Skip to main content

Haazinu (2025)

Shabbat Haazinu

Dvar TorahThis week’s Torah portion, Haazinu, is a Shirah—literally, a “song.” But it’s not a gentle, feel-good melody. It’s a stark and haunting prophecy, foretelling the dark chapters of Jewish history and affirming that even those, too, have their place in the divine story.Anyone who grew up in the States probably knows the phone number for Empire Today: 1-800-588-2300 – the jingle played for years, and you’ll remember their number whether you like it or not (you’ll probably also remember that they do next-day window treatments too). That’s the power of music: it imprints ideas not just on our minds but deep within our consciousness, in a way plain words just can’t. It shapes what we remember—whether something trivial or something profound.Haazinu is not a happy song, but it is an essential one. As we near the conclusion of the Torah, it stands as one final reminder set to endure throughout the generations, that through all the rises and falls of our history, God’s presence endures with us still.Shabbat in/out timesYerushalayim 17:42/18:56Tel-Aviv 18:01/18:58Manchester 18:22/19:29NYC 18:16/19:13Chicago 18:08/19:08Santiago 19:29/20:25More locationsShabbat Shalom!

------

This Dvar Torah is based in part on an article by Rav Ezra Bick published in Torat Etzion: New Readings in Parashat Hashavua – Devarim, 2015, Koren Publishing, p. 375-382




Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ki-Tavoh (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Tavoh Dvar Torah – Judaism’s Day 1 Culture As Moshe concludes his review of the commandments on the banks of the Jordan, he tells the people:  “On this day Hashem your G-d commands you to observe these laws.”  The wording is striking— why “on this day”?  Wasn’t this already commanded at Sinai? The classic commentator Rashi explains that the Torah is reminding us to approach it as if every day were “Day 1” —fresh, new, and full of energy. That’s not easy. But the way we can keep Torah alive is by making it personal. When we learn, reflect, and discover new insights, we’re not just repeating old lessons—we’re expanding them, renewing them, and incorporating them in our own lives today. At this point when Moshe concludes his own masterclass (see Ramban), he hands us the baton to keep learning, discovering, and letting that continual renewal be the source of ongoing excitement and purpose in Jewish life. Trivia Following Shabbat, Ashkenazim will ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Chayei Sarah (2025)

Shabbat Chayei-Sarah Dvar Torah – The Legacy of Lech-L’cha Abraham — like any Jewish father — is worried. Sarah has passed away, Isaac has come of age, and he needs to find his son a wife. What follows is the legendary narrative of Eliezer, Abraham’s trusted servant, journeying to Aram-Naharayim — Abraham’s homeland — where he miraculously encounters Rebecca. Her kindness and generosity shine through immediately, and she unhesitatingly says “yes.” But why did Isaac need a wife from abroad? The same question arises with Jacob — why were the women of Canaan unsuitable for the patriarchs? I once heard a beautiful insight from my sister (whose given name, incidentally, is Rebecca). The defining trait of our patriarchs was their willingness to venture into the unknown in response to God’s call. Abraham heard the command of “Lech Lecha” — to leave behind everything familiar — and he went on to the Promised Land. To join this family and become the mothers of the Jewish people, the mat...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ki-Teitzei (2025)

Shabbat Parshat Ki-Teitzei Dvar Torah - Cultivating a caring mindset This week’s parsha teaches the mitzvah of  Shichecha  (lit. “forgotten”) - that farmers must leave forgotten bundles in the field for the poor, adding a promise  “so that G-d will bless you in all your work”  ( Deu. 24:19 ). Normally, the Torah does not spell out the reward for mitzvot, but Rashi  explains  that here the Torah highlights this blessing to teach us that even an unintentional mitzvah – done simply by forgetting – still merits reward. But why should something unintentional merit reward? Perhaps an answer can be found in Rav Hirsch who explains that Shichecha is meant to change us as people, conditioning our state of mind away from our natural inclination to amass wealth, to one of largesse towards the poor. When we live our lives in a mindset of contribution and care, even deeds we do unintentionally are inspired by a sense of awareness for the needs of others and are sur...
Post a Comment
Read more