<<Torah Thoughts>>

“Ha’azinu” contains no commandments and 52 verses.

The bulk of our Torah portion is in the form of a song. This song is a “compressed file” containing the contours of Jewish history. The song initially describes G-d’s justice and righteousness, and His particular love for the People of Israel. The tone then darkens as a litany of Israel’s misdeeds and betrayal of G-d’s love unfolds. The delicacies and bounty provided Israel by G-d become the very fuel of rebellion against the Benefactor (Verse 15- “Yeshurun (Israel) became fat and kicked. You became fat, thick and corpulent and deserted G-d… contemptuous of [Him]”).

Israel would be tested with prosperity and would fail.

Comfortable circumstances imbue the beneficiary with confidence, egocentrism, hubris and a smug sense of security. The pleasures of the moment screen the privations of the past and the uncertainties of the future. Contentment is fraught with the risk of oblivion. Humans are quick to ask “Why me?” when disaster strikes, but somehow the question is rarely raised when good fortune visits.

The Torah describes a prosperous Israel forgetting G-d as the font of its blessings; rebelling by assimilating new, alien cultures and values. G-d responds, “They provoked Me with a non-god, angered Me with their vanities; so shall I provoke them with a non-people, with a vile nation shall I anger them.” (Verse 21) G-d warns Israel that a group that has no authentic classical name or history, that is not sophisticated or powerful and that has an immoral value system will be the instrument to chastise haughty Israel. The affliction will include the terror of “flaming demons” and the fear of venturing outdoors (verse 24-25.)

Alas, it seems that these words of this song may have come to life in our generation. The State of Israel, born of and sustained by miracles, has become a prosperous, developed polity, wielding the most formidable arsenal in the Middle East. Yet many denizens of the State fail to recognize the miraculous nature of its existence. Its security in the face of implacable foes is ascribed solely to the IDF; its achievements in technology and business are purely the result of human ingenuity. There is no room for the divine in “Western Israel’s” psyche.

The “non-people”, the nation that despises life, that sends its children to become “flaming demons” on the streets and buses of Israel, is merely an instrument. They render the mighty army, the air-force, the nuclear weapons impotent. With their simple weapons and hateful intent, they devastate a vibrant economy. Israel’s sincere offers of peace and conciliation are met with added fury and violence. There is no rationalizing their twisted self-destructive path. They are the Shepherd’s rod, driving the errant sheep back to the path.

Reconciling current events with scripture is the province of prophets and fools. Yet ignoring the inexplicable quirks of Jewish history, and relegating the message of the Torah’s song to ethereal mysticism, will be missing the purpose of both.

The HAFTARA (excerpt from the prophets) this week is from the prophets- II Samuel 22:1-41. These verses are known as Shirat David, the Song of David. These verses were chosen to be the Haftara this week as they reflect the concept of a song, which is also found in the Torah portion.

In the words of this beautiful song, King David expresses his gratitude to G-d for protecting him throughout his trying life. G-d was his fortress and source of fortitude as David faced ruthless adversaries and overcame them. These inspiring words are echoed in the Book of Psalms, Chapter 18.