An antidote to winter

RABBI SHMUEL YESHAYAHU

Winter is coming and, usually, it comes along with a downing of moods. You see people carrying themselves more slowly across rainy grey streets where, instead of smiling, passers-by rush by with wind-struggling umbrellas. Every window is closed; every table and chair on once-open patios lies covered. In light of these winter conditions, what does Judaism have to say about the seasons?

On the Hebrew calendar, fall and winter usually come around between the months of Tishrei and Nissan (approximately October to March) and spring and summer fall between Nissan and Tishrei (approximately April to September). But, in Judaism, seasons do not only refer to time. They also refer to something deeply symbolic.

Let’s take a practical approach and represent summer with the sun and winter with the rain. If you look at what similarities there are between the two, you will notice that both the sun and the rain are necessary to sustain life on earth. The light from the sun and the droplets falling from the sky both come from above to below, “reaching” down to nurture us.

However, there are also differences. In sunny months, the earth has little control over the rays that descend from above. Rain, however, originates from moisture rising from the earth, shaping clouds and coming back in the form of life-giving water. Rain, unlike sunshine, involves the participation of the earth to create more rain. The winter months are, likewise, characterized by human involvement.

Looking carefully at many of the Jewish holidays that occur during the winter months, you will notice how these festivities involve human action. In the month of Tishrei, you have holidays like Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, Chanukah and Purim; these are days when you build a sukkah, repent, light candles, among other actions; what is important is that we directly participate in these miracles.

On the other hand, summer is all about G-d giving back to us and we are, ostensibly, passive. Pesach and Shavuot take place in these months. On Pesach, we celebrate how G-d liberated us from the bonds of Egypt. Notice how this was a direct divine action, as we were set free by G-d. We see it again on Shavuot when G-d gives us the Torah.

Summer is a time to go out and explore the natural world around us; a time to be passive because it is a time of receiving. Then, in winter, we are expected to be active, as it’s a time when human involvement becomes necessary.

Human beings have to learn that there are specific times to be good recipients and times when we have to actively participate, making decisions and giving back. During winter, when we are actively involved in Creation and limited by human tendencies, the world may seem to be more depressing, moody, limited and challenging.

However, during this period when we are a part of the process of creating, whatever we do is more genuinely ours. So, instead of worrying about the grey skies and endless rains to come, take advantage of the time to produce and create; fill your days with actively building strong bonds with friends and family, and creating more goodness for the world. And then, when the summer comes, you will be able to enjoy and receive the fruits of your labor.

Rabbi Shmuel Yeshayahu is head of the Ohel Ya’akov Community Kollel. He wrote this article with Eitan Olevsky, a freelance writer living in Vancouver.

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