Shalom to my Bnai Shalom family!
Wow, there has been a lot of snow so far this winter! Did you know there is a midrash on the creation story that says the ground we walk on was actually created from snow? It says, "On the first day God took a lump of snow from beneath the Throne of Glory and threw it on the face of the waters in the middle of the world and it became land as it says, 'For God says to the snow, 'Be upon the earth'…'" (Otzar Midrashim, Midrash Konen 1:4)
And one of our stories highlighting the Jewish value of Pikuach Nefesh, the preservation of life, is directly related to snow! Rabbi Hillel started out as a poor man who was committed to learning Torah. He used to work each day to earn a half a dinar, using half of that for his family and half for entrance into the study hall. One wintery day he had not earned enough money to enter the study hall and so he ascended to the roof and sat at the edge of the skylight in order to hear the words of Torah from the scholars there. It was Erev Shabbat and the students studied all night. When dawn broke, one of the teachers remarked that it was dark that morning. They looked up and saw a man in the skylight! They found Rabbi Hillel, covered with snow three cubits high (about 4.5-5 feet!). They pulled him out, washed him up and even lit a fire on Shabbat to warm him. They said: 'This man is worthy for us to desecrate Shabbat for him. Saving a life overrides Shabbat in any case; however, this great man is especially deserving.'" (Yoma 35b:7-8)
While there is no specific blessing for snow, as there is for rain or dew, our Talmud tells us that "Snow is as beneficial to the mountains as five rainfalls to the earth…" Hopefully the many inches of snow we have had this winter will nourish our land and reward us in the future.
Kol Tuv – All good things,
Rabbi Adrienne :)
Rabbi@bnaishalomeaston.org
Cell Phone: 609-577-6842
SERVING THE JEWISH COMMUNITY OF EASTON SINCE 1839