By Rabbi David Shasho: The Jewish people count the months according to the moon, while the gentiles count them according to the sun. Why is this? The Taam Vedaat explains that the Jewish people wish to highlight the fact that the events that occur in the world are not random or natural, but are powered by the observance of the Torah and mitzvot.
We believe that just as the moon does not possess its own light, but rather reflects the light of the sun, the light of this world is but a reflection of the spiritual light generated by Torah and mitzvot. In contrast to the worldview, we know that a person who sits and learns on his own in a corner can have a powerful impact on the world. The plague of hail is an example of how the actions of the Jewish people influence the course of world events.
The Torah says, “Moshe went out from Pharaoh, from the city, and he stretched out his hands to Hashem; the thunder and hail ceased and rain did not reach the earth (9:33)†On the words, “And rain did not reach the earthâ€, Chazal say that Hashem suspended the hailstones in midair. These hailstones fell on the Amorites during the time of Yehoshua, as it says: “It happened when they fled before Israel; they were on the descent of Beit Choron when Hashem cast upon them large stones from Heaven (Yehoshua 10:11).†The remaining hailstones are still suspended, waiting to descend during the war of Gog and Magog.
Rabbeinu Bachye adds that the sounds of thunder were also suspended, as it says, “And Hashem sent thunder and hail.†The suspended sounds were activated in the days of Elisha, as it says, “Hashem had caused the Aramean camp to hear the sound of chariot, the sound of horn, the sound of a great army (Il Melachim 7:6).â€
There is an obvious question to be asked on this Midrash. Why does Hashem have to use the held over hailstones from the plague of Hail? Does He not have enough new hailstones to cast down upon our enemies? The commentaries explain that the hailstones in Egypt were created from the tears of the Jewish people, who were cruelly enslaved. The Torah tells us, “And the Children of Israel groaned because of the work and they cried out, and their outcry went up to G-d.†Hashem turned their tears into hailstones, and the sounds of their cries into thunderous sounds.
Hashem collected all of the many tears and cries of the Jewish people, and hid them away in His treasure house until the time came to use them to punish the enemies of the Jews. In this way Hashem showed us not a single tear or prayer goes to waste.
Shabbat Shalom