G’mar Chasima Tova
to everyone. May we all be sealed for a year of peace, health,
livelihood, and good. May this year see the coming of Geulah
Shelaima – the complete and final redemption.
This week’s Sedra,
Haazinu, is the last weekly sedra prior to Simchas Torah and the
beginning of the renewal of the annual cycle. This week is also
Shabbos Shuva, the Shabbos between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur. The
special Haftorah that we read this week begins with Shuva Yisrael
that is found in Sefer Hoshea Chapter 14.
It is the sixth day
of Adar, and Moshe Rabbeinu is speaking literally one day before his
death. After reviewing the entire Torah with Bnei Yisrael from Rosh
Chodesh, detailing many mitzvos and practically pleading with the
Bnei Yisrael to remain true to the Torah, reaffirming the Covenant
between Am Yisrael and our Creator, Moshe Rabbeinu calls witnesses
to testify that this event really happened. Unlike other faiths,
which have made claims based upon “claimed actions,” Moshe Rabbeinu
calls to witness those parts of Creation, which endure forever – the
Heaven and the Earth.
Moshe has reflected
on his own life, his call from G-d to redeem Israel from slavery,
bring them to Eretz Yisrael, give them a country, serve
G-d and be the
fulfillment of the purpose of creation. That purpose is to show the
children of man the glory and majesty of the Creator. Moshe Rabbienu
delivers his final oration the Song of Haazinu.
Rabbi Gedaliah
Schorr, the late Rosh Yeshiva of Torah VoDaath, makes a beautiful
observation. He said that the purpose of a song is to express
recognition of the complete harmony in Creation. The tenses of the
song are past, present, and future. This shows the prophecy
inherent in the Parsha, and the concept of reflection that we need
to do.
This past year, a
major icon in the music industry turned 64. When he was young, he
could not conceive of being 64 or seeing wisdom in his elders.
Hence, his disdain for his elders and the concept ultimately became
known as the generation gap.
Moshe Rabbeinu
foresaw that. The famous pasuk is in this week’s Parsha, “Z’chor
Yimos Olam, Binu Shinos Dor Va’dor, Sheal Avicha Vyagidu Zkeineika
Vromu Lach,” “Remember the days of old, understand the years of
generation after generation, Ask your father and he will relate it
to you, and your elders and they will tell you (32:7).” The Ramban
explains that the sins of Klal Yisrael are because they do not
reflect upon history, and are inexcusable and border on ingratitude.
Klal Yisrael should reflect upon the past, and ask and talk to
people who remember and understand history. They should question
people who understand how G-d regulates the course of the world to
the needs of the Klal Yisrael.
Reflecting is
crucial at this time of the year. We all make errors, and at the
center of these errors is the fact that people lose their
perspective. Y’mos Olam – the days of old meaning previous
generations seem far away. How many times have we heard that
someone is out of touch or that something is old fashioned? Moshe
Rabbeinu exhorts us to learn from the past. To quote a common
saying, those who don’t learn from the past are doomed to repeat
it. This is the message that Moshe Rabbeinu is saying learn from
the past so that you do not repeat it. The ultimate message of love
that a parent has for a child is to learn from his errors. We all
want our children to live better than we did and to have it easier.
To do so necessitates children learning from our mistakes. We need
the Z’chor Y’mos Olam – remembering the past in order to make the
present and future even better.
This theme of
remembering is reinforced in the Haftorah. The prophet exhorts Klal
Yisrael to do Teshuvah. The word Teshuva is based on the root of
shuva, return. The vernacular word “repentance” is the result.
However, the action of returning to our source is the root of
Teshuva. This is the reason that in most years, Parshas Haazinu and
Shabbos Shuva coincide with each other.
Finally, this
Shabbos is truly a special Shabbos. The special mitzvah of this
Shabbos is to continue to reflect upon our actions over the past
year. The Rambam writes in Hilchos Teshuvah (Chapter 2, Halachah 6)
that although Teshuva and confessing our sins before G-d is
something that is proper all year long, the Ten days between Rosh
Hashana and Yom Kippur is an even more propitious time to do so. It
is the time that HaShem, so to speak, is even more open to accept
it, as Yeshayah says, “Dirshu HaShem B’hemaziu,” “Seek out HaShem
and He will be found.” The Rambam explains this to refer to an
individual. The community can come together at any time in the year,
as the Passuk says, “HaShem Elokenu B’col Kareinu Eilav,” “Like
HaShem our
G-d, in everything
he is always close.” As we reflect on the past year and learn from
our mistakes, may we all have a year of peace, health, nachas,
parnasa for ourselves, our local community, and our brothers and
sisters in Eretz Yisrael. May we truly see Moshiach Tzidkeinu come
this year – G’mar Chasima Tova.
Shabbat Shalom!
