"The whole world was created for me"

We live in a world where stimuli influx can be rapid, "arbitrary", and at times inconsequential - making it difficult to decipher an actionable piece of information from the one to be ignored. I suppose it would be nice if we had this filtering process down to a science, but then again, we are only human. The Lubavitche Rebbe,  Menachem Mendel Schneerson,used to say that something wouldn't come to our attention if we were not suppose to respond to it in some way. Hey I want to avoid watching the nightly news precisely for this reason as I already have a full-time job. Yet from our Sages teachings we learn that every person is required to say to themsleves "the whole world wouldn't have been created if not for me". Rebbe Nachman of Breslov explained by adding: " therefore, if I see something lacking in the world, it is my responsibility to pray for its completion."

After reading a recent article about the drought in the Midwest and its effect on crop expectations, particularly for the farmers who operate non-irrigated farms (about 25% of Nebraska farmers, while most of Iowa farmers rely strictly on rain water), I realized that I did not give it the attention it deserved. Ok, I am not a water resource consultant, nor am I a seasoned corn farmer, yet in learning from our Sages teachings, I should have seen it to be my responsibility to respond to this information in a way that i am able - by joining those farmers in prayer for rain.

Now, Hashem seems to be pushing the issue and sending this lesson home. Recently the only mikvah in Nebraska (in the Omaha JCC) experienced a tragic accident, in which the rain water reserve (neccesary to render it a kosher mikvah) was accidently drained. Consequentially, all the Jews in Nebraska who depend on this mikvah must travel to Iowa until the problem is resolved. The mikvah can't be returned to its kosher status until the natural rain water reserve is replenished. This means that there will be no mikvah in Nebraska until we have another heavy rain.

So now, I think I really should take heed and pray for summer rain - joining the farmers of the Midwest and members of the greater Jewish community of Nebraska.

What will you do with this piece of information?

I hope that you will join me in taking a few moments out of your busy day to ask our Father in Heaven for rain.

Wishing you all a great Shobbos and a good forecast,
Rabbi Shaffier