Parsha

This Week In The Torah

Parsha Haazinu Devorim/Deut.Ch32/1-52

All Things Considered
by Rabbi Yechezkel Fox

The Rock! - perfect is his work, for all his paths are just; a G-d of faith without iniquity, righteous and fair is He.

Without iniquity - What kind of praise of G-d is this to say that He is without iniquity? If we would praise a person this way he would probably be insulted.

Rabbi Yisrael Salanter explains that in a Beis Din (Jewish court) they only look at the facts of the case to determine if the suspect is innocent or guilty. If they come to the conclusion that he is guilty, they must pass a sentence regardless of how this will affect the guilty party's family, friends or associates. The Beis Din is not allowed to take any side factors into account.

However, when G-d judges a person to see if he is deserving of a heavenly punishment, all factors are taken into consideration, including anybody who will be affected by the judgment. This is the meaning of the praise without inquity - His judgments are just, for everyone has been taken into account.

* * * * * Not An Ordinary Song

Most of the parsha is the song known as Ha'azinu, that Moses gave to the Jewish people before he died. To understand how profound this song is, here is a story that happened in the time of the Ramban, in the 13th century:

The Ramban had a student known as Reb Avner. Unfortunately, Reb Avner became an apostate. He then rose to a position of enormous power. One Yom Kippur he sent for his former Rabbi, the Ramban, to come to him. When the Ramban arrived, Avner slaughtered a pig right in front him, cut it up, cooked it and ate it. He then asked the Ramban how many times he would warrant excision for these acts. "Four times"---the Ramban responded. Avner, wanting to enter into a debate, said "five." The Ramban glared at him angrily, indicating that he wasn't willing to enter into a debate.

The Ramban then asked Avner why he had left the way of the Torah. Avner told him that he had once heard the Ramban say that everything that has or will happen is hinted at in the song of Ha'azinu. He couldn't accept such a thing and it led him to reject everything. The Ramban said that he still maintained this to be true, and he could ask him whatever he wanted and he would show him where it is. Avner took him up on the offer and asked where his own name is.

The Ramban went into a corner of the room and meditated for a while, came back and showed him that in verse 26 the third letter of each word spells out R' Avner. Avner was astounded, and asked how he could repent for his great sins. The Ramban said the verse that your name is in says I said "I would scatter them, I will cause their memory to cease from man". At this point Reb Avner got the message. He got into a boat, headed out to sea and disappeared, never to be seen again.

Sources:Taimay Minhagim

* * * * *

Not An Empty Thing

Moses concluded speaking all these words to all of Israel. He said to them, "Apply your hearts to all the words that I testify against you today, with which you are to instruct your children, to be careful to perform all the words of this Torah, for it is not an empty thing for you, for it is your life, and through this matter you shall prolong your days on the Land to which you cross the Jordan, to possess it. Ch32/45-47

For you ---The Jewish People---the Torah is not an empty thing; but for the nations of the world, it is.

Since its initial translation into Greek, the Torah has been avidly studied in every language and has always been the global best-seller. Those that read it are enlightened and uplifted, and many societies base their world-view on it. So how can we say that it is empty for them?

The matter may be compared to a light which is controlled by a knob. The more you rotate the knob, the more light it will give. The smallest twist will produce only a tiny speck of light. We can see that the light is working, but it is virtually useless. That is the level of light the nations of the world get from the Torah---they can see that it is something that works. But only the Jews have the capability to turn the light on so that it shines brightly. For we have the Oral Law, which Moshe received from G-d on Mount Sinai. Only by means of the Oral Law can the full light of the Torah shine forth.

Sources: Based on the Emek Davar.

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