Ha'azinu

Hi,

This week's Torah portion is Haazinu.

Most of this portion is recorded in the Torah in poetic form, as two columns. It is a song describing sin, retribution and redemption, employing unusually flowery, poetic language. Even the musical cantillation notes reflect that.

At one point, Gd expresses scorn for a nation which sees events and does not understand that Gd is behind them. It isn’t clear who the recipient of Gd’s mocking tone actually is – the Jews who have sinned, or the nations who think they have triumphed on their own merits, instead of as Gd’s tools. The commentators differ on this point.

Ultimately, the Jews are told (Deut. 32:47) that the Torah is not "Reik Mikem," "empty from you." Torah is not foreign; it relates to each of us.

The portion ends with Gd’s final instruction to Moshe – that Moshe should ascend the mountain, and expire there.

Have a great day,

Mordechai