And this is the concept of the light going down in the West. For the sun rises in the east and sets in the west. It follows, that “west” signifies the descent of the light. This is all on account of weeping, which causes the light of the eyes to fade away—namely, the concept of the light going down. MaARaV (West) is thus an acronym for “Rachel M’vakah Al Banehah (weeps for her children)” (Jeremiah 31:15; as brought in the teachings of the Ari). For the Shekhinah (Divine Presence) is in the West (Bava Batra 25a), and the Shekhinah weeps and moans, as it were, over the Jewish people, as in “Rachel weeps for her children; she refuses to be consoled for her children, who are gone.” She weeps over the suffering of the Jewish people, who are dispersed among the nations and are gone from their place. Therefore, the light’s descent is in the west. For weeping causes the light of the eyes to fade away, which is the concept of the light going down, as mentioned above. This is also the concept of the Kotel HaMaaravi (Western Wall), which is where the Shekhinah weeps and moans over the destruction of the Temple, for there, in maarav , “Rachel weeps for her children,” as mentioned above.

Rabbi Yitzchak said, there are three matters here: A sigh, a groan, a scream. Each one is distinct from the other. A sigh: as it says, "and the children of Israel sighed." A scream: As it says, "and they screamed." A groan: As it says, "and their groaning rose up." Each one is distinct, and Israel did each of these. Rabbi Yehudah said, they screamed and they groaned, but they did not sigh. This is implied by what is written, "וַיֵּאָנְחוּ - and they were sighed", and the sigh was on their behalf on High.

A prayer of the lowly man when he is faint and pours forth his plea before the LORD. O LORD, hear my prayer;let my cry come before You. Do not hide Your face from mein my time of trouble;turn Your ear to me;when I cry, answer me speedily.

Another interpretation (of Deut. 29:9 [10]): YOU ARE STANDING TODAY . Just as TODAY (literally: THE DAY) sometimes darkens and sometimes lightens, so it is with you. Although you have darkness, the Holy One is going to shine on you with light eternal, as stated (in Is. 60:19): FOR THE LORD SHALL BE YOUR EVERLASTING LIGHT. When? When you all become one group, as stated (in Deut. 4:4): [BUT YOU WHO CLUNG TO THE LORD YOUR GOD] ARE ALL ALIVE TODAY. According to universal custom, if one takes a group of reeds, will he be able to break them at one stroke! But if he takes them one by one, even an infant can break them. So also you find that Israel was not redeemed until they became one group, as stated (in Jer. 50:4): IN THOSE DAYS AND AT THAT TIME, SAYS THE LORD, THE CHILDREN OF ISRAEL, THEY AND THE CHILDREN OF JUDAH, SHALL COME TOGETHER. It also says (In Jer. 3:18): [IN THOSE DAYS] THE HOUSE OF JUDAH SHALL GO WITH THE HOUSE OF ISRAEL, AND THEY SHALL COME TOGETHER FROM THE LAND OF THE NORTH. When they are united, they shall welcome the face of the Divine Presence.

“She has no comforter.” Rabbi Levi said: Any place that it is stated: “Has no [ein],” [ultimately] she will have. “Sarai was barren, she had no [ein] child” (Genesis 11:30), but [ultimately] she had, as it is stated: “The Lord remembered Sarah” (Genesis 21:1). Similarly, “Hannah had no [ein] children” (I Samuel 1:2), and [ultimately] she had, as it is stated: “For the Lord remembered Hannah” (I Samuel 2:21). Similarly, “She is Zion, she has no one [ein] seeking her” (Jeremiah 30:17), and [ultimately] she will have, as it is stated: “A redeemer will come to Zion” (Isaiah 59:20). So, too, it says: “She has no [ein] comforter,” and [ultimately] she will have, as it is stated: “I, it is I, who am your Comforter” (Isaiah 51:12).