Weโve talked about Mosheโs psalms, the perakim of ืชืืืืื that are attributed to him. There is one other โpsalmโ that Moshe wrote, that was explicitly incorporated into the Torah.
ืื ืืขืชื ืืชืื ืืื ืืช ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืืืืื ืืช ืื ื ืืฉืจืื ืฉืืื ืืคืืื; ืืืขื ืชืืื ืื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืืขื ืืื ื ืืฉืจืืืโฆื ืืืืืจ ืืฉื ืืืื ื ืื ืงืื ืืฉืจืื ืืช ืืืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืขื ืชืืื
And I want to look at it because it has many of the same themes as the ืชืืืืื we looked at (and much of the same vocabulary, though I wonโt spend much time on that). This was inspired by Rav Moshe Eisemannโs Shiras Haโazinu, and I mentioned much of this material in the Parsha shiur ืคืจืฉืช ืืืืื ื ืชืฉืคืดื.
ืฉืืจืช ืืืืื ื was Mosheโs last ื ืืืื before his death (the timing of ืืืืช ืืืจืื is a separate question), and it was used as the ืฉืืจ of the Leviim for the musaf offering on Shabbat:
ืืืืกืคื ืฉืืช ืืืืจืื ืฉืืจืช โืืืืื ืโ ืืืืืงืื ืืืชื ืืฉืฉื ืคืจืงืื ืืืืณืณื ืืณืณื ืืืจื ืฉืงืืจืืื ืืืชื ืฉืฉื ืืืืช ืืื ืกืช. ืืืืืจืื ืคืจืง ืืื ืฉืืช. ืืืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืฉืฉื ืฉืืชืืช ืืืืจืื ืืจืืฉ.
The mnemonic ืืืืณืณื ืืณืณื refers to the division of the parsha in to six sections, which correspond to the first six aliyot when we read ืืืืื ื today:
ืจืืฉืื ื ืืืืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืจื; ืืชืฉืืข ืืืจืฅ ืืืจื ืคืื ืฉื ื ื ืืืจ ืืืืช ืขืืื ืืื ื ืฉื ืืช ืืจ ืืืจ; ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืงื ืื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืฉืืืฉื ืื ืืจืืืื ืขื ืืืชื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื ืชื ืืืช ืฉืื; ืืื ืงืื ืืืฉ ืืกืืข ืืฉืื ืืืืืืฉ ืฆืืจื ืจืืืขื ืื ืืืจื ืืณ ืืื ืืฅ ืืืขืก ืื ืื ืืื ืชืืื ืืืืฉื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืช; ืืืื ื ืืืืจืืชืื ืฉืืฉื ื ืื ืืฉื ืื ืฉืืื ืืื; ืืืืจืชื ืื ืื ืื ืืขืืื
ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ ืฉืึดืืจ ืึฐืืึนื ืึทืฉืึผึทืึผึธืช, the ืฉืืจ for Shabbat morning, is not explicitly about Shabbat but about our hope in ืืณโs ultimate plan for the world. ืืืืื ื is the ืฉืืจ for Shabbat afternoon, and it is also about ืืณโs ultimate plan for the world; it ends with (ืืืจืื ืื:ืื)โ ืืจื ืื ื ืืืื ืขืืโฆืืืคืจ ืืืืชื ืขืื.
The Aruch Hashulchan wonders why we donโt say it for Shabbat musaf today:
ืืื ืชืืื ืื ืฉืืืืกืฃ ืฉืืช ืืืืืจ ืืจืืฉ ืืฉื ื ืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืืจืื ืฉืืจ ืืคืจืฉืช โืืืืื ืโโฆืืืื ืืฉืืช ืืื ืื ืฉืืืืจื? ืืฆืขืดื.
But itโs still important enough, ืชืืื ืื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืืขื ืืื ื ืืฉืจืื, that itโs worth looking at in detail. It is meant to be with ืื ื ืืฉืจืื through all the difficult times in their future history.
ืืืื ืืืชื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืืืชื ืืื ืื ืืืืืื ืืืืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืจืืฉืืช ืืืจืืช ืื ืืื ืจืืื ืืืืืื ืื ืืคื ื ืฉื ืชืงืืืื ืื ืืืจืื ืขื ืื ื ืื ื ืคื ืืืจ ืืื ืืืฃ ืื ืื ืื ื ื ืืืื ืื ืฆืคื ืืื ืื ืืืืจื ืืืืงืื ืืคื ื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืชื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืื ืืคื ืื ืืืืจืื ืืืืื ืขืืื ืืฉืืื.
The striking thing about this ืฉืืจื is that itโs not like the rest of the Torah. It isnโt ืืณ's words; itโs Mosheโs. ืืณ told him (and Yehoshua) ืืชืื ืืื ืืช ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช.
ืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืขืชื ืืช ืืจืื ืืืช ืขืจืคื ืืงืฉื; ืื ืืขืืื ื ืื ืขืืื ืืืื ืืืจืื ืืืชื ืขื ืืณ ืืืฃ ืื ืืืจื ืืืชืื ืื ืืงืืืื ืืื ืืช ืื ืืงื ื ืฉืืืืื ืืฉืืจืืื; ืืืืืจื ืืืื ืืื ืืช ืืืืจืื ืืืื ืืืขืืื ืื ืืช ืืฉืืื ืืืช ืืืจืฅื ืื ืื ืืืขืชื ืืืจื ืืืชื ืื ืืฉืืช ืชืฉืืชืื ืืกืจืชื ืื ืืืจื ืืฉืจ ืฆืืืชื ืืชืื; ืืงืจืืช ืืชืื ืืจืขื ืืืืจืืช ืืืืื ืื ืชืขืฉื ืืช ืืจืข ืืขืื ื ืืณ ืืืืขืืกื ืืืขืฉื ืืืืืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืฉื ืืืื ื ืื ืงืื ืืฉืจืื ืืช ืืืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืขื ืชืืื
ืืืืจ ื ืชืืืจ ืืืฉืืจืช ืืืืื ื ืื ืืืชื ืืฉืืื ื ืืืืจืช ืืงืจืื ืืขืดื ืื ืงืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืื ืืกืดืช.
