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We have so many ways to wish one another well this time of year! Shana Tova for the new year we just observed, Chag Sameach for Sukkot that starts on Sunday night, and, as always Shabbat Shalom. I hope your High Holy Days were a chance to recharge, rest a little, spend time with family and take pride in being part of a vibrant Jewish community.

This week's Parshah, Ha'azinu, is mostly a song. Ha'azinu means "listen", but it's stronger "listen" than the word "shema" (which means "hear") from the Shema Yisrael. It's from the same Hebrew root word as "ears" and sort of means "listen with your whole ear" (as intensely as you can). What Moshé wants the people to listen to so intently is a song he is teaching them, which tells a stroy that God wants them to remember. He wants them to learn it and remember it as they are about to enter the promised land of Canaan (we talked about this a bit two weeks ago).

- Why put this story into the form of a song?

- Is it easier for you to remember words if they are set to music?

The story the song tells is one of history, blessings, bad times, and return to good times. It reminds our ancestors of their history - that God has stood by them and saved them so many times, even when they disobeyed or rebelled. It starts by saying the God is powerful and perfect, but that people are not perfect and when they make mistakes, it is not God's fault, but their own. 

- What do you think of that - that our mistakes are ours alone?

- When you make mistakes, or disobey rules, is it your fault all the time? If not, who else might share responsibility?

The song then proceeds with a brief recap of the history of our ancestors - that God found them desperate and alone and gave them blessings, including the richness of the land they are about to enter. You know the history: Humanity was saved through Noah and his family during the great flood; Abraham and Sarah were the beginnings of the Jewish people; Abraham's great grandson, Joseph, ended up in Egypt and eventually brought his brother there; we were enslaved by Pharaoh; and then, of course, the rescue from slavery into freedom, receiving the Torah and all the mitzvot.

-Is there a particular part of this history that you think is the most important? Why?

- What part of this history is your favorite story? Why?

The song then looks ahead to a time when we, the people blessed with freedom and fruitful land, took what we had for granted, and turned away from God, worshiping false gods (this is a prophesy, but told in the past tense like it already happened). It says that, as a result, we were cursed with famine, and taken over by our enemies; that things got so bad that everyone believed we must have been abandoned by God. 

- Do you think this prophesy is inevitable?

- Is it natural for people who have everything they need to take things for granted?

- How can you not take things for granted?

And, of course, at the end of the song, God returns to us and we are saved from destruction. Moshé tells the people they must learn this song by heart.

- Why would God consider this song and this story to be so important?

- When things are not going well for you, what story or prediction would comfort you?

Ha'azinu concludes with God telling Moshé up to Mount Nebo so that he can see the land to which the people will soon travel. He tells Moshé that he will die and will not go into the land. This is the second-to-last Parshah in the Torah - we will read the final one on Simchat Torah and start reading the Torah all over again the following Shabbat. In the final Parshah, Moshé has one more thing to say to the people.

- What do you think Moses says in the final Parshah  when he has to say "goodbye" to the people he has led?

- What would you want to tell them if you were Moshé?

So, once again, Shana Tova, Shabbat Shalom, and Chag Sameach. I hope the next song you hear brings you joy and meaning. 

Dan