Rebbe Nachman of Breslov taught...
As often as you can, take a trip
out to the fields to pray.
All the grasses will join you.
They will enter your prayers
and give you strength to sing
praises to God...
(The Empy Chair, p. 86)
If Torah had never been given, would we still be obligated to be good people and to do the right thing? Look here at a comment made by Rabbi Hezekiah ben Manoah (The Chizkuni, a 13th century rabbi.) Here our rabbi tries to answer the question, how could Noah's generation have been punished with the flood if they hadn't been given any laws to follow by God?
(1) וכל האדם, “as well as every human being.” The word: אדם when used in the Holy Scriptures always includes men women and children. If you were to ask why the human race was punished when it had not been given commandments by G-d that had to be observed, we must answer that there are a number of rules for behavior of society that humankind can be expected to honor without the need to be specifically commanded to do so. If proof were needed for this statement we remind you of Cain being punished for having killed his brother Abel, although there is no record that he was ever warned by G-d not to kill another human being.
Do you agree with this? Are there such things as unspoken rules, and if so, what are they and where do they come from?
(7) But ask the beasts, and they will teach you; The birds of the sky, they will tell you, (8) Or speak to the earth, it will teach you; The fish of the sea, they will inform you. (9) Who among all these does not know That the hand of the LORD has done this? (10) In God's hand is every living soul And the breath of all humankind.
(א) בהמות ותורך. תלמדך כל אחת מהם:
The beast, and they will teach you... You shall learn from each of them.
A Prayer:
Master of the universe,
let me seclude myself in meditation and prayer every day,
going out to the fields to meditate, among the trees and grass,
pouring out my heart in prayer.
For all the leaves and grass,
all the trees and plants,
will stir themselves to greet me;
they will rise to imbue my words and prayers with their energy and life force…
They will combine all their spiritual power and bring my words up to their supernal Source….
((The Flame of the Heart, p. 64)
Perek Shira is an ancient Jewish text form the 10th century. It has appeared in many different forms in different prayer books throughout the years and has mostly fallen out of the liturgy in our time. Perek Shira is composed of the songs of the natural world. We are told that one who wishes to receive a divine miracle should recite these words every day for 40 days.
For us, here in the woods today, we want to use this song to connect with nature. Do not read the whole text below, but rather skim it for characters who arouse your curiosity. Once you've gotten a good sense of how nature praises God, try to write your own song of praise, either from your point of view or from the point of view of something natural. Please share these in your family groups.
Perek Shirah translated by Rabbi Eliezer Raphael (Lazer) Brody
...
Our sages of blessed memory said that when King David completed the Book of Psalms, he had a feeling of self-satisfaction. He said before The Holy Blessed One, "Is there any creation in Your world that says songs and praises more than I do?" That same hour, a frog appeared to him, and said to him: "David! Don't be complacent, for I say songs and praises more than you do... Not only that, but I involve myself in a great mitzvah, and this is the mitzvah that I involve myself with: There's a species on the beach whose sustenance comes exclusively from (creatures that live) in the water, and when it's hungry, it takes me and eats me. I therefore fulfill the mitzvah of that what is said (Proverbs 25:21-22), "If your adversary is hungry, feed them; if they're thirsty, give them water to drink..."
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Chapter 1:
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The Desert says: "The desert and the wasteland shall rejoice, and the arid region shall rejoice and blossom like a rose." (Isaiah 35:1)
The Fields say: "Hashem founded the land with wisdom; God established the heavens with understanding." (Proverbs 3:19)
The Waters say: "The sound of God's voice places the multitude of waters in the heavens and God raises the vapors from the end of the earth." (Jeremiah 51:16)
The Seas say: "More than the voices of many waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea, Hashem is mighty on high." (Psalms 93:4)
The Rivers say: "Let the rivers clap their hands, together the mountains shall sing for joy!" (Psalms 98:8)
The Wellsprings say: "And as singers that are flutists, are all my wellsprings within you." (Psalms 87:7)
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Chapter 2:
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The Sun says: "The sun (covered by) the moon stands in its abode; they proceed by the light of Your arrows and by the flash of Your glittering spear." (Habakuk 3:11)
The Moon says: "God made the moon for the festivals; the sun knows its destination." (Psalms 104:19)
The Stars say: "You alone are Hashem; You made the heavens, and the heaven of heavens and all their legions, the earth and all that is on it, the seas and all that is in them, and You give them all life; and the heavenly legion bows down to You." (Nehemiah 9:6)
The Rain Clouds say: "God made darkness God's secret place; God's surroundings are God's shelter, the darkness of water the clouds of the heavens." (Psalms 18:12)
The Clouds of Glory say: "Even when it's clear, God troubles the rain cloud to form; the cloud shall spread its light." (Job 37:11)
The Wind says: "I will say to the north, relinquish; and to the south, do not withhold; bring My sons from afar, and My daughters from the ends of the earth." (Isaiah 43:6)
The Lightning says: "God makes lightning for the rain; God brings forth the wind from God's treasuries." (Psalms 135:7)
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Chapter 3:
The Trees of the Field say: "Then shall the trees of the forest sing out at the presence of Hashem, for God comes to judge the earth." (Chronicles I, 16:33)
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The Fig says: "One who guards the fig shall eat of her fruits." (Proverbs 27:18)
The Pomegranate says: "Your cheeks are like a slice of pomegranate under the lock of your hair." (Song of Songs 4:3)
The Palm says: "The righteous flower like the palm tree; they grow tall like a cedar in Lebanon." (Psalms 92:13)
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The Sheaves of Wheat say: "A song of ascents; from the depths I have called out to You, Hashem." (Psalms 130:1)
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Chapter 4:
The Rooster says: "When the Holy Blessed One, comes to the righteous in the Garden of Eden, all the trees of the Garden of Eden exude their fragrance, and they rejoice and praise, and then God arouses and praises." (Zohar, Vayakhel, 195)
In its first call it says: "Raise up your heads, O gates! Be uplifted, eternal portals, so that the King of Glory may enter! Who is the King of Glory? Hashem, the mighty and strong, Hashem, the mighty in battle!" (Psalms 24:7-8)
In its second call it says: "Raise up your heads, O gates, and raise up, eternal portals, so that the King of Glory may enter. Who is the King of Glory? Hashem, Master of Legions, God is the King of Glory, Selah!" (Psalms 24:9-10)
In its third call it says: "Stand, O righteous ones, and engross yourselves in Torah so that your reward will be double in the World-to-Come."