ืืืื ืฉืืื ืกืืฃ ืืืื ืฉื ืืฉื ืื ืกืชื ืืื ื ืืขืืื ืืืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืืืจืฉโฆืืืื ืชืืื ืืืจ ื ืคืื ืืื ืืฉืืจืช ืืืืื ื ื ืืืืืช ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืกืชืืื ืืืื ืฉืื ืืฆืื ื ืืืืช ืืื ืืชืืจื. ืื ืืขื ืื ืื ืืื, ืฉื ืืืืช ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืืื ืืืกืคืงืืจืื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืกืคืงืืจืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืืจื ืืืื ื ืืืืชื ืฉื ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืฉืืื ืืืกืคืงืืจืื ืืืืืจื ืืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืืืืจืื ืืื ืฉืงืื ืืืฉื ืืชืืจื ืืื ืฉืื ืืชืืืฉืืช ืืืจื ืืฉื ืืืืื, ืื ืฉืืื ืื ืฉืืจ ืื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืืื ืฆืจืืืื ืืืืืืฉ ื ืืืืชื ืืจื ืืฉื ืืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืืช ืืืจืื ืืฉืืจ ื ืืืืื ืฉืกืชืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืงืจื ืืกืคืงืืจืื ืฉืืื ื ืืืืจื. ืืื ื ืงืืื ืืกืชืืงืืชื ืฉื ืืฉื ืจืืื ื ืขืดื ื ืืืื ืืกืืจืช ืืืืื ืืื ื ืื ืืชื ื ืืืืืฉืข, ืืืื ืฉืืจืช ืืืืื ื ืืื ืกืชืืื ืืืจื ืืชืืืฉืืช.
ื ืืืืื ื ืืฉืืื ืืืืืจื; ืืชืฉืืข ืืืจืฅ ืืืจื ืคืื
ื ืืขืจืฃ ืืืืจ ืืงืื ืชืื ืืื ืืืจืชื
ืืฉืขืืจื ืขืื ืืฉื ืืืจืืืืื ืขืื ืขืฉืื
ื ืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืงืจื; ืืื ืืื ืืืืงืื ืื
ื ืืฆืืจ ืชืืื ืคืขืื ืื ืื ืืจืืื ืืฉืคื;
ืึพื ืืืื ื ืืืื ืขืื ืฆืืืง ืืืฉืจ ืืืื
ื ืฉืืช ืื ืื ืื ืื ืืืื; ืืืจ ืขืงืฉ ืืคืชืืชืื
ื ืืืืณ ืชืืืื ืืืช ืขื ื ืื ืืื ืืื;
ืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืงื ื ืืื ืขืฉื ืืืื ื ืื
Moshe starts by addressing, not the people, but his โwitnessesโ: the heaven and the earth. As we noted in The King and I, those represent the two models of ืขืืืืช ืืณ:
(ืืืจืื ืื:ื) ืืืืื ื ืืฉืืื [ืืืืืจื; ืืชืฉืืข ืืืจืฅ ืืืจื ืคื]: ืืืจ ืื ืืงืืดื ืืืฉื: ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืฉืจืื, ืืกืชืืื ืืฉืืื ืฉืืจืืชืโฆืฉืฉืื ืืขืฉืืช ืจืฆืื ื ืฉื ืืืจ (ืชืืืื ืื:ื) ืึฐืืึผื ืึฐึผืึธืชึธื ืึนืฆึตื ืึตืึปืคึธึผืชืึน [ืึธืฉึดืืืฉื ืึฐึผืึดืึผืึนืจ ืึธืจืึผืฅ ืึนืจึทื]โฆ
ืืชืฉืืข ืืืจืฅ ืืืจื ืคื: ืืกืชืืื ืืืจืฅ ืฉืืจืืชื ืืฉืืฉืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ืชื ืืช ืืืชื ืฉืื ืืจืขืชื ืืื ืฆืืืโฆืืื ืืขื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืืจ (ืืจืืื ื:ืื) ืึทืืึนืชึดื ืึนื ืชึดืืจึธืืึผ ื ึฐืึปื ืืณ ืึดื ืึดืคึผึธื ึทื ืึนื ืชึธืึดืืืึผ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืฉืึทืึฐืชึผึดื ืืึนื ืึผึฐืืึผื ืึทืึผึธื, ืฉืืฉืขื ืฉืืืจืชื ืขืืื ืฉืื ืฉืื ื ืืช ืืืชื ืืืืจ ืืขืื ืืืฆืืฃ ืืช ืืขืืื?โฆืืื ืขืื ืืื ืฉืืฆืืขืจ ืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืขืฉืืช, ืืขื ืื ืฉื ืืืจ ืึทืึผึดืชึฐืึผึธืขึฒืฉืืึผ ืึฐืึนื ืืึผืึธืืึผ.
ืืฉืืื โservesโ ืืณ with ืืืื, and ืืจืฅ โservesโ ืืณ with ืืจืื. Both are inseparable parts of our relationship with ืืงืืดื. Yeshaya uses a similar metaphor:
ืฉืึดืึฐืขืึผ ืฉืึธืึทืึดื ืึฐืึทืึฒืึดืื ึดื ืึถืจึถืฅ ืึผึดื ืืณ ืึผึดืึผึตืจ; ืึผึธื ึดืื ืึผึดืึผึทืึฐืชึผึดื ืึฐืจืึนืึทืึฐืชึผึดื ืึฐืึตื ืคึผึธืฉืึฐืขืึผ ืึดืื
But he exchanges the ืฉืืืขื and the ืืืืื ื. The Ohr HaChaim says that this reflects the fact that Moshe is, even as the greatest of all prophets, still only human.
ืื ื ืืืจื ืฉืื ื ืืืฉืืื ืื ืื ืืืงืืืงืื ืืื ืขื ืื ืืืจื, ืืคื ืฉืืฉืืื ืื ืขืืืื ืื ืืคืฉื ืืขื ืื ืืื ืงืจื ืืื ืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืื ื ืืืืจ ืืื ืืืืื ื ืคืืจืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืจื, ืืืืจืฅ ืืืจ ืืชืฉืืข ืคืืจืืฉ ืืขืฆืื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืืื ืื ืืคื ืื ืืื ืขืืืืช ืืืืืื ืืฉืืืข ืืืชืื ืืืืืจ ืืืืฆื ืืคืื, ืืืื ืืืืจื ืืืจื ืคื ืืืืืชื ืื ืื ืงืจืืื ืืฆืื.
ืืืืจื ืื ืืชืืืฉืื ืืืจื ืืฉืขืื ืฉืืืจ โืฉืืขื ืฉืืื ืืืืืื ื ืืจืฅโ, ืฉื ืชื ืฉืืืขื ืืฉืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืจืืืงืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ื ืืืจืฅ ืืื ืฉืืื ืงืจืืื, ืืืขื ืืื ืืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืจ ืืฉืขืื ืขืฆืื ืืืืจ โืื ืืณ ืืืจโ; ืคืืจืืฉ ืืขื ืฉืืืจ ืืกืืจ ืื ืืื ืื ืืณ ืืืจ ืืืขืจื ืืืืืจ ืฉืืื ืืงืืืฉ ืืจืื ืืื, ืืืชืจ ืื ืงืจืืืื ืืฉืืื ืืืชืืโฆ(ืืฉืขืื ืกื:ื) ืึทืฉึธึผืืึทืึดื ืึดึผืกึฐืึดื ืึฐืึธืึธืจึถืฅ ืึฒืึนื ืจึทืึฐืึธื.
Moshe compares his words to rain; the metaphor of Torah as water is very common:
ืืืืจ: ืื ืืืจ ืืืื ืืขืืื, ืืฃ ืืืจื ืชืืจื ืืืื ืืขืืื.
