Haazinu 2020
Isaac’s Parsha Corner · 2020
Do as I do and as I say!
Haazinu is almost always read between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. The Parsha contains a familiar theme found in the last few Parshiyot. We are once again reminded of the dire consequences if we stray from G-d. The poem that is Haazinu is essentially a warning and a prophecy about the future. Israel, predicts the poem, will become fat and rebel against G-d. A foreign nation will come and conquer. They too will be destroyed and Israel will achieve vengeance. You may wonder about the relevance of Haazinu to this time of year. The answer may be found in the final verse of the song. “And His land and His people shall receive atonement” (Ch 32 Vs 43). According to many the atonement will come without adequate repentance merely as a consequence of Jewish suffering. This is actually contrary to our understanding of repentance and atonement. In order to achieve forgiveness and atonement one is supposed to repent. I would suggest a different read of the pasuk. I believe that the pasuk can read, “And the land shall be the atonement for the people”. In this reading the reclaiming of the land is our atonement. We are atoned because we no longer are strangers in another’s land. The beautiful and bountiful land from which we were evicted (described earlier in verses ten through fifteen) will be returned to us. It is only with this in mind were we able to withstand the seemingly endless years of exile. For Moshe this too is atonement. Moshe will sometime in the future enter in the land he so desires to see. Only with this in mind is Moshe able to say “The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are just, He is a trustworthy G-d with no deception, He is righteous and straightforward.” (Ch 32 Vs 4)The Parsha is now a perfect model for “Tziduk Hadin” accepting G-d justice. Between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur we declare, “We accept G-d’s judgment whatever it may be.” This is exactly what Moshe meant when he declared, “For I cry out the name of G-d, attribute greatness to our G-d.”(Ch 32 Vs 3) Follow my example, I have been denied entry into the land yet I accept His judgment. You too are to accept G-d and His judgment.
May we all receive a “Gemar Chatima Tovah”, a final sealed positive judgment, but whatever that final judgment will be, “We accept G-d’s judgment for His work is perfect, all His ways are just!”
Dedicated as always to the loving memory of Joel Shulman A’H