I can't help but notice on this amud how closely observed different types of weather seem to be: wind, rain and clouds, all have their place and their importance. The gemara even gets into a discussion of precisely what types of wind, rain and clouds we are talking about.
For me, discussions like this give me the very real sense of how disconnected we are from the natural world which was the animating feature of so many Talmudic inquiries. I felt this way very strongly during the first dozen or so dapim of Rosh Hashana (Josh may remember my strong urge to scream at about daf 12), when so much of the discussion was about crops and plants and growing cycles. The question for me is two fold:
1) Can I gain any real access to these types of essentially agricultural discussions?
2) What relevance can I glean, either as an educator or a learner, from this kind of issue
Any thoughts?
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4 comments:
I found this discussion about the rains, wind and clouds much more accessible than the beginning of RH. Though I have never seeded a field, I have experienced the elements. I feel like this section could be especially relevant a camp setting, especially on those rainy or stormy days where there is nothing else to do. It could begin a discussion about why we pray for rain and wind if it just cancels our peulot? Even if we don't sow the fields and grow our food, why are we responsible to still pray for the weather to help food grow? Even if that food may not feed us?
I hadn't actually thought of the camp application here Micah, and it's interesting that you took it in the direction of prayers for things we do not actually want. There seem to be two educational opportunities here: 1) A discussion of saying prayers for things we do not actually desire (although we could get out of this problem with the somewhat technical answer that we are praying for rain in Israel, not necessarily on us)and 2) A general conversation about gratitude, even(or perhaps especially) for things that seem to be naturally occuring, and even for things, like rain at camp, which do not serve our immediate purposes.
Ethan:
you can gain access to these types of texts by being creative in your amidah. just as others offer "creative" amidot, why not try adding "mekasher avim" (ala Rashi) the next time you daven and see how you feel. Try it in my shul and I'll throw you so fast from the bimah, it will be as if you said "modim, modim"
Micah:
I too found this text more accessible. I also appreciated statements like Rava's at the end of the amud about the types of rain. It's amazing what they knew back then and were able to appreciate--think of the midwestern farmers who need rain, but too much and the crop is killed for the year.
Also your point about why we pray when all it does is cause nuisance or worse is a fascinating one and can be taken beyond camp to Schechter and our daily prayers in a number of ways. great idea
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