ืืืกืข ืืฉื ืืช ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืกืืฃ ืืืฆืื ืื ืืืืจ ืฉืืจ; ืืืืื ืฉืืฉืช ืืืื ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืฆืื ืืืื
ืืืจืฉื ืจืฉืืืืช ืืืจื: ืืื ืืฆืื ืืืโืืืจื ืชืืจื ืฉื ืืฉืื ืืืื. ืืื ืื ืฉื ืืฉืื ืืืื? ืฉื ืืืจ: (ืืฉืขืื ื ื:ื) ืืึนื ืึผืื ืฆึธืึตื ืึฐืืึผ ืึทืึผึทืึดื. ืืคื ืฉืคืจืฉื ืืืืจื ืชืืจื ืฉืืืฉืช ืืืื, ืืื ืืจืื. ืืืื ืืชืงืื ื ืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืืืงื ืื ืฉืืืื ืงืืจืื ืืชืืจื ืืฉืืช ืืฉื ื ืืืืืืฉื.
ื ืื ืืืฉืจ ืืจื ืืืฉื ืืืฉืื ืื ืืฉืืื ืืฉืื ืื ืืฉืื ืื ืื ืืจืื ืืช ืืืจืฅ ืืืืืืื ืืืฆืืืื; ืื ืชื ืืจืข ืืืจืข ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืืจื ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืคื ืื ืืฉืื ืืื ืจืืงื; ืื ืื ืขืฉื ืืช ืืฉืจ ืืคืฆืชื ืืืฆืืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืืืชืืื
But there is more than that. Moshe does not say โืชืื ืืื ืืืจืช ืืณโ; he says โืชืื ืืื ืืืจืชืโ. The Word of G-d may be like life-giving water, but it does not fall like rain or dew. We talked about this in ืฉืืืช ืชืืจื ืชืฉืคืดื:
ื ืึฐืึนืืช ืึทืึผึฐืจึธืึธื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึผึตืจึทืึฐ ืึนืฉืึถื ืึดืืฉื ืึธืึฑืึนืงึดืื ืึถืช ืึผึฐื ึตื ืึดืฉืึฐืจึธืึตื; ืึดืคึฐื ึตื ืืึนืชืึนื ื ืึทืึผึนืืึทืจ ืืณ ืึดืกึผึดืื ึทื ืึผึธื ืึฐืึธืจึทื ืึดืฉึผืึตืขึดืืจ ืึธืืึน ืืึนืคึดืืขึท ืึตืึทืจ ืคึผึธืืจึธื ืึฐืึธืชึธื ืึตืจึดืึฐืึนืช ืงึนืึถืฉื; ืึดืืึดืื ืึน ืืฉืืช (ืึตืฉื ืึผึธืช) ืึธืืึนื
What is an ืืฉืืช? Everyone reads it like the ืงืจื, as two words. Artscroll translates it as โfiery Torahโ. But the ืืชืื still must have meaning. The only suggestion Iโve seen was from the Mi Yodea website:
Based on the kโsiv, in which โืืฉืืชโ is only one word, I have heard it being related to the independent word ืืฉืืช, meaning waterfall, as in โืชืืช ืืฉืืช ืืคืกืืโ. (Dโvarim 4:49)
ืึฐืึธืขึฒืจึธืึธื ืึฐืึทืึทึผืจึฐืึตึผื ืึผืึฐืึปื; ืึดืึดึผื ึถึผืจึถืช ืึฐืขึทื ืึธื ืึธืขึฒืจึธืึธื ืึธื ืึทืึถึผืึทื ืชึทึผืึทืช ืึทืฉึฐืืึนึผืช ืึทืคึดึผืกึฐืึธึผื ืึดืึฐืจึธืึธืื
ืื ืึทืึผึดืืจึฐืฉืืึผ ืึถืช ืึทืจึฐืฆืึน ืึฐืึถืช ืึถืจึถืฅ ืขืึนื ืึถืึถืึฐ ืึทืึผึธืฉืึธื ืฉืึฐื ึตื ืึทืึฐืึตื ืึธืึฑืึนืจึดื ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืึผึฐืขึตืึถืจ ืึทืึผึทืจึฐืึผึตื ืึดืึฐืจึทื ืฉืึธืึถืฉืื ืื ืึตืขึฒืจึนืขึตืจ ืึฒืฉืึถืจ ืขึทื ืฉืึฐืคึทืช ื ึทืึทื ืึทืจึฐื ึนื ืึฐืขึทื ืึทืจ ืฉืึดืืึนื ืืึผื ืึถืจึฐืืึนืื ืื ืึฐืึธื ืึธืขึฒืจึธืึธื ืขึตืึถืจ ืึทืึผึทืจึฐืึผึตื ืึดืึฐืจึธืึธื ืึฐืขึทื ืึธื ืึธืขึฒืจึธืึธื ืชึผึทืึทืช ืึทืฉืึฐืึผึนืช ืึทืคึผึดืกึฐืึผึธืื
So when ืืณ speaks to the people directly at ืืจ ืกืื ื, it is like ืึทืฉึฐืืึนึผืช, like trying to drink from a firehose. The people canโt handle it. They need Moshe as an intermediary, to turn the flow of metaphoric water into individual drops of rain.
And then Moshe turns to the people and asks them to participate in his song:
ืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืงืจื:โฆืืฉืืงืจื ืืืืืืจ ืฉื ืืณ, ืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืืงืื ื ืืืจืื ืฉืื.
And the gemara draws an interesting conclusion from that pasuk:
ืื ืื ืืืจืืช ืืชืืจื ืืคื ืื ืื ืืชืืจื? ืฉื ืืืจ โืื ืฉื ืืณ ืืงืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืืงืื ืโ.
The gemara sees this song as the prototype of learning Torah; specifically ืืืืจืืชื, learning together. Moshe is not simply lecturing; he is starting a dialog with the people, trying to understand the ways of ืืณ together.
