Parashat Ha’azinu – 5786
Rabbi Shmuel Rabinowitz, Rabbi of the Western Wall and Holy Sites
In his final days, Moses sets forth what the future holds for the Jewish people. The description in our parasha begins with God’s love for Israel in the years of their journey through the wilderness before entering the Land of Israel. It then turns to the future, as the Jewish people settle in their land. The terrifying scenario unfolds: when the nation “grows fat and kicks” from too much prosperity, the dreadful outcome will be exile and the bloodshed that accompanied it. And finally, when God sees the people broken and crushed, His mercy will awaken.
And what will happen at that difficult time, “For their foot shall slip…” (Deuteronomy 32)? At that moment, G-d’s mercy will be aroused:
“For the Lord will judge His people and relent for His servants, when He sees that their power is gone, and there is none remaining, bond or free.” (ibid.)
Later it says:
“And He shall say: Where are their gods, the rock in whom they trusted?”
Who will say this?
Rabbi Chaim ben Attar (in his Ohr HaChaim) explains that these words will be spoken by the Jewish people themselves, in the face of the hardships that will befall them:
“And Israel will say: Where is our God? Even though their deeds are not proper, nevertheless they will come with a claim before God, hinted at in the word Tzur (Rock), namely: ‘They trusted in Him!’ For Israel, even when they sinned and transgressed part of God’s commandments, still all their trust was in Him. For His sake they bore poverty and degradation, and gave their lives for the sanctification of His name, and they waited and hoped for the Rock of their redemption…”
According to the Ohr HaChaim, the argument of the Jewish people will be this: Even though the evil inclination overpowered us and we stumbled in sin, we never lost our faith in God. And because of this faith, we suffered so greatly! This alone is a reason for God’s mercy on His people.
Words in this spirit we also find with King David, who sought atonement for his sins and pleaded for God’s mercy, even though he sinned deliberately:
“Against You alone have I sinned, and done what is evil in Your eyes…” (Psalms 51:6)
And why does David believe he deserves forgiveness? He continues:
“Behold, You desire truth in the innermost parts.” (ibid.)
Rabbi Abraham Ibn Ezra (poet, biblical commentator, and philosopher in Spain’s Golden Age) explains: “‘Behold, truth’ – although I sinned, the faith of my heart in You has never wavered. And this is what You desire from man…”
What does God want from His creatures, human beings of flesh and blood, driven by desires and intrigues? He wants that point in the heart. A small, pure, clean spark of faith. This is the spark that emerges in difficult times in every Jew.
Now, in these days of prayer and repentance, is the time to awaken it, and to connect to it when we pray, seek forgiveness, and ask for salvation.
This Jewish spark received wide media attention when hostages returned from enemy territory and related simply that, in the depths of the dark tunnels, suddenly a light of faith ignited within them, and they spoke with God, even those who had never done so before.
Let’s look inward at our good Jewish spark, the believing one. Let us guard it, and no less important, let us be “protectors” of those sparks around us. Let’s look at everyone positively, give everyone the benefit of doubt. In this way, we will merit a good year.
