Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: It is of equal importance to the revival of the dead. Rabbi Abba and Rabbi Ḥiyya in the name of Rabbi Abba said: Indeed, the Sages placed it in [the prayers in the blessing of] the revival of the dead.15The second blessing of the Amida prayer. In regard to this one [rain] a hand is mentioned, and in regard to that one [the revival of the dead] a hand is mentioned; in regard to this one [rain], opening up is mentioned, and in regard to that one [the revival of the dead], opening up is mentioned.
In this one, a hand is mentioned, as it is stated [regarding Ezekiel’s resurrection of the dry bones]: “The hand of the Lord was upon me…” (Ezekiel 37:1). In that one, a hand is mentioned: “You open Your hand [and amply feed all living beings]” (Psalms 145:16). In this one, opening up is mentioned: “The Lord will open up for you [His good storehouse, the heavens, to provide the rain of your land]” (Deuteronomy 28:12).
In that one, opening up is mentioned: “Behold, I am opening up your graves…” (Ezekiel 37:12). Rabbi Yudan said in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Avina: This one has song associated with it and that one has song associated with it. This one has song associated with it: “Those who dwell in the rocks16The dead. will sing” (Isaiah 42:11). And that one has song associated with it [as it is stated regarding rainfall]: “They shout for joy and they sing [yashiru]” (Psalms 65:14).
Rabbi Ḥiyya bar Abba said: It [rainfall] is in fact greater than the revival of the dead, as the revival of the dead benefits only people, whereas this [rainfall] benefits people and animals; the revival of the dead benefits only Israel, whereas this [rainfall] benefits Israel and idolaters. A certain idolater once asked Rabbi Yehoshua ben Korḥa, saying to him: ‘You have holidays and we have holidays; when you are rejoicing we are not rejoicing, and when we are rejoicing you are not rejoicing.
When do you and we both rejoice? When rain falls. What is the source for this? “The meadows are covered with flocks of sheep; the valleys are wrapped in grain.
They shout for joy, and they sing” (Psalms 65:14). What is written thereafter? “Shout to God, priests, Levites, and Israelites” is not written, but rather, “shout to God, all the earth”’ (Psalms 66:1). Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi said: When the rain falls, the animals seek to mate.
What is the source? “The meadows are covered with flocks of sheep [laveshu karim hatzon]” (Psalms 65:14) – a euphemism for the rams mounting the sheep.17The Hebrew could be translated “the rams [karim] cover over [laveshu] the ewes [hatzon].”