But Moshe is still ืืฉื ืจืืื ื, and he still lectures. He turns to ืืณ's justice, and makes a point very similar to ืชืืืืื ืคืจืง ืฆื and ืคืจืง ืฆื, as we discussed in Days of Yore. Those perakim were also written by Moshe, and he is in harsh schoolmaster mode:
ื ืืืฉ ืืขืจ ืื ืืืข; ืืืกืื ืื ืืืื ืืช ืืืชื ื ืืคืจื ืจืฉืขืื ืืื ืขืฉื ืืืฆืืฆื ืื ืคืขืื ืืื; ืืืฉืืื ืขืื ืขืื
ื ืืื ื ืืขืจืื ืืขื; ืืืกืืืื ืืชื ืชืฉืืืืื ื ืื ืืข ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืข; ืื ืืฆืจ ืขืื ืืื ืืืืื ื ืืืกืจ ืืืื ืืื ืืืืื; ืืืืื ืืื ืืขืชื
He concludes this introductory section reminding the people that ืืืื ืงื ื, your Father and โOwnerโ. We see the metaphor of ืื all the time, but what does it mean that ืืณ is a ืงืื ื? That term is applied in ืชื ืดื to only four things:
ืืจืืขื ืงื ืื ืื ืฉืงื ืืชื ืืขืืืื. ืชืืจื ืงื ืื ืืื, ืืืชืื (ืืฉืื ืื:ื): ืืณ ืงึธื ึธื ึดื ืจึตืืฉืึดืืช ืึผึทืจึฐืึผืึน. ืฉืืื ืืืจืฅ ืงื ืื ืืื, ืืืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:ืื): ืงึนื ึตื ืฉืึธืึทืึดื ืึธืึธืจึถืฅ. ืืืช ืืืงืืฉ ืงื ืื ืืื, ืืืชืื (ืชืืืืื ืขื:ื ื): ืึทืจ ืึถื ืงึธื ึฐืชึธื ืึฐืึดืื ืึน. ืืฉืจืื ืงื ืื ืืื ืืืชืื (ืฉืืืช ืื:ืื): ืขึทื ืืึผ ืงึธื ึดืืชึธ.
The Ktav VeKabbalah says we are mistraslating ืงืื ื. Itโs not from ืงื ืื, but from ืชืงื ื.
ืงื ื ืฉืืื ืืืจืฅ: ืืื ืขืืฉื ืฉืืื ืืืจืฅ ืขืดื ืขืฉืืืชื ืงื ืื ืืืืืช ืฉืื (ืจืฉืดื)โฆืืืดื ืืืช ืงื ื ืืื ืืฉืื ืชืืงืื ืกืืืจ ืืืฉืจื ืืืื ืโฆืืืฉื ืชืงื ื ืืจืืืชืื ืโฆืืืื ื ืืืืจ ืฉืื ืืื ืืืื ืงืืงืื.
The message is that while ืืณ created everything, ืื ื ืืฉืจืื took special, โpersonalโ, preparation to reach their current state.
Rabbi Eisemann says that the previous aliyah was an introduction, and with the second aliyah we get to the song proper. He calls this โHaโazinuโs Historiographyโ.
ื ืืืจ ืืืืช ืขืืื ืืื ื ืฉื ืืช ืืจ ืืืจ; ืฉืื ืืืื ืืืืื ืืงื ืื ืืืืืจื ืืื
ื ืืื ืื ืขืืืื ืืืื ืืืคืจืืื ืื ื ืืื;
ืืฆื ืืืืช ืขืืื ืืืกืคืจ ืื ื ืืฉืจืืื
ื ืื ืืืง ืืณ ืขืื; ืืขืงื ืืื ื ืืืชืื
ื ืืืฆืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืจ ืืืชืื ืืื ืืฉืื;
ืืกืืื ืื ืืืื ื ืื ืืฆืจื ืื ืืืืฉืื ืขืื ืื
ืื ืื ืฉืจ ืืขืืจ ืงื ื ืขื ืืืืืื ืืจืืฃ; ืืคืจืฉ ืื ืคืื ืืงืืื ืืฉืืื ืขื ืืืจืชืื
ืื ืืณ ืืื ืื ืื ื; ืืืื ืขืื ืึพื ื ืืจื
We can feel very confident in asserting that Haโazinu is a tract that, in one way or another, is teaching us history. There appears to be the assumption that knowledge of who we are, where we come from, and where we are heading can help to salve the inevitable pain that we will meet alond the way.
History starts with ืืคืจืืื ืื ื ืืื, when the undifferentiated mass of humanity became separate nations. That is the story of ืืืื ืืื:
ื ืืืื ืื ืืืจืฅ ืฉืคื ืืืช ืืืืจืื ืืืืืืโฆื ืืื ื ืจืื ืื ืืื ืฉื ืฉืคืชื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืฉืืขื ืืืฉ ืฉืคืช ืจืขืืื ื ืืืคืฅ ืืณ ืืชื ืืฉื ืขื ืคื ื ืื ืืืจืฅ; ืืืืืื ืืื ืช ืืขืืจื
Weโve talked about Migdal Bavel as a response to the chaos of the flood, in ืคืจืฉืช ื ื ืชืฉืขืดืโ ; ืฉืคื ืืืช ืืืืจืื ืืืืื meant they all worked in unity for a common purpose. But it went to far, into fascism, โEverything within the state, nothing outside the state, nothing against the stateโ.
โฆืืื ืงืืื ืืื ืืืคืืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืืขืื ืฉืืขืื ืืฉืื ืืืืชืื (ืืจืืฉืืช ื:ื) ืึฐืึดืฉืึฐืคึผึฐืึนืชึธื ืึดืึฐืฉืึนื ึนืชึธื,ืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืื ืืืืืืช ืฉืฉืจื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืชื ืืจืฆืื ื ืฉื ืืืืจื, ืืื โืฉืคืชโ ืืชืื ืืง ืฉืืืื ืช ืืืืจืืโฆืืื ื ืขื ืืื ืืชืืืืืชื ื ืชืืื ืืืฉืคืื ืืืช ืืืืื, ืื ืคืื ืขืฆื ืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืืงืืืฉ ืื ืืขืฉืื ืืคืขืืืืชืื ืืืืืช ืืืืโฆืืชืืฆืืช ืืืืขื ืืฉืื ืคืกืืช ืืืืืืช ืืื ืืืชื ืืืจืืื ืืืงืืดื, ืฉืืฉืื ืฉืืื ืืื ืฉืื ืฆืืจื ืืขืืืืช ืืณ ืืืฉืืืข ืืงืืื, ืฉืขื ืืื ืืฉืืชืคืืช ืฉื ืื ืื ื ืืื ืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืืืชืืืจ ืขื ืื ืฆืจื ืฉืื ืชืืืโฆ
And the number of those primordial nations is exactly the same as the number of families in ืื ื ืืฉืจืื,โ ืืืกืคืจ ืื ื ืืฉืจืื:
ืืืื ืื ื ืคืฉ ืืฆืื ืืจื ืืขืงื ืฉืืขืื ื ืคืฉ; ืืืืกืฃ ืืื ืืืฆืจืืื
Haazinu sees ืื ื ืืฉืจืื as a model of how all humanity is supposed to operate; not the chaos of ืืืจ ืืืืื and not the fascism of ืืืจ ืืคืืื. Every person is unique but all people are united. So when ืืณ brings them to ืืจ ืกืื ื, they act out that model:
ืืืื ืฉื ืืฉืจืื: ืืืืฉ ืืื ืืื ืืื.
(It would be nice if we could stick to that model)
And in that wilderness where ืืณ โfindsโ us, ืืืฆืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืืืจ, as a rag-tag mass of freed slaves, He makes us into a people by giving us the Torah. But He doesnโt offer it to just us.
