From: heb_roots_chr@mail.geocities.com
Sent: Sunday, September 28, 1997 8:44 PM
To: Parasha-Page List
Subject: Torah Weekly - Ha'azinu
Reply-to: ohr@virtual.co.il
From: "Ohr Somayach" <ohr@virtual.co.il>
To: " Highlights of the Torah weekly portion" <weekly@virtual.co.il>
Subject: Torah Weekly - Ha'azinu
* TORAH WEEKLY *
Highlights of the Weekly Torah Portion
Parshas Ha'azinu
For the week ending 3 Tishrei 5758
3 & 4 October 1997
Overview
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 self-satisfied 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.
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