Parshat Ha'azinu Aliya-by-Aliya Sedra Summary
Kohen - First Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 32:1-6 "When I (singular) call G-d's Name, you (plural, min. 2) praise G-d for His Greatness." From this pasuk we learn that when three people eat together, one calls to the other two to "bless G-d" - ZIMUN (benching m'zuman). This pasuk is borrowed from here to introduce the Musaf, Mincha, and Ne'ila Amida.
Levi - Second Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 32:7-12 There is no generation gap in real Jewish life; the older generation teaches the new one, the new generation gains by asking questions of their elders and learning from them. G-d structured the world in parallel to the developing nation of Israel, and granted us special protection and guidance - "like an eagle protects its young..." SDT: The lessons of Torah are compared to dew, rain showers, and downpours. All water, but different intensities and speeds. So too Torah, for different people. Some people need Torah in small, easily digested doses, or else they "overload". Others can handle a steady stream. Still others can learn Torah with the intensity of a downpour. The analogy between Torah and water has many levels.
Shlishi - Third Aliya - 6 p'sukim - 32:13-18
R'VI'I - Fourth Aliya - 10 p'sukim - 32:19-28 Moshe tells us that G-d's reaction to our disloyalty is HESTEIR PANIM - the hiding of "G-d's Face", so to speak. He also tell us that there have been several times when G-d had wanted to destroy the People of Israel but did not, so as not to give the nations of the world cause to doubt the power of the "G-d of Israel". It is striking how similar are the words of reproach and how different the presentation.
Chamishi - Fifth Aliya - 11 p'sukim - 32:29-39
Shishi - Sixth Aliya - 4 p'sukim - 32:40-43
Sh'vi'i - Seventh Aliya - 9 p'sukim - 32:-44-52 Moshe, in front of Yehoshua, tells the people to heed the warning of this SHIRA and to keep the Torah, which in turn, will keep them. An important point that has been oft- repeated in the book of D'varim is this: We did not receive the Land of Israel with "no strings attached". We must always be worthy of holding on to E. Yisrael. Sometimes that reminder is subtle; sometimes it is heavy-handed. Here it's: Take the Torah seriously, because it is the basis upon which we will have a long (everlasting) tenure in the land. [P>32:48 (5)] G-d then tells Moshe to ascend Har Aravim-Nevo, see the Land from there, and die there, as Aharon had done earlier (the Torah reiterates the reason that both Moshe and Aharon couldn't enter Eretz Yisrael - namely, the incident when Moshe hit the rock rather than speak to it, missing an opportunity to sanctify G-d's name), rather than enter the Land which the People of Israel will enter. Observation: The hitting the rock instead of talking to it episode happened back in Parshat Chukat. When we read about it then, we have the opportunity to reflect on the significance of the concept of a missed opportunity to sanctify G-d's name. And we have another opportunity in Haazinu for that same line of thought. This is not uncommon in the Torah. But it is good. Because taking another look at important things and thinking about them again is not repetitive; we have a different perspective each time, different mood, different time of the year. All that contributes to our learning certain lessons well.
Haftara - 22 p'sukim - Hoshea 14:2-10 (9) Yoel 2:15-27 (13) SHUVA YISRAEL AD HASHEM... These opening words of the Haftara give the Shabbat its name and basically say it all. Return to G-d. The following pasuk emphasizes the power of prayer in the T'shuva process. The command to repent is accompanied by wonderful promises (prophecies) of redemption and restoration of the former glory of Israel. The passage from Yoel gives us a Shofar connection to T'shuva. Another encouraging note as we face the task of returning to G-d, is His assurance that He is among us - even before our T'shuva. And that He will not shame His people ever. The last pasuk in Hoshea states, "Who is wise who understands this, an intelligent person will know: G-d's ways are straight, the righteous will walk upon them and the sinner will trip on them." Very often it is the same activity or the same thing that people handle differently, with the result that one person succeeds and the other falters. It is often a matter of attitude. Notwithstanding the fact that the Haftara was not “chosen” because of the sedra, they do have some points in common. One example: The sedra speaks of rain in a figurative, spiritual sense and the Haftara mentions its more literal meaning in connection with prosperity. The prosperity angle is particularly interesting, since it appears in the sedra as a criticism and in the Haftara as a sign that G-d has forgiven His people. This fits with what was mentioned above about the last pasuk in Hoshea. [The Parshat Ha'azinu Homepage]
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