ืขื ืืืืืื ืืจืืฃ:โฆืืฉืื ืืชื ืชืืจื ืื ื ืืื ืขืืืื ืืจืื ืืืช ืืื ืืืจืืข ืจืืืืช, ืฉื ืืืจ (ืืืจืื ืื:) ืืณ ืึดืกึผึดืื ึทื ืึผึธื ืึฐืึธืจึทื ืึดืฉืึผึตืขึดืืจ ืึธืืึน ืืึนืคึดืืขึท ืึตืึทืจ ืคึผึธืืจึธื.
ืืืจื ืืฉืขืืจ ืืื: ืฉืคืชื ืืื ื ืขืฉื ืฉืืงืืื ืืช ืืชืืจื ืืื ืจืฆื.
ืืืคืืข ืืืจ ืคืืจื: ืฉืืื ืฉื ืืคืชื ืืื ื ืืฉืืขืื ืฉืืงืืืื ืืื ืจืฆื.
But the other nations reject the Torah. We know the aggadah; itโs not so that they want to worship other gods, but that they want to serve other values (they like their theft and their murder). So ืืณ ends up ืืณ ืืื ืื ืื ื, leading them alone (โaloneโ refers to Israel rather than ืืงืืดื) because ืืื ืขืื ืึพื ื ืืจ, they accepted Him alone. We will see that ืื ื ืืจ is much broader than other gods. ืืขืื ืืจ ืกืื ื should have been an opportunity to bring the world back together. In that sense, it was a failure.
ืืื ืืจ ืกืื ื? ืืจ ืฉืืจืื ืฉื ืื ืืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืขืืื.
But here we are: ืืณ loves ืื ื ืืฉืจืื because they fulfill the mission that was intended for all of humanity.
But then every thing goes wrong.
ืื ืืจืืืื ืขื ืืืืชื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื ืชื ืืืช ืฉืื;
ืืื ืงืื ืืืฉ ืืกืืข ืืฉืื ืืืืืืฉ ืฆืืจื
ืื ืืืืช ืืงืจ ืืืื ืฆืื ืขื ืืื ืืจืื ืืืืืื
ืื ื ืืฉื ืืขืชืืืื ืขื ืืื ืืืืืช ืืื;
ืืื ืขื ื ืชืฉืชื ืืืจื ืื ืืืฉืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืขื
ืฉืื ืช ืขืืืช ืืฉืืช; ืืืืฉ ืืืึพื ืขืฉืื
ืืื ืื ืฆืืจ ืืฉืขืชืื ืื ืืงื ืืื ืืืจืื;
ืืชืืขืืช ืืืขืืกืืื ืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืื ืื ืืื
ืืืืื ืื ืืืขืื; ืืืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืื
ืื ืฉืขืจืื ืืืชืืืื ืื ืฆืืจ ืืืื ืชืฉื;
ืืชืฉืื ืื ืืืืืื
This section is pretty self-explanatory; ืืณ made us successful and we betrayed Him by serving idols. Ironically, Moshe calls us โืืฉืจืืโ, the straight ones, as we become more and more crooked. One striking thing is the idea of ืืืืื ืื ืืืขืื;ืืืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืื. They donโt adopt the gods of the other nations; that would be at least understandable. They make up their own new gods.
ืืืฉืื ืืงืจื ืืื: ืืคืื ืืืืืช ืื ืืื ืจืืืืื ืืื. ืืื ืฉืืื ืจืืื ืืืชื ืืื ืืืืจ ืื ืฆืื ืืืืื.
An Israeli Antiquities Authority worker holds figurines found at the Tel Motza archaeological site: The IAA said on Wednesday they unearthed a maze-like construction and a cache of sacred vessels some 2, 750 years old.
But why are we so concerned about avodah zarah? It is not a problem nowadays.
However, it raises a very serious question. From the time that the exiles returned from Babylon to found the Second Commonwealth, avodah zarah ceased to be a problem for us. According to Rambanโs thesis, Haโazinu should have lost interest at that point. However, in his concluding remarks to Haโazinu, Ramban himself states unequivocally that Haโazinu takes our history all the way to Moshiachโs coming.
And when the Torah talks about the dangers of success, it doesnโt mention idols. Itโs โืืื ืืขืฆื ืืืโโforgetting ืืณ's roleโthat is the danger.
ืื ืคื ืชืืื ืืฉืืขืช; ืืืชืื ืืืื ืชืื ื ืืืฉืืชื ืื ืืืงืจื ืืฆืื ื ืืจืืื ืืืกืฃ ืืืื ืืจืื ืื; ืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืืจืืื ืื ืืจื ืืืื; ืืฉืืืช ืืช ืืณ ืืืงืื ืืืืฆืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื ืืืืช ืขืืืืืโฆืื ืืืืจืช ืืืืื; ืืื ืืขืฆื ืืื ืขืฉื ืื ืืช ืืืื ืืืื
Rav Eisemann says that the ืืืืื ืื ืืืขืื is much broader than just worshipping idols. The gemara describes the book of ืขืืืืช ืืืืืื that Avraham aggadically wrote; his magum opus of what ethical monotheism really means.
ืืดื ืจื ืืกืื ืืืืืื: ืืืืจื ืโืขืืืืช ืืืืืืโ ืืืืจืื ืืืื ื ืืณ ืืื ืคืืจืงื ืืืืื, ืืื ื ืืืฉื ืชื ื. ืืื ืืืขืื ื ืืื ืงืืืจืื ื.
We are going to have to get used to the idea that avodah zarah is a concept that encompasses moreโฆthan bowing down to graven images.
โฆR. Wolbe [in ืืืฆืืืช ืืฉืงืืืืช] introduces us to a whole new world of what he calls ืขึฒืจึธืึดืืโฆwhich we might translate as โvaluesโ: things like democracy, health, food, music, sports, visiting the sick, and myriads more, that we regard as significant aspects of our lives. He postulates that every person has an ืขืจื ืขืืืื, a highest value, to which all his other ืขืจืืื are subordinate. In Judaism, that ืขืจื ืขืืืื would be the Ribbono shel Olam.
[Any other value], says Rav Wolbe, would in Avraham Avinuโs lexicon be considered avodah zarah. No wonder that he needed four hundred chapters!โฆ
Haโazinu is needed today as much as it was ever neededโฆIt is true that we no longer have the urge to bow down before idols, but there are still multitudes of โstrangeโ gods jostling for attention.
[Footnote: Rav Wolbe lists ืืืื among the relative ืขืจืืื that might, if we are not careful, compete for the position of ืขืจื ืขืืืื. If I understand him correctly, he means to include even Torah learning, if that is allowed to become an end in itself, divorced from the Ribbono shel Olam].
That is the danger of ืฉืื ืช ืขืืืช ืืฉืืช: we forget G-d. We attribute our success to all sorts of other things, and set up other things as priorities.
And the consequence is ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืื: G-d will forget them. This is concept of ืืกืชืจ ืคื ืื.
