Parshat Ha'azinu
We hear sounds, noises and words. Seems like one of the most basic human functions. But are we really listening?
This week's Parsha Ha'azinu is named after the special song of Moshe Rabbeinu. It is a song that recounts Jewish history from the beginning of time, foretells the future, and according to our sages, has everything contained in it.
The verse begins with the words (Devarim 32:1) " האזינו השמים ואדברה ותשמע הארץ אמני פי - Give ear, O heavens and I will speak, and may the earth hear the words of my mouth".
Rashi (France 1040-1105) explains that Moshe calls on the heavens and the earth to be his witnesses, as he begins to foretell both the good and bad that will befall the Jewish people throughout history. The heavens and the earth that have been around since the creation of the world, are the appropriate witnesses to this expansiveness of time.
But if we pay closer attention to the words, we find something remarkable. Moshe says "Give ear, O heavens... and may the earth hear the words of my mouth". Many years later the great prophet Isaiah utters a similar prophecy when he says (Isaiah 1:2) " שמעו שמים והאזיני ארץ-Give ear, O earth, and hear O heavens". The Midrash Tanchuma explains that all the prophets were equal as we see the words of the prophecy reverberate throughout history (Moshe and Isaiah lived some 700+ years apart).
Rabbi Akiva explained that when Moses uttered the Torah, he was in the heavens, and that he speaks with the heavens like one who is speaking with his friend, since he said: GIVE EAR, O HEAVENS. But when he saw that the earth was far from him, he said: LET THE EARTH HEAR THE WORDS OF MY MOUTH. In the case of Isaiah, however, because he was on earth, he said: HEAR, O HEAVENS, [since they were] far from him. After that he said: AND GIVE EAR, O EARTH, because it was near to him.
The word Ha'azinu comes from the word "אזן -Ear", hence the meaning, to listen or hear. In the Yiddish language the word to listen is "Heren" but to comprehend and really understand is "Derheren". In other words, there is a fundamental difference between hearing and comprehending/understanding.
As parents and educators, we are always hearing words, sentences, complaints, kvetching and more. But, are we really comprehending and understanding what the child is saying or unable to say? So often, the real issue is not what a child is saying or doing but the deeper issue that is behind it.
Moshe Rabbeinu encourages us to really listen and comprehend our children and other people. Thus, not only do we listen to the blessings of Ha'azinu but we truly connect and comprehend to the depths of our souls.
Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Y. Marrus
No comments:
Post a Comment