In its fourth call it says: "I have hoped for Your salvation, Hashem." (Genesis 49:18) In its fifth call it says: "How long will you recline, O lazy one? When will you rise from your sleep?" (Proverbs 6:9)
In its sixth call it says: "Do not love sleep, lest you become impoverished; open your eyes and you shall be satiated with bread." (Proverbs 20:13)
In its seventh call it says: "It's time to act for Hashem, for they have violated Your Torah." (Psalms 119:126)
The Hen says: "God gives bread to all flesh, for God's loving kindness endures forever." (Psalms 136:25)
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The Crane says: "Give thanks to Hashem with the lyre; play for God with the ten-stringed harp." (Psalms 33:2)
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The Swallow says: "So that my soul shall sing Your honor and shall not be silent, Hashem my God – I shall forever thank you." (Psalms 30:13)
The Swift says: "My help is from Hashem, Maker of Heaven and Earth." (Psalms 121:2)
The Petrel says: "Light is sown for the righteous, joy for the straight-of-heart." (Psalms 97:11)
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The Domestic Goose says: "Give thanks to Hashem and call God's name, inform the nations of God's works! Sing to God, chant to God, speak of all God's wonders!" (Psalms 105: 1-2)
The Wild Goose that flies in the wilderness, when it sees Israel engrossed in Torah says: "A voice cries, Make way for Hashem, straighten a path in the desert for our God" (Isaiah 40:3).
And upon finding its subsistence says: "Cursed is the one who trusts in a human; blessed is the one who trusts in Hashem, and Hashem shall be his assurance." (Jeremiah 17: 5, 7)
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The Grasshopper says: "I lift my eyes to the mountains, from where shall my help come?" (Psalms 121:1)
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The Spider says: "Praise Him with sounding cymbals! Praise Him with clashing cymbals!" (Psalms 150:5)
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The Giant Sea Creatures say: "Praise Hashem from the earth, the giant sea creatures and the depths." (Psalms 148:7)
The Whale says: "Give thanks to Hashem for God is good, God's kindness endures forever." (Psalms 136:1)
The Fish say: "The voice of Hashem is upon the waters, The God of glory thunders; Hashem is upon a multitude of waters." (Psalms 29:3)
The Frog says: "Blessed is the Name of God's glorious Kingdom forever and ever!" (Talmud, tractate Pesachim 56a)
Chapter Five
The Sheep and Goats say: "Who is like You among the might ones, Hashem, who is like You, adorned in holiness, awesome in praise, worker of wonders!" (Exodus 15:11)
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The Swine say: "Hashem is good to the upright and the straight of heart." (Psalms 128:2)
The Beast of Burden says: "If you eat the fruit of your labors, how happy and fortunate you are." (Psalms 128:2)
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The Wild Animals say: "Blessed is the Good One Who does good." (Talmud, Berachos 48b)
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The Elephant says: "How great are your works, Hashem; Your thoughts are extremely deep." (Psalms 92:6)
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The Wolf says: "For every criminal act – for the ox, the donkey, the lamb, the garment, for every lost item which one says, 'This is it!', shall they both come with their claim to the judge; the one who the judge finds guilty shall pay double to their fellow." (Exodus 22:8)
The Fox says: "Woe to one that builds their house without righteousness and their upstairs rooms without justice; they employ their fellow with no wages, and will not pay them their due." (Jeremiah 22:13)
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The Cat says: "I shall pursue my enemies and overtake them, and I shall not return until they are destroyed." (Psalms 30:2)
Chapter Six
The Insects say: "May Israel rejoice in their Creator; may the children of Zion be joyful in their King." (Psalms 149:2)
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The Snake says: "Hashem supports the fallen and straightens the bent over." (Psalms 145:14)
The Scorpion says: "Hashem is good to all, and God's mercy is upon all God's handiwork." (Psalms 145:9)
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The Ant says: "Go to the ant, sluggard; see its ways and become wise." (Proverbs 6:6)
The Mouse says: "And You are just for all that comes upon me, for You have acted in truth and I have been wicked." (Nehemia 9:33)
The Rat says: "Let every soul praise Hashem, Halleluja!" (Psalms 150:6)
The Dog says: "Come, let us prostrate ourselves and bow, let us kneel before Hashem our Maker." (Psalms 95:6)
How would you praise God? Please write a song of praise from your own point of view and/or from the point of view of something from nature.