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HAAZINU

Moshe’s great song which is the parsha of this week demands that there be listening and not just hearing. The word haazinu means more than hearing; it means to pay attention and listen intently. And though Moshe is speaking to “heaven and earth” it is clear from the contents of his song that he is speaking to us. And therefore his words deserve more than a perfunctory hearing from us.

In Jewish tradition, children committed this parsha to memory at a very early age, for the song contains the entire Jewish story. It has many nuances. Just like a great symphonic composition requires intensive listening in order to appreciate, so too does this song of Moshe. We live in a world that is bombarded with incessant sound. Perhaps that is why there is very little true listening that goes on. We are too busy hearing so there is no capacity for true listening. It may very well be that this is why Jewish children committed this song to memory so that when their attention span increased with years and experience, they would be truly able to listen to the song that they once only heard and memorized.

Listening to one another is the key to a successful marriage, to raising children, to teaching and interacting with other people. It is also the key to understanding Torah and appreciating the glorious subtleties and nuances of Judaism. In short, the key to being a sophisticated Jew is the ability to listen. Judaism is not meant to be merely background noise or even soothing atmosphere inducing music.

The song of Haazinu itself details the travails that will engulf Israel in its long journey through history. It unerringly predicts the weaknesses and follies that Israel exhibits and the ensuing problems and calamities that follow such behavior. But the song ends on a note of soaring hope. God will not forsake the Jewish people or the Land of Israel. The enemies of Israel will all eventually be thwarted in their ambitions to destroy the eternal people. And the Jewish people itself will, as a national entity, recognize its uniqueness and uphold its end of the covenant entered into with God at Sinai, which was then renewed in the desert by Moshe before his death.

The prediction of troubles, no matter how accurate it may be, make this a difficult song to truly listen to. Yet it has been these very troubles and adversity that the Jewish people have faced that have strengthened us, renewed our faith, spurred our creative genius and enabled us to have such an enormous and disproportionate influence in world affairs and civilization.

Our success in survival and creativity is directly traceable to our ability to listen to the song of Moshe. It has thus become part of us and as such we are confident that the salvation that the end of the song depicts is certain and not far off. When we hear the song read this week on Shabat in the synagogue we will certainly listen to it with our innermost soul and being. It is Moshe’s great gift to us.

Shabat shalom.

Gmar chatima tova.

Rabbi Berel Wein