ืื ืืืจื ืืณ ืืื ืืฅ
ืืืขืก ืื ืื ืืื ืชืืื ื ืืืืืจ ืืกืชืืจื ืคื ื ืืื
ืืจืื ืื ืืืจืืชื; ืื ืืืจ ืชืืคืืช ืืื
ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืื ืงื ืืื ื ืืื ืื
ืืขืกืื ื ืืืืืืื; ืืื ื ืืงื ืืื ืืื ืขื
ืืืื ื ืื ืืืขืืกืื ืื ืื ืืฉ ืงืืื ืืืคื
ืืชืืงื ืขื ืฉืืื ืชืืชืืช; ืืชืืื ืืจืฅ ืืืืื
ืืชืืื ืืืกืื ืืจืืื ืื ืืกืคื ืขืืืื ืจืขืืช;
ืืฆื ืืืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืจืขื ืืืืื ืจืฉืฃ
ืืงืื ืืจืืจื; ืืฉื ืืืืช ืืฉืื ืื
ืขื ืืืช ืืืื ืขืคืจื ืื ืืืืฅ ืชืฉืื ืืจื ืืืืืจืื ืืืื; ืื ืืืืจ
ืื ืืชืืื ืืื ืง ืขื ืืืฉ ืฉืืืื ืื ืืืจืชื ืืคืืืื;
ืืฉืืืชื ืืื ืืฉ ืืืจืื ืื ืืืื ืืขืก ืืืื ืืืืจ
ืคื ืื ืืจื ืฆืจืืื; ืคื ืืืืจื ืืื ื ืจืื
ืืื ืืณ ืคืขื ืื ืืืชื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืขืฆืืช ืืื;
ืืืื ืืื ืชืืื ืื
ืื ื ืืฉืจืื are a ืืืจ ืชืืคืืช, a topsy-turvy generation.
Often, the article is so wrong it actually presents the story backwardโreversing cause and effect. I call these the โwet streets cause rainโ stories. Paperโs full of them.
Yirmiyahu has an example of just that:
ืื ืืืขื ื ืืช ืืจืืืื ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืืขืื ืื ืืงืืจืืช ื ืฉืืื ืืืืืื ืืืจืื ืืื ืื ืฉืื ืืขืืืืช ืงืื ืืืื; ืืื ืืขื ืืืฉืืื ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื ืืคืชืจืืก ืืืืจื ืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืืจืช ืืืื ื ืืฉื ืืณ ืืื ื ื ืฉืืขืื ืืืืื ืื ืื ืขืฉื ื ืขืฉื ืืช ืื ืืืืจ ืืฉืจ ืืฆื ืืคืื ื ืืงืืจ ืืืืืช ืืฉืืื ืืืกืื ืื ื ืกืืื ืืืฉืจ ืขืฉืื ื ืื ืื ื ืืืืชืื ื ืืืืื ื ืืฉืจืื ื ืืขืจื ืืืืื ืืืืฆืืช ืืจืืฉืื; ืื ืฉืืข ืืื ืื ืืื ืืืืื ืืจืขื ืื ืจืืื ืื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืื ื ืืงืืจ ืืืืืช ืืฉืืื ืืืกื ืื ื ืกืืื ืืกืจื ื ืื; ืืืืจื ืืืจืขื ืชืื ืืโฆ
ื ืืืืืจ ืืจืืืื ืื ืื ืืขื ืขื ืืืืจืื ืืขื ืื ืฉืื ืืขื ืื ืืขื ืืขื ืื ืืชื ืืืจ ืืืืจื ืื ืืืื ืืช ืืงืืจ ืืฉืจ ืงืืจืชื ืืขืจื ืืืืื ืืืืฆืืช ืืจืืฉืื ืืชื ืืืืืชืืื ืืืืืื ืืฉืจืืื ืืขื ืืืจืฅ; ืืชื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืชืขืื ืขื ืืืื ืื ืืื ืืืื ืืณ ืขืื ืืฉืืช ืืคื ื ืจืข ืืขืืืืื ืืคื ื ืืชืืขืืช ืืฉืจ ืขืฉืืชื; ืืชืื ืืจืฆืื ืืืจืื ืืืฉืื ืืืงืืื ืืืื ืืืฉื ืืืืื ืืืื ืื ืืคื ื ืืฉืจ ืงืืจืชื ืืืฉืจ ืืืืชื ืืืณ ืืื ืฉืืขืชื ืืงืื ืืณ ืืืชืจืชื ืืืืงืชืื ืืืขืืืชืื ืื ืืืืชื; ืขื ืื ืงืจืืช ืืชืื ืืจืขื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืื
And so when ืืณ punishes us, He simply removes the protection that we talked about in ืชืืืืื ืคืจืง ืฆื, in Three Score and Ten:
ื ืื ืชืืจื ืืคืื ืืืื; ืืืฅ ืืขืืฃ ืืืืื ื ืืืืจ ืืืคื ืืืื; ืืงืื ืืฉืื ืฆืืจืืื
And now we will have to be afraid of ืืื ืจืขื ืืืืื ืจืฉืฃ.
ืืณ threatens ืืืจืชื ืืคืืืื; โI thought about this concept of ืืคืืืืโ. There is a lot of discussion about what that means. It could come from ืืฃ, anger:
ืืืจืชื ืืคืืืื: ืคืืจืืฉ ืืคืืืื ืืกืืื ืืคื ืขืืื ืขื ืฉืืืฉืืชื ืืื ืืฉ.
Or it could refer to ืคืื, the corner. I will destroy them, leaving only a tiny remnant (like the ืืฆืืื of ืคืื):
ืืืจืชื ืืคืืืื: ืฉืืฉืืืจ ืืื ืจืง ืคืืช ืืืืื ืืื ืืืงืฆื ืฉืืขื. ืื ืืฉืืืชื ืืื ืืฉ ืืืจื.
Or I will destroy even the ืคืื:
ืืืจืชื ืืคืืืื: ืืืื ืื ืืคืืื ืฉืื ืืื ืื ืืื ืคืืื.
Or I will scatter them to the far corners of the earth:
ืืคืืืื: ืืืจื ืืืืงืืงืื ืืคืืจื ืืื ืคืื.
I would assume the ambiguity is intentional; there are many possible end points for the history of ืื ื ืืฉืจืื, all bad, all ending up with the people disappearing from the stage of world history.
In the opinion of Mr. Toynbee, Jewish history, as well as the history of Judaism, came to an end in 69-70 C.E., when the Roman legions destroyed Jerusalem and the Jewish people were scattered over the face of the earthโฆAs to the Jewry that has survived to this day, the most pleasant thing he can say is that it is โthe debrisโ of a โdevoted Syriac people,โ which existed once upon a time; that it represents nothing more than โa pulverized social ash.โ
But ืืณ wonโt let this happen, not because the Jews are so wonderful, but because without them, because the world wonโt get the message: ืืืื ืืขืก ืืืื ืืืืจ ืคื ืื ืืจื ืฆืจืืื; ืคื ืืืืจื ืืื ื ืจืื ืืื ืืณ ืคืขื ืื ืืืช.
