By Rabbi Meir Sabo
Parashat Ha’azinu
This Shabbat we will read the Torah portion of Ha’azinu.
The entire Chumash of Devarim, in short, is that last speech of Moshe Rabeinu to the nation of Israel. However, Ha’azinu is considered to be a song, “shira,” and this is exactly how our sages, masters of the Talmud and Midrash, refer to this parasha.
Out of the entire Torah, we do not find too many song opportunities in the five books, almost none. Why is it that Moshe brings us this “song” right before the end of his speech?
The answer is in the very first word, ha’azinu, “listen.”
Moshe is singing to us, to teach us something true for the entire Torah for every letter, every word, every pasuk.
The word ha’azinu and the hearing organ, the ear, share the same Hebrew root word, ozen. Ozen is the ear and ha’azinu is the actual verb for listening.
True, I didn’t say hearing; no one says “I am hearing some music right now,” rather “I am listening to music right now.”
Hearing can be flat and random BUT listening is finding depth and meaning. You listen to music to receive the harmony of the melody and the combination of the instruments and voices. You pay attention to the hidden rhythms or beats; you listen.
This is Moshe’s message; he is telling us: Hey friends, please listen to me and the depth of my words and my beautiful wishes for you. Listen to the words of the Torah she-baalpeh, the “oral Torah.” It explains and reveals both the simple meanings and the secret ones. If you listen to the divine origin, you will do and act the will of Hashem. No one is perfect, but without the focus of ha’azinu, to listen, you are going in the opposite direction.
Only when you open yourself to inside levels of connection will you become a harmonic part of the melody and be another note in the song. The Torah is endless; therefore, there is no end to how much one can listen.
You can’t listen too much or too little; as long as you listen, you are part of the song.
The song goes on and on and it will never stop.
The words of Hashem, the words of Moshe, the words of you and me. Words of the divine, the creator, sung by a creature of flesh and blood.
Hashem gave us the Torah “by the word of Hashem through Moshe’s hand.” We just have to open our ears and listen.
Shabbat Shalom.
Rabbi Meir Sabo is head rabbi of Tiferet Israel Congregation.