Dv'ar Torah in Memory of Mark Samuel

The seventh of Jewish Month of Cheshvan is the Yahrtzeit of Mark Samuel (Mordechai Aharon Ben Michael), our dear brother, father, uncle, and wonderful friend. The seventh of Cheshvan is also the day that, in Israel, we modify the paragraph in Shmoneh Esray that includes the prayer for rain in Israel. The prayer begins “ Barech Alenu Hashem Elokena et Hashana Ha-zot”’ “Bless this year for us, Lord our G-d, and all our crops for goodness”. In the continuation of this prayer, there are two formulas. In the summer, we say “V’Teyn Bracha” (We should be granted blessing) and after the 7^th of Cheshvan in Israel we say V’tey Tal U’Matar l’vracha (We should be granted dew and rains for blessing). The formula is curious. Why do we not say V’ten Bracha shel Tal U’Matar i.e. We should be granted the blessing of dew and rain? Why the inverse formula? Our sages teach that there are two types of rain: Geshmei Bracha and Geshmei Klala; Rains of blessing and Rains of Curse. The meaning of this is very evident today, as we have seen in the past decade horrendous hurricanes, tsunamis and even tornadoes appear in geographical locations that have never previously been affected. For Eretz Yisrael, the dependence on rain for water is more crucial than most countries. We are told that we have a direct influence on the rain; in the second paragraph of Shema, we say three times daily that our actions and our dedication to G-d can affect when the rain comes and bring blessing to the land. We need to focus or actions and prayers to bring Geshmei Bracha, and not Geshmei Klala.

Fundamentally, however, we really cannot comprehend how the rains are controlled, how even the weather patterns that allow us to predict a year that Eretz Yisrael will have the sufficient water for its crops and for its inhabitants. Our primary way of controlling this is through our actions and our prayers. Thus, I think it is very significant that Mark’s yahrtzeit is on the 7^th of Cheshvan.

Understanding the fundamental building blocks of the universe was Mark’s calling, his passion and his life. He was driven to delve deeper and deeper into the things that make up our very being, with the hope that little by little, we could control some aspects of the natural order of life. Be it comprehending sources of energy, small particles that lead to the formation of atoms or molecules, or creating mathematical formulae that could prove crucial theoretical and experimental observations, Mark dedicated himself to building a better world. He wished that all his work would lead to betterment of life for all; that via our understanding of the world, we could always have Rains of Blessing. The change in our prayers on the 7^th of Cheshvan reminds us of how little we understand, and the tenuous position we have in a world in which something as essential to life as rain can be sustaining, or terrifying. It should also remind us, as we reflect, remember and celebrate Mark’s life, that we should not be afraid to devote ourselves to understanding our place in the Universe and to trying to make the world a better place for all.

May Mark’s memory always be a blessing for us.