Midrash Tehillim, a collection of rabbinic teachings on the Book of Psalms, opens up this very question. It tells us that the Holy One gifted the world no less than three core elements. Can you guess what they are?

First, of course, is the Torah. The Five Books of Moses. The source of our law, our stories, our very identity. As Exodus 31:18 puts it, "And He gave to Moses" these tablets of stone, etched with divine instruction.

Then there's rain. Seems simple, doesn't it? But without it, where would we be? Deuteronomy 11:14 reminds us, "I will give rain for your land in its season." This life-giving water is a direct gift, sustaining us all.

And finally, lights. "And God set them in the firmament of the heaven" (Genesis 1:17). The sun, the moon, the stars... illuminating our world, marking our time, filling us with wonder.

But the list doesn't stop there! Rabbi Zeira, quoting Resh Lakish, adds peace to the list, drawing from Leviticus 26:6: "And I will give peace in the land." What good are Torah, rain and light without it? Peace, shalom, is the foundation upon which we build everything meaningful.

And then, in a surprising twist, the Rabbis add vengeance! Yes, you read that right. Vengeance? As Ezekiel 25:14 declares, "And I will execute vengeance upon Edom." This isn't about personal grudges, of course. It's about justice, about holding those who commit evil accountable. About ultimate, divine retribution.

And finally, Rabbi Yehoshua adds yet another gift: salvation. "And you give me the shield of your salvation," as it says in Psalms. This is the protection, the deliverance, the ultimate redemption that we all yearn for.

So what makes all these gifts possible? What's the key that unlocks them? According to the Midrash, it's the Torah itself! "And your right hand supports me," it says, explaining that this right hand is the Torah, referencing the fiery law given from God's right hand in Deuteronomy 33:2.

The Torah, then, isn't just a set of rules. It's the conduit through which all these blessings flow. It's the blueprint for a just and compassionate world. It is the foundation for everything we hold dear. : Torah, rain, lights, peace, even divine vengeance and salvation... all intertwined, all gifts, all connected to this ancient text we continue to study and cherish. What does this teach us about our responsibility to these gifts? What does it mean to be a recipient of such profound blessings? And how can we, in turn, share these gifts with the world?