Moses Gabbai (died c.1443) was scholar and rabbi in Spain and later North Arica (he escaped to Algeria during the riots of 1391). His poem "Happy is the Eye" is partly based on the Mishnah Ta'anit ("Fast") which details the ceremonies for invoking rain in time of drought (during the Second Temple period). According to the Mishnah, it was customary during times of drought to fast, and to place wood-ash offerings on the Ark and on the heads of the President and Father of the Sanhedrin (Court); these details are alluded to in the last stanza of Gabbai's poem. Happy is the eye that saw all this. We hear this and our soul rejoices. Happy is the eye that saw the waters pouring from the heavens, and the wind sweeping over the earth, as the righteous main whispers to God, Creator of the lightning, and all the people stand before him whispering sweet words. We hear this and our soul rejoices. Happy is the eye that saw the blackness of amassed clouds, and the wind sweeping through a downpour of generosity, as the righeous man whispers to God who rides across the plains: "Courage, my faithful ones, from the clouds the waters are streaming!" We hear this and our soul rejoices. Happy is the eye that saw the glorious lightning and the thunder in hot pursuit, and the wind sweeping over, and all hearts struck with fear. As the righteous man whispers to God, the Rock who dwells on high, and before all the people standing before him, he roars like a lion over its prey: "Courage, my faithful ones, God is bringing a waterfall of blessing." We hear this and our soul rejoices. Happy is the eye that saw water in the streets and in the pathways, and the wind sweeping across to improve the harvest. And upon the head of the righteous man, the waters stream and fall, washing away the wood-ashes, drenching his hair, the torrents of rain causing his hair to curl. We hear this and our soul rejoices. RAIN Table of Contents