My wrath shall be withdrawn from them,
I shall be like the dew to Israel...
(Hosea 14:5-6)
On the first day of Pesach we offer an elaborate prayer for dew in the second blessing in the Mussaf
Prayer. The Gemorah (Taanis 4A) remarks about the difference between rain and dew, both of which are vital functions of the life-giving agriculture cycle.
For some, the rain is a joy and for some it is an annoyance. Part of the High Priest’s prayer as he entered the Holy of Holies reads: And when the world is in need of rain, do not let the prayers of the travelers with regard to rain gain entrance before You. (Yoma 53:B)
Dew, on the other hand, falls in a calm fashion and accomplishes its vital function while annoying no one.
We pray for rain from Tishrei through Adar. Rain comes during the time when the seeds germinate, when the plants are rooted, when they mature and when they ripen.
These are periods of tense, anxious hard work. We ask for dew during the season of harvest when we enjoy the fruits of our labor.
This analogy may be used to guide us in our Torah life both internally and outwardly.
