837. Adhere to His Attributes

Rains fall thanks to three things: thanks to the earth, thanks to mercy, and thanks to suffering (Jerusalem Talmud, Taanit).

We should ask what “thanks to the earth” means. Can the earth choose, that we can say that it has merits for following the path of the Creator?

We should understand this in ethics. “Earth” means the quality of Malchut, called “earth,” which is the matter of faith. It is known that there is a discernment of “heaven” and a discernment of “earth,” as it is written, “In the beginning, God created the heaven and the earth.” “Heaven” means the quality of Torah, which is regarded as sublime and high, like the heaven, which is above.

The Torah belongs to the Creator, for He should give the Torah as a gift to a person. Conversely, faith is called “earth,” since it belongs to man, who is in the earth, as our sages said, “Everything is in the hands of heaven but the fear of heaven.” The matter of faith pertains to man, who should make the choice to take upon himself the burden of the kingdom of heaven during the concealment.

Hesed [grace/mercy] comes from the words, “Who is Hassid? He who says, ‘Mine is yours,’” which means bestowal, as our sages said, “Adhere to His attributes, as He is merciful,” etc. Otherwise, it is impossible to be rewarded with Dvekut [adhesion].