4 October 2024
Week of 29 September – 5 October 2024
Torah portion: Deuteronomy 32:1-32:52 Haftarah: Hosea 14:2-10, Joel 2:15-27
Theme: Song for endings and new beginning
Parashat Haazinu (Hebrew for “to listen”), the second to the last portion of the Book of Deuteronomy, is the last Torah portion that is read at services on Shabbat morning. The remaining chapters, Deut 33-34, are read on Simchat Torah (Hebrew for “the joy of Torah.”), a celebration, often with singing and dancing, to mark the end of the annual cycle of Torah reading.
This year, this Torah portion is read before and during the high holidays of Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year) and Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). Rosh Hashanah begins at sunset on Wednesday, October 2 and ends on October 5. It is celebrated with sweet symbolic foods and with the sound of the shofar. On the other hand, Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) begins on October 11. It is the holiest day of the Jewish year. The focus of this period is the process of teshuvah or repentance when Jews traditionally ask for forgiveness for wrongdoings from God and from fellow human beings.
It is a sad and happy time for Jews and also a time for self-examination and personal change. What could complicate this even more is that October 7 marks the first anniversary of the Hamas-led attack against Israel which has resulted in a war with a lot of wailings and mourning on both sides and a lot of profound conflicting thoughts.
This Torah portion is also quite a mix of sad and bad feelings but I say with faith, and with a lot of hope – a clear message of hope at that. Known as the Song of Moses or Moses’ Poem, it is Moses’ last words to the children of Israel before he finds his final resting place. It generally serves as testimony to their covenant with God. But it is a complicated covenant. While Moses speaks of the greatness and generosity of God, he also speaks of the ungratefulness of the “crooked and perverse” Israelites.
Moses’ song reviews God’s past acts of charity, mercy, and kindness towards the people of Israel (Deut 32:7-14). He is the “rock”, a metaphor of God as a father, his children could trust and rely on. But he chides them for rebellion against their divine protector (Deut. 32:15-18). The conclusion of the poem, however, will make you believe happy endings are possible. It can be said that the relationship between God and Israel is not of an enemy and of a victim but perhaps of a father and prodigal children. And though, the song predicts a consequent divine punishment, in the end it adds that the LORD will relent and will vindicate his people for he is a merciful, forgiving and compassionate God.
In v. 42, Moses ends his song with a final invocation calling the people to acclaim God’s deliverance of Israel and punishment of the enemy. And in v. 43 Moses congratulates Israel on its deliverance with the words, “He’ll avenge the blood of his servants, wreak vengeance on His foes and cleanse the Land of His people.” Servants refer to the people of Israel.
Does it means a war of annihilation? Etz Hayim says, “Presumably, the land has been polluted by Israelite blood shed by Israel’s enemy, and God will cleanse it with the blood of the enemy.” But it points out that “the Hebrew admato (land) may be a scribal error for ud’maot, a variant (from ancient Ugaritic) of d’maot (tears). Thus, the clause may mean that God “will wipe away His people’s tears.” There will surely be a time for joy.
For Reflection and Discussion: 1. Do you consider God as your “rock” in good and bad times? 2. How do you truly repent before God so as to receive his mercy?
Bibliography: Bibliography: ETZ Hayim: Torah and Commentary (New York, 2001); Tigay, The JPS Torah Commentary: Deuteronomy (Philadelphia, 2003); https://www.myjewishlearning.com/
This week’s Parasha Commentary was prepared by
Minerva Generalao, Bat Kol Alumna July 2014 and July 2023
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