It's more than just a simple pleasure; it's a connection to something profound. This blessing, this goodness, isn't just about the taste in our mouths. It's about the health that flows through our bodies, whether we eat a little or a lot. As the Psalmist sings in Psalm 133:3, "There YHVH commanded blessing, eternal life."
But there's a deeper, more mystical layer to this blessing, too. Imagine the power of the words we speak while savoring that fruit. The Peri Etz Hadar suggests that these blessings illuminate the very source of all blessings: Tsaddik, often translated as "Righteous One," who is also described as the "Life of the Worlds."
And what about the rainbow? It's not just a beautiful arc in the sky after a storm. The Peri Etz Hadar draws a parallel to the tachash, the mysterious animal whose skins were used to cover the Tabernacle, the mishkan. You see, the author here beautifully connects Creation with the mishkan. Rabbi David Seidenberg suggests that the rainbow becomes the covering of the sacred tent, the ohel, that is our Earth. Just as the Tabernacle sheltered the divine presence, the rainbow shelters and blesses creation. It’s a powerful image, isn't it? The Talmud in Shabbat 28a hints at this, too.
From this point of illumination, may shefa – abundance, divine flow – favor, and compassion pour down upon us. This is a plea for forgiveness, a recognition that we've fallen short. We've "violated the covenant and damaged the fruit of Tsaddik," causing the rains of blessing to be withheld. This isn't just about literal rain, but about the flow of goodness being disrupted. All the sources of shefa, the channels of divine abundance, have been affected.
Now, we pray for restoration. We ask that everything return to its original strength, that the bow of promise, as mentioned in Genesis 49:24, remains taut, ready to release blessings. "For You, YHVH, bless the Tsaddik; favor crowns him like a shield," as we read in Psalm 5:13.
Think about that next time you enjoy a piece of fruit. It's not just a snack. It's a connection to the divine, a reminder of our responsibility to the world, and a prayer for the restoration of blessing and abundance in our lives. It's a small act with the potential to illuminate the entire world.