Another matter: “The Lord will open for you” – the Rabbis said: The Holy One blessed be He said to Israel: ‘My children, all the goodness that comes to the world comes due to your merit. How so? Dew falls only due to your merit.’ From where is it derived?
It is as it is stated: “May God give you from the dew of the heavens” (Genesis 27:28). ‘Rain falls only due to your merit.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “The Lord will open for you His good storehouse.” ‘Peace, too, comes only due to your merit.’ From where is it derived?
It is as it is stated: “And grant you peace” (Numbers 6:26) – due to your merit. There was an incident involving a certain idolater who asked Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakai; he said to him: ‘We have appointed times, and you have appointed times. We have Calends, Saturnalia, and Kratesis, and you have Passover, Shavuot, and Sukkot. What is the day that we and you are joyful?’
Rabban Yoḥanan ben Zakai said to him: ‘This is the day of rainfall.’ From where is it derived? It is as it is stated: “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? “A psalm. Shout out to God, all the land” (Psalms 66:1).