בס”ד
The Essence of Torah in the song Ha’azinu
The Song of Ha’azinu, beginning with Deuteronomy 32:1
| Give ear, O heavens, let me speak; Let the earth hear the words I utter! | הַאֲזִ֥ינוּ הַשָּׁמַ֖יִם וַאֲדַבֵּ֑רָה וְתִשְׁמַ֥ע הָאָ֖רֶץ אִמְרֵי־פִֽי׃ |
and concludes with Deuteronomy 32:43
| 43 Sing aloud, O ye nations, of His people; for He doth avenge the blood of His servants, and doth render vengeance to His adversaries, and doth make expiation for the land of His people | מג הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ, כִּי דַם-עֲבָדָיו יִקּוֹם; וְנָקָם יָשִׁיב לְצָרָיו וְכִפֶּר אַדְמָתוֹ עַמּוֹ. |
The song reflects the complete cycle of creation and its ultimate purpose. The opening verse of Ha’azinu calls upon the heavens and the earth to witness the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. This emphasizes that the creation itself is a witness to the covenant, underscoring that the Jewish people are meant to uphold the Torah as part of the Divine plan.
The final verse of Ha’azinu anticipates a future where the nations of the world will recognize G-d’s righteousness and faithfulness. This reflects the ultimate goal of creation: the universal acknowledgment of G-d by all nations, arising from the Jewish people’s steadfast faithfulness despite their suffering.
The Role of Creation as a Witness to the Covenant
The role of creation as a witness to the covenant is integral. Ha’azinu begins with a call for the heavens and the earth to listen, highlighting their role as witnesses to the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. The world was created with the specific purpose that the Jewish people would accept and safeguard the Torah. As Midrash Tanchuma (Bershit 1) explains,
The world endures because of those who guard the law, as Hannah stated: For the pillars of the earth are the Lord’s (I Sam. 2:8). Who are the pillars of the earth? They are the guardians of the law, for whose sake alone the world was fashioned, as is said: He hath fashioned the world because of them (ibid.). ( Midrash Tanchuma, Bershit 1)
This underscores that the Torah is one of the fundamental pillars of the world (see also Pirkei Avot 1:2). If the Torah were not guarded and preserved unchanged, the stability of the world would be at risk. The Jewish people’s role in maintaining the Torah—by observing its 613 commandments—ensures that G-d’s will is fulfilled and that His Presence can be increasingly revealed in the world. Similarly, non-Jews uphold the seven Noahide laws, contributing to the overall realization of G-d’s will. This collective observance supports the world’s stability and allows G-d’s Presence to manifest in everyday life.
Repetition and Remembrance
In the time of the Temple, Ha’azinu was recited in six-week cycles, as taught by the Ramban (on Deuteronomy 31:19). This recitation continually reminded the Jewish people of their fundamental role in creation and the importance of their faithfulness to the Torah. This recitation reminds them of their responsibility to reveal G-d’s presence in the world and contribute to the ultimate purpose of creation: the universal acknowledgment of G-d.
In the context of Shabbat, a day of joy and a foretaste of Olam Haba, reading Ha’azinu might seem paradoxical due to the somber tone of suffering in the song. However, this recitation serves to remind the people of the deeper message of the song and their essential role in the larger cosmic plan, which ultimately leads to the universal recognition of G-d.
The Ultimate Purpose: Recognition by the Nations
The final verse of Ha’azinu, which speaks of G-d’s atonement for His land and people, signifies the ultimate goal of creation: the recognition of G-d by all nations. This recognition arises from understanding G-d’s faithfulness to His people and acknowledging that, despite their trials, the Jewish people remain loyal to Him. Ultimately, all nations will recognize this loyalty, acknowledge G-d as the one true Creator, and bow before His sovereignty, as expressed in the “Aleinu” prayer. They will kneel and confess with their mouths that there is only one G-d.
By Angelique Sijbolts
With thanks to Rabbi Tani Burton for his feedback
With thanks to B. Yaniger for the inspiration
Inspired by the Netivot HaShalom
נתיבות שלום
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