenient.  The Beatles sang in 1966, “When the Rain Comes, They Run and Hide their Heads.” Indeed, rain is not considered to be our friend.

Yet in many states and countries, rain is cherished.  In rural areas, we often hear, “We sure could use some rain.” Without it, crops—that we city dwellers take for granted—wilt or die.

In Israel, if we do not respect water—store it, gather it, harness it—there is no food or sustenance during the dry summer.

The Torah tells us that when we don’t respect water, we become compromised, forcing us to embrace darkness, which was associated with Egypt, where water flows aplenty.

Over the past six years, I’ve watched our granddaughter, Clara, grow.  I’ve seen her look outdoors each day at the weather and become excited over its possibilities.

The first time she saw snow, she couldn’t wait to go outside and bellyflop in the back yard. And when it rains, she can’t wait to run outside and jump in muddy puddles.

No one has told her to fear snow or rain—that is acquired. She just loves each day and what it brings.

And our grandson, Mason, approaching his 18^th birthday, is preparing for a career in environmental law, in part to protect the embattled earth—rain or shine.

Over the centuries, commentators have reflected upon this section of the Torah, observing that rain emanates from dark skies and can make many feel discomforted. But rain is also the liquid of life. About 60 percent of our body is made of water.  We are water people.

So, as Moses begins this section of the Torah with a poem entitled Listen, he inspires us to consider that each day, each year, life provides us with countless opportunities to grow.  

On this, the Shabbat immediately following Yom Kippur, we are encouraged to consider working on the changes we committed to during the High Holidays.

We answer three important questions:

Who are we? We are sacred souls.

Where are we? We live in a challenging world.

How does it work? Life provides options at every turn, to go down or to rise up.

While we are looking for sunny skies during the coming year, I think we can agree there will also be some cloudy days and rain in the forecast.

If we are looking for big answers to life’s challenging questions, I am quite certain that these will not come through the trembling earth, or wind, or fire. Rather, one drop at a time, we can declare, “I can do better.”

The weather forecast on Long Island calls for sunshine for the next few days, but when rain comes—predicted for Wednesday—let us as the Cascades encouraged us in 1961 to “listen to the rhythm of the falling rain."

The Psalms remind us, “This is the day that God has given us, let us rejoice in it.” Rain or shine, may we embrace every day on this earth—one drop, one act, one day at time.

Shabbat shalom, V’kol tuv.

Rabbi Irwin Huberman