ืื ืืื ืืืื ืขืฆืืช: ืื ืืื ืฉืื ืืืื ืื ืฆืจื ืืฉืจืื.
It is similar to Mosheโs argument when he prays after ืืื ืขืื ืืืื:
ืื ืืืื ืืฉื ืืช ืคื ื ืืณ ืืืงืื; ืืืืืจ ืืื ืืณ ืืืจื ืืคื ืืขืื ืืฉืจ ืืืฆืืช ืืืจืฅ ืืฆืจืื ืืื ืืืื ืืืื ืืืงืื ืื ืืื ืืืืจื ืืฆืจืื ืืืืจ ืืจืขื ืืืฆืืื ืืืจื ืืชื ืืืจืื ืืืืืชื ืืขื ืคื ื ืืืืื; ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืืคื ืืื ืื ืขื ืืจืขื ืืขืืื
And Yechezkelโs vision of the ultimate redemption:
ืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืื ืื ืืืงืืชื ืื ืืืื ืืืช ืืฉืคืื ืื ืฉืืจื ืืขืฉืืช ืืืชื ืืฉืจ ืืขืฉื ืืืชื ืืืื ืืื ืืื ืืช ืฉืืชืืชื ืืืื; ืืืืจ ืืฉืคื ืืืชื ืขืืืื ืืืืืช ืืคื ืื ืืืืืจื ืื ืืืฉืืชื ืืช ืืื ืืืขืฉ ืืืขื ืฉืื ืืืืชื ืืื ืืขืื ื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืืืฆืืชื ืืืชื ืืขืื ืืืื
โฆืื ืืืืขืชื ืื ืื ื ืืณ ืืขืฉืืชื ืืชืื ืืืขื ืฉืื; ืื ืืืจืืืื ืืจืขืื ืืืขืืืืืชืืื ืื ืฉืืชืืช ืืืช ืืฉืจืื ื ืื ืืื ื ืืณื
Ramban makes the point that we canโt rely on our merits, and we canโt rely on the merits of our ancestors either:
ืืฉืืืชื ืืื ืืฉ ืืืจื: ืืืืชื ื ืืื ืืขืืื ืื ืื ื ืืืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืื ืื ื ืืืจ ืืขืืื ืืื ื ืืฉื ืืขื ืืืืื ืืื ืืื ื ืืืืจ ืืืชืื ืื ืืื ืืืืช ืืืื ืืืืืชื ื ืื ืืืืืช ืืขืืื ืืืื ืืขืก ืืืื ืืืืจื ืื ืื ืืืืืชื ื ืขืชื ืชืื ืืืืช ืืืืช ืืืื ืื ื ืืฆืื ืืื ืืขืืื ืจืง ืืขืืืจ ืฉืื ืืืืื ืืชืณ ืืขื ืื ืฉืืืจ ืืืืืงืื.
What does that mean, ืชืื ืืืืช ืืืืช?
ืืืืืจ ืืณ ืึตืึธื ืขืืจ ืืชืื ืืขืืจ ืืชืื ืืจืืฉืื; ืืืชืืืช ืชื ืขื ืืฆืืืช ืืื ืฉืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืื ืงืื ืขื ืื ืืชืืขืืืช ืื ืขืฉืืช ืืชืืืื
ืืืื ืฉื ื โืชืืโ?โฆืฉืืืื ืืืจ: ืชืื ืืืืช ืืืืช.
ืืืจ ืืืืจื ื ืืืงืื ืืืจ ืฉืืืจ ืืืืช ืืืืช ืฉืึทืึผืึผืช (ืืณ ืคืชืืื) ืืืืืช ืืืชืืกืืืชื ืืืืืจื ืืชืคืฉืืืช ืื ื ืคืฉืืช ืื ืืื ืืืจืืื, ืืืืคื ืฉืื ืืืืื ืขืืืื ืืฉ ืืื ืฉืืืืืช ืืืกืื ืืืืช, ืืืื ืืืืื ืื ืืืืฉื ืืจืืืื ืืกืืืขืชื ืืฉืืื, ืื ืืฉ ืขืืืื ืชืงืื ืืชืงืื ื.
We now understand why Ramban needed to preface his remarks to the second half of verse 26 with his assessment that this would happen only when ืชืื ืืืืช ืืืืช. [T]his would be at a point in history when the promise that the Ribono shel Olam had made to Avraham at the time of the Akeidah [(ืจืืืดื, ืืจืืฉืืช ืื:16)โ ืืขื ืืฉืจ ืขืฉืืช ืืืขืฉื ืืืืื ืืื ืฉื ืฉืืข ืืฉืื ืืืืื ืืฉืืืจืฉ ืืจืขื ืืช ืฉืขืจ ืืืืืื ืืื ื ืืืืื ืฉืื ืืืจืื ืฉืื ืืื ืฉืืืื ืืจืขื ืื ืฉืืคืื ืืื ืืืืืื ืืื ืืงืื ืืื ื ืื ืืืืื ืฉืืืื ืืืืืื ืืขืชืืื ืื ื] would no longer be effective. That promise had been predicated upon the assumption that we would still be considered to be ืืจืขื, (Avrahamโs) offspring.
So at the point of ืืืฉืื ืืฉืจืื ืืืืขื, we have lost the right to be called (ืืฉืขืืื ืื:ื)โ ืืจืข ืืืจืื ืืืื, and terrible things happen to us, but we are kept around to be a lesson to the world.
Then Moshe describes how foolish the nation is for not realizing that ืืณ's hand was behind everything that happens, both the victories and the losses:
ืื ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืช;
ืืืื ื ืืืืจืืชืื ื ืืืื ืืจืืฃ ืืื ืืืฃ
ืืฉื ืื ืื ืืกื ืจืืื; ืื ืื ืื ืฆืืจื ืืืจื
ืืืณ ืืกืืืจืื ืื ืื ืื ืืฆืืจื ื ืฆืืจื;
ืืืืืื ื ืคืืืืืื ืื ืื ืืืคื ืกืื ืืคื ื
ืืืฉืืืช ืขืืจื; ืขื ืืื ืขื ืื ืจืืฉ
ืืฉืืืช ืืจืจืช ืืืื ืื ืืืช ืชื ืื ื ืืื ื;
ืืจืืฉ ืคืชื ืื ืืืืจื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืก ืขืืื;
ืืชืื ืืืืฆืจืชืื
This part of Haazinu is ambiguous. Who are these ignorant people, ืื ืืืื ืืฉืืืื ืืืช?
ืื ืืื ืืืื ืขืฆืืช ืืื: ืจืณ ืืืืื ืืืจืฉื ืืืคื ืืฉืจืื, ืจืณ ื ืืืื ืืืจืฉื ืืืคื ืืืืืืช.
The ambiguityโฆis, of course, deliberate. There can be no more devasting judgment of the level to which we had sunk than this. We have reached a point at which there is no longer any way to tell whether it is โweโ or โtheyโ who is being described. So much for our segulah standing!
