Why does the Torah promise rain for following the Torah instead of spiritual reward? Why, if only Hashem has the key for rain, could it be given to Eliyahu?
"(Receiving one's) Livelihood is greater the the redemption" (-Pesachim 118). The redemption is through a redeeming angel - hamlach ha'goel - while sustenance comes directly from the divine, "and I (myself) will give your rains in their time" - ve'nosati metar artzecha be'ito. (According to the other opinion in Breishis raba, that redemption is greater, ha'malach ha'go'el refers to malchus of Atz')
Livelihood is compared to rain and, similarly, we find an argument in medrash if rain - matar - is greater than the revival of the dead or equal to it.
The drawing down of divinity that rain represents is the same as what we draw down by doing the mitzvos - hayom la'asotam - and one moment of good deed in this world is greater than the world to come - yafeh sha'a achas. Torah and mitzvos corresponding to the food and clothing aspect of living - parnasa.
This is also understood from the verse on sustenance, you open your hands -pose'ach es yadecha - whereas on a deeper level this refers to opening the yud as the source of the divine flow (read yud-echa). The world to come is created with yud, yud (yad of sustenance and rain) being higher.
This also explains the dichotomy of how, on one hand Nissan, redemption, is the first month while Tishrei, the judgment of livelihood, is the seventh, as we go up in holiness. On the other hand, Tishrei is also considered the first month - yerach ha'eitanim... Yarcha kadma - the creation of the world, and Nissan, the month of redemption, culminates afterwards. Ala, how The first commandment states, that "I took you out of Mitzrayim" on not that "I created the world", since yetzias Mitzrayim is higher.
According to the opinion than livelihood is greater than the redemption, we count the first month as Nissan. According to the opinion that the redemption is greater than livelihood, we count Tishrei as the first month. Even according to that opinion however, we can make a distinction between two types of rain. The sustenance we are judged for on Rosh Hashana/Yom Kippur and how on Succos we are judged for the coming rainfall - nidunin al ha'mayim. The livelihood we are judged for on Rosh Hashana is like the rain sent through a messenger - ha'sholeach mayim al pnei chutzos - while the rain we are judged for on Succos and culminates on Shmini Atzeres, when we start praying for rain, coresponds to the rain directly from the divine. Thus, the lower level of rain could be given as a "key" to Eliyahu and its livelihood is lower than the redemption of Nissan, while the rain we reach for on Succos and Shmini Atzeres is directly from Hashem and is higher than the redemption.
-From Ohr Hatorah Vayikra Alef
Mamer Im Be'chukosai Telechu
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