וּמְנָא לַן דְּבִתְפִלָּה — דְּתַנְיָא:
״לְאַהֲבָה אֶת ה׳ אֱלֹהֵיכֶם וּלְעׇבְדוֹ בְּכׇל לְבַבְכֶם״, אֵיזוֹ הִיא
עֲבוֹדָה שֶׁהִיא בַּלֵּב — הֱוֵי אוֹמֵר: זוֹ תְּפִלָּה. וּכְתִיב בָּתְרֵיהּ:
״וְנָתַתִּי מְטַר אַרְצְכֶם בְּעִתּוֹ יוֹרֶה וּמַלְקוֹשׁ״.
The Gemara asks: And from
where do we derive that rain must be mentioned specifically in the Amida
prayer? The Gemara answers: As it was taught in a baraita
with regard to the verse: “To love the Lord your God and to serve Him with
all your heart” (Deuteronomy 11:13). Which is the service of God that
is performed in the heart? You must say that this is
referring to prayer. And, afterward, it is written: “And I shall give the
rain of your land in its due time, the first rain and the last rain”
(Deuteronomy 11:14). This juxtaposition teaches that it is appropriate to
request rain while engaged in the service of the heart, i.e., prayer.
אָמַר רַבִּי יוֹחָנָן: שְׁלֹשָׁה מַפְתְּחוֹת
בְּיָדוֹ שֶׁל הַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא שֶׁלֹּא נִמְסְרוּ בְּיַד שָׁלִיחַ,
וְאֵלּוּ הֵן: מַפְתֵּחַ שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים, מַפְתֵּחַ שֶׁל חַיָּה, וּמַפְתֵּחַ
שֶׁל תְּחִיַּית הַמֵּתִים.
§ The Gemara cites related
statements concerning the idea that rainfall provides evidence of God’s might. Rabbi
Yoḥanan said: There are three keys maintained in the hand of the
Holy One, Blessed be He, which were not transmitted to an intermediary,
i.e., God tends to these matters Himself. And they are: The key of rain, the
key of birthing, and the key of the resurrection of the dead.
מַפְתֵּחַ שֶׁל גְּשָׁמִים — דִּכְתִיב:
״יִפְתַּח ה׳ לְךָ אֶת אוֹצָרוֹ הַטּוֹב אֶת הַשָּׁמַיִם לָתֵת מְטַר אַרְצְךָ
בְּעִתּוֹ״. מַפְתֵּחַ שֶׁל חַיָּה מִנַּיִן — דִּכְתִיב: ״וַיִּזְכֹּר אֱלֹהִים
אֶת רָחֵל וַיִּשְׁמַע
Rabbi Yoḥanan cites verses in
support of his claim. The key of rain, as it is stated: “The Lord will open
for you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain of your land in its
due time” (Deuteronomy 28:12), indicates that rainfall is controlled by God
Himself. From where is it derived that the key of birthing is
maintained by God? As it is written: “And God remembered Rachel and listened. (source)
