HAAZINU: You forgot the [Mighty] Rock Who bore
you; you forgot the G-d Who delivered you. (Deuteronomy 32:18)
Positive light: Rock [or Creator], they are your children;
forget completely [our sins]; G-d delivers you.
HAFTORAH: He delivered me from my mighty enemy; from them that hated me; for they
were too powerful for me. (II Samuel 22:18)
QUALITY TO ACQUIRE THE TORAH: Minimized World
Activity (Miut Derech Eretz)
PROPHET: Achiah HaShiloni
LEVITICAL CITY: Mishal
On Week Eighteen,
Rosh Chodesh Shevat, Haazinu’s verse speaks of how the Jewish
people forgot about G-d, who bore and delivered them. Shevat is a month very much connected with nature – it includes the
New Year of the Trees. It therefore seems appropriate that the verse speak of
G-d’s relationship to us using the “natural” metaphor of giving birth. However,
Shevat also represents the idea of being above nature, as well as the Oral
Torah; it represents the idea of taanug (pleasure) and emunah (celebrating Tu
B’Shvat in the midst of winter).
This week’s
verse in Haazinu can also be
understood more positively, as a prayer. “Rock [or Creator], they are your
children; forget completely [our sins]; G-d delivers you.” The Haftorah’s verse also appears to
continue the theme of prayer. The verse describes G-d’s intervention in the
world in a way that is above nature.(See below about the Levitical City of Mishal, below, as well as the Grasshopper in Week 18 of Book 1).
The quality for this week is minimized world activity (miut derech eretz). This seems to be a
direct parallel with the Pirkei Avot teaching
for this week in Book 1. When all of one’s affairs in this world are in a way
of miut (humble and "minimized"), we see much more the Hand of
G-d in all of our affairs.
This
week’s prophet is Achiah HaShiloni. He, perhaps more than anyone, represents
the idea of acting in a way that is above nature. He lived longer than
any of the other prophets (as recorded by Maimonides, and taught Eliyahu
HaNavi as well as the Ba’al Shem Tov. It was because of both men's minimized world activity that they merited to have Achiah HaShiloni revealed to them.
Achiah also told the Ba’al Shem Tov that he
needed to reveal himself to the world. He directed him to be involved
in the world, but in a way of miut, "smallness." Additionally, the Baal Shem Tov spoke of the importance of being a genuine and good
person and having a simple connection to G-d. This seems related to
both the idea of “Derech Eretz” –
having good behavior and being a mentch, as well as the idea of taking care of
the “Amei Ha’Aretz,” simple folk.
The
levitical city for this week is Mishal, which means prayer, request. This is related
to the song of the Grasshopper (Week 18, Book 1) , and to the Shmoneh
Esreh, which has eighteen blessings. It is also related to ta’anug and to emunah, qualities of the month of Shevat. Mishal also has
the same letters as Moshel, to rule.
In prayer, we accept the notion that G-d is the ultimate Ruler.
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