Perek Shira: The Song of Existence - The Song of Water
by Rabbi Shmuel Kraines
Water says: “At the sound of His placing bountiful waters in the heavens, then the clouds are raised from the ends of the earth.” (Yirmiyah 51:16)
Water sings of the ingenuity of Hashem’s perpetual system of precipitation.
Water is absolutely essential for all living organisms. Drinkable water comes mostly from rainfall. If not for the kindness of the complex water cycle, water and the life it supports would soon disappear. Therefore, each water drop sings of Hashem’s repetitive formation of rainclouds to provide for His creations.
Water speaks of "the sound of Hashem's placing bountiful waters in the heavens." This "sound" is the proclamation of Hashem's praise expressed by the formation of the clouds. On a deeper level of understanding, the Midrash relates that on the second day of Creation, when Hashem separated the waters, forcing half to remain on earth, the lower half cried out over its demotion. We may suggest that the lower waters find solace when they are elevated and formed into clouds.
The water cycle has a lesson for mankind: Hashem brings up water from the ends of the earth to the high heavens in order to provide for the needy. We should be willing to make the much smaller effort necessary to help out others.
- Source: Ber. Rabbah 5:2; Malbim to Yirmiyah 51:16 and Ber. 1:6
*In loving memory of Harav Zeev Shlomo ben Zecharia Leib
