azriel@homxb.UUCP (A.HEUMAN) (09/23/85)
From: Azi Heuman, AT&T Consumer Products - Holmdel, N.J. homxb!azriel
PARESHAT HAAZINU
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Haazinu contains the "song" of Haazinu which Moshe taught to
Israel and which Moshe used to rebuke Israel on the day
before his death. This song occupied an important role in
our Jewish tradition. It was chanted by the Levites every
Shabat as part of the Mussaf offering in the Temple. The
song was divided into six sections for the Temple chanting
with one section chanted each Shabat so that the whole song
was completed over six weeks. The Torah reading today, is
divided into these same sections and it is Halachikly
forbidden to further subdivide these sections during the
Torah reading. Usually, the weekly Torah reading may be
divided beyond it's usual seven portions, as long as the
reading is not stopped on a sentence of admonition or
rebuke. Since the entire song of Haazinu is a rebuke, it's
subdivision is strictly governed by tradition.
Each of these six sections has it's own line of thought, as
follows:
1. Aliyah for Kohen - As an introduction - The
characteristics of G-d's general and special
relationships in His management of the world and
Israel.
2. Aliyah for Levi - Israel's genesis and calling.
3. Aliyah for Shlishi - Israel's good fortune and it's
losing it's direction in this good fortune.
4. Aliyah for Revi'i - The resulting downfall.
5. Aliyah for Chamishi - The diaspora as a warning.
6. Aliyah for Shishi - The redemption and it's affect on
the world.
These six sections reflect Jewish history with remarkable
accuracy. I'd like to zero in, on the third section because
I think that it is very relevant to today's Jewish-American
experience. It seems that in suffering, the Jewish People
have mostly remained intact - religiously. But, it has
seldom been able to stand good fortune. With three words,
Moshe captures the quintessence of the whole of Jewish
history and at the same time tells Israel the reason for
it's failing in good times and thereby tells us how to
overcome this failing.
"VAYISHMAN YESHURUN VAYIVAT" (Verse 15) Israel at it's peak,
will get fat and will then rebel. The sense of the passage
(by analogy) is: The better, the fatter the food which a
person eats, - the more the surplus must be used up in
energy and work. If the surplus is not used, it stores
itself in the body, leading to the person being overcome by
fat. This is the history of Israel. It did not use the
abundance and surplus with which it was blessed, to
increased spiritual and moral achievments, as it's mission
requires. It's moral improvement did not keep pace with
it's material good and fortune. It did not understand how
to remain master of it's riches and good fortune, and did
not know how to use them for purposes of mitzvot. Instead
it allowed itself to be overcome by riches and good fortune
and it's spiritual and moral self was ruined by it.
Source for all the above: S. R. Hirsch on Haazinu
GEMAR CHATIMA TOVA - Azriel and Chaya Heuman