Torah:Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1-52) Haftarah: (II Samuel 22:1-51)
This Sabbath is known as Shabbat Shuvah, which is the Shabbat that occurs during the Ten Days of Awe/10 Days of Repentance between Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur.
Erev Yom Kippur one lights the candles and recites the… “ner shel Yom Tov.”
If you need to eat or drink, take medicines, or are pregnant, you should not Fast. G-d wants you to concentrate on your behavior, and He cares about your health.
The Tradition is to wear white, which represents purity. The Torah is dressed in white. People usually do not wear leather shoes or shoes that tie. So, you may see people wearing sneakers. The challah is round and honey is used instead of salt.
G’Mar Hatimah Tovah/ May you be sealed good in the Book of Life.
The Torah portion has the song of Moses, providing a final review of Israel’s history. Moses is told to climb Mount Nebo, from which he will be able to see the Land of Israel. There he will die, without entering the land.
In Ha’azinu Moses begins to end his teaching to the Israelites. He speaks in a series of poetry and uses metaphors. A metaphor is when a person talks about one thing to explain another. One example to explain heavy rain, the metaphor is “It is raining cats and dogs.” Another name for the People of Israel is Yeshurun. So the lesson being taught stems from Yeshurun, which is Yashar to be righteous or upright. This describes the ideal way Israel should become. The changing or different names appear often throughout the Torah. When the alternate name of the Israelites is used ironically, there is a comparison of how they should behave, and how they actually behave.
Moses declares that the ways of G-d are just and righteous (Deuteronomy 33:4). The acceptance that all a person goes through in life even death demonstrates G-d’s righteousness. The Haftarah taken from the Second Book of Samuel has a song of thanksgiving and a farewell song from King David. David traces Divine Providence in his escapes from persecution and gives thanks to G-d for his deliverance and victories. Just as David traces his accomplishments in his life to G-d, so too does Moses explains to the Israelites the importance of keeping one’s loyalty for G-d and faith in G-d’s infinite mercies and kindness.
May we continue to follow the paths of righteous behavior, and may our actions always be for Tikkun Olam/Repairing the world. It is our behavior and our intent is what G-d is looking for in each of us.
Shabbat Shalom V’YomTov,
Rabbi Helene Ainbinder
