High Time

How does rain make food grow?

In Parshas Eikev, the Torah promises that if we follow the mitzvos, Hashem will give rain “in its proper time.” Rain is part of the water cycle. Water evaporates from oceans and lakes, forms clouds, and falls back to earth. When it rains, water soaks into the soil, dissolving minerals and nutrients that plants need, like nitrogen and potassium. Plant roots absorb this mixture of water and nutrients, which travel up the stem to the leaves. Using photosynthesis, the plant turns sunlight, carbon dioxide, and water into energy.

But timing matters! Too much rain at the wrong time can flood roots or rot crops. Too little, and plants dry out. That’s why the Torah promises not just rain, but rain in the right time.