Parshat Ha'azinu

Posted

Resolutions for remarkable Jews

By Rabbi Avi Billet

Issue of Oct. 10, 2008

It is a bit of a challenge to reflect on Yom Kippur before it happens. This issue of The Jewish Star went to press before Yom Kippur, but may reach readers’ hands after the chag.

Perhaps this is merely a reflection of what the day is supposed to be for us. During the Ten Days of Repentance, as we do our introspection and make our promises and resolutions for the coming year (not the ones we annul at Kol Nidrei and in hatarat nedarim), we may even pause to reflect over the waiting period between the Day of Judgment that is Rosh Hashana, and the Day of Atonement that is Yom Kippur. Have we been judged favorably? Will we be sealed for another year of life?

For a long time I have been challenged by the 2.7 percent chance people have to pass away during this ten-day period. Those who die in this one thirty-sixth of the year — when was their sentence written? When was the judgment concluded? A few days ago, or one year ago?

In truth, there is no way we could really know. I like to think that their judgment was issued a year ago, when G-d declared, “This will be your last year, but it will be the longest ‘last year’ you can possibly have.”

In a sense, Ha’azinu confirms the best of the worst and the best of the best for the Jewish people, while it concludes with a very personal account of what G-d will wreak on non-believers and enemies of G-d’s people.

Some sample snippets, beginning with 32:36: “G-d will then take up the cause of His people, and comfort His servants...[G-d] will then say: Where is their god, the power in which [non-believers] trusted?...But now see! It is I! I am the [only] One! There are no [other] gods with Me! I kill and give life! ...I am Life forever...I will bring vengeance against My foes, and repay those who hated Me... Let the tribes of His nation sing praise, for He will avenge His servants’ blood. He will bring vengeance upon His foes, and reconcile His people [to] His land.”

This is not a “politically correct” speech, of course, but as G-d is not running for election, He can say what He wants.

Then, in 32:45, we read “When Moshe had finished speaking all these words to all Israel, he said to them, ‘Pay close attention to all the words through which I warn you today, so that you will be able to instruct your children to keep all the words of this Torah carefully. It is not an empty teaching for you. It is your life, and with it you will long endure on the land which you are crossing the Jordan to occupy.’”

On this last verse, Rashi (32:47) has a very important comment. He says the Torah is not a volunteer system. There is reward to be given to those who follow it. Furthermore, he says, there is no such thing as a pointless verse in the Torah from which you cannot learn profound lessons. Even the identity of Timna in Bereishit 36 is used to show how much people wanted to marry into Abraham’s family.

Chizkuni also has a profound comment. Torah study should never be viewed as a useless and worthless pursuit. If we don’t study it, we won’t know what is a transgression and a culpable punishment, and what is a mitzvah (commandment) which merits great reward.

If my assessment of those who pass away between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur is on target (who will prove my theory wrong?), then a lot of credit goes to the 2.7 percent of people who pass away in this period. They were extraordinary, remarkable Jews.

But the parsha gives us the ingredients to become extraordinary, remarkable Jews ourselves. We must become Jewishly literate. We can never stop and be satisfied with what we knew in high school or even with what we’ve learned up until now.

Some people are happy if their children know more than they know. But this is one New Year’s resolution that must be renewed year after year because the previous sentence is wrong. With so many books in print, in Hebrew and in English, there is no excuse for any Jew not to seek more knowledge.

Devarim 30:14 states: “It is something that is very close to you. It is in your mouth and in your heart, so that you may do it.” A Hassidic teaching on this verse explains, “It is close to you. You say (in your mouth) you want to do it. You feel (in your heart) that you want to do it. Well, now it’s time to put up. Go do it!”

Avi Billet welcomes your comments and thoughts. avbillet@gmail.com.