The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which.
Animal Farm ends there. But Haazinu continues with ืืณโs response. He will make them drink the wine of their own deeds, a metaphor that comes up in ืชื ืดื often:
ืืชืขืืจืจื ืืชืขืืจืจื ืงืืื ืืจืืฉืื ืืฉืจ ืฉืชืืช ืืื ืืณ ืืช ืืืก ืืืชื; ืืช ืงืืขืช ืืืก ืืชืจืขืื ืฉืชืืช ืืฆืืชื
In ืืฉืขืื it is clearly Israel that is drinking the poison of ืืณโs anger; in ืืจืืืื it refers to the enemies of Israel.
ืื ืื ืืืจ ืืณ ืืืงื ืืฉืจืื ืืื ืงื ืืช ืืืก ืืืื ืืืื ืืืืช ืืืื; ืืืฉืงืืชื ืืชื ืืช ืื ืืืืื ืืฉืจ ืื ืื ืฉืื ืืืชื ืืืืืื
Here the text remains ambiguous. Both interpretations are true. However, the second half of our aliyah unambiguously turns to the salvation of Israel.
ืื ืื ื ืงื ืืฉืื
ืืขืช ืชืืื ืจืืื; ืื ืงืจืื ืืื ืืืื
ืืืฉ ืขืชืืช ืืืื ืื ืื ืืืื ืืณ ืขืื
ืืขื ืขืืืื ืืชื ืื; ืื ืืจืื ืื ืืืืช ืื
ืืืคืก ืขืฆืืจ ืืขืืืื ืื ืืืืจ ืื ืืืืืื
ืฆืืจ ืืกืื ืืื ืื ืืฉืจ ืืื ืืืืืื ืืืืื
ืืฉืชื ืืื ื ืกืืื; ืืงืืื ืืืขืืจืื
ืืื ืขืืืื ืกืชืจืื ืื ืจืื ืขืชื ืื ืื ื ืื ื ืืื
ืืืื ืืืืื ืขืืื; ืื ื ืืืืช ืืืืื
ืืืฆืชื ืืื ื ืืจืคื ืืืื ืืืื ืืฆืืื
Now this is a glorious song; this is a ืฉืืจ:
ืืืืืจ ืืฉื ืืืื ื ืื ืงืื ืืฉืจืื ืืช ืืืจื ืืฉืืจื ืืืืช ืขื ืชืืื
Rabbi Shulman has talked about the nature of shir in ืชื ืดื as specifically referring to a victory song. It is a โgoodโ ืฉืืจ if it attributes victory to ืืงืืดื, and a โbadโ ืฉืืจ that leads to terrible consequences if human being celebrate their own glory. So this is a good ืฉืืจ. But Rabbi Eisemann points out a problem with Haazinu as ืฉืืจ:
(ืชืืืื ืื:ื) ืืื ื ืืืกืื ืืืืชื ืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืขืชื ืืฉืืจื ืืืณ ืื ืืื ืขืื: ืืืฉื ืืืจืดื. ืืืฉ ืืขืืื ืืืชื ืืคืฉืจ ืืืืจ ืฉืืจื ืขื ืื ืก, ืืื ืจืง ืืืจ ืฉืงืจื ืืืจ ืื ืก, ืื ืื ืื ืืื ืืื ืืืื ืฉืืงืจื ื ืก. ืืืืื ืฉื ืืื ืฉืืืืจ ืื ืื, ืืืื ืืืจ ืืืืจ ืฉืืจื ืขื ืื ืก? ืืืื ืืืืืืจ ืืคืกืืง ืื ืดื โืืื ื ืืืกืื ืืืืชืโ ืืืื ื ืืืืื ืจืง ืืืกืื ืืื ืจืง โืืื ืืื ืืืฉืืขืชื"; ืืฉ ืื ืฉืืื ืขืดื. ืืื ืืชื โืืฉืืจื ืืืณโ, ืืืืืจ ืฉืืจื? ืืื ืจืง โืื ืืื ืขืืโ, ืืฉืงืืจื ืื ืืื ืื ืก ืืืจ.
If this is a ืฉืืจ, then we should only sing it after the victory. How can we sing this ืฉืืจ now, when we hope and pray for ืื ื ืงื ืืฉืื but it hasnโt happened yet? The answer is that Haazinu is not a ืฉืืจ about the ultimate victory over our enemies; that is a ืฉืืจ for the future.
ืืืจื ืื ืืฉืจืื ืขืฉืจ ืฉืืจืืชโฆืจืืืขืืช ืืืจ ืืฉื (ืืืจืื ืื:ืื): ืึทืึฐืึดืโ ืึผึฐืึทืึผืึนืช ืึนืฉืึถื ืึดืึฐืชึผึนื ืืืืณ โฆืืขืฉืืจืืช ืืขืชืื (ืชืืืื ืฆื:ื) ืึดืึฐืืึนืจ ืฉืึดืืจืึผ ืึทืืณ ืฉืึดืืจ ืึธืึธืฉื ืึผึดื ื ึดืคึฐืึธืืึนืช ืขึธืฉืึธื.
This is a ืฉืืจ about ืืกืชืืจื ืคื ื ืืื. Even in the most terrible times, ืืณ is still with us, just โhiddenโ.
โโฆIt is true that My face is hidden, but it is โIโ, present among you as always, Who is doing the hidingโ.
That, R. Bunim from Peshischa preached, is the message that Haazinu teaches us. We sing even when we are the victims of G-ds anger, because as long as He is with us, we feel safe and cared for in His arms.
In verse 39, Haazinu calls out to us, ืจืื ืขืชื ืื ืื ื ืื ื ืืื, โSee now that it is I, even I Who am Heโ. โIโ is first person; it implies a presence, we use โheโ when we talk about a third person who is not in front of us. โPlease understand,โ God is calling out to us, โthat even when you experience Me as โHeโ it is really โIโ Who am there at your sideโ.
There is much to sing about even when we suffer.
And the song concludes on a positive (though gory) note:
ื ืื ืืฉื ืื ืฉืืื ืืื; ืืืืจืชื ืื ืื ืื ืืขืืื
ืื ืื ืฉื ืืชื ืืจืง ืืจืื ืืชืืื ืืืฉืคื ืืื;
ืืฉืื ื ืงื ืืฆืจื ืืืืฉื ืื ืืฉืืื
ืื ืืฉืืืจ ืืฆื ืืื ืืืจืื ืชืืื ืืฉืจ;
ืืื ืืื ืืฉืืื ืืจืืฉ ืคืจืขืืช ืืืืื
ืื ืืจื ืื ื ืืืื ืขืื ืื ืื ืขืืืื ืืงืื;
ืื ืงื ืืฉืื ืืฆืจืื ืืืคืจ ืืืืชื ืขืืื
Despite all our failings, ืืณ will forgive us and save us, and return us to our land: ืืืคืจ ืืืืชื ืขืื.