Torah Weekly
Parshas Ha'azinu
For the week ending 13 Tishrei 5756; 6 & 7 October 1995
Summary
Contents
Almost all of Ha'azinu is a song, written in the Torah in
two parallel columns. Moshe summons the heavens and the earth
to stand as eternal witnesses to what will happen if the Jewish
People sin and do not obey the Torah. He reminds the people to
examine the history of the world, and note how the Jewish People
are rescued from obliteration in each generation - that Hashem
"pulls the strings" of world events so that Bnei Yisrael
can fulfill their destiny as His messengers in the world. Hashem's
kindness is such that Israel should be eternally grateful, not
just for sustaining them in the wilderness, but for bringing them
to a land of amazing abundance, and for defeating their enemies.
But, this physical bounty leads the people to become "fat"
and over-indulged. Physical pleasures corrupt the morals of
the people. They worship empty idols and powerless gods, and indulge
in all kinds of depravity. Hashem will then let nations with
no moral worth subjugate Israel and scatter them across the world.
However, their only purpose is as a rod to chastise the Jewish
People. When these nations think that it is through their own
power that they have dominated Israel, Hashem will remind them
that they are no more that a tool to do His will. The purpose
of the Jewish People is fundamental - that man should know his
Creator. Neither exile nor suffering can sever the bond between
Hashem and His people, and eventually in the final redemption
this closeness will be restored. Hashem will then turn His anger
against the enemies of Israel, as though they were His
enemies, showing no mercy to the tormentors of His people. Hashem
then gives His last commandment to Moshe: that he should ascend
Mount Nevo and be gathered there to his people.
Commentaries
Contents
(Rabbi Gedalia Schorr)
(Rabbi Shlomo Zobin)
(HaAdmor Rabbi Avraham Yaakov m'Sadigora)
(Rabbi Bunim m'Pshischa)
Haftorah
Samuel II 22:1-41
Contents
Just as this week's Parsha is a song, likewise its Haftorah is
also in the form of a song. Its author is King David, who wrote
it in his youth, and it appears later in almost the same form
in Psalm 18. Just as the Parsha's theme is the ultimate mission
of the Jewish People to bring the recognition of Hashem and His
Torah to the world, so too the Haftorah is a triumphant outpouring
of praise and recognition of Hashem's providential guidance on
a personal level. Throughout his life, King David recited this
song at times of personal deliverance.
(Rabbi Mendel Hirsch)
Written and Compiled by Rabbi Yaakov Asher Sinclair
General Editor: Rabbi Moshe Newman
Production Design: Lev Seltzer
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