HAAZINU: See now that it is I! I am the One, and there is no G-d like Me! I cause
death and grant life. I strike, but I heal, and no one can rescue from My Hand! (Deuteronomy 32:39)
HAFTORAH: And I have consumed them, and I have crushed them that they cannot rise;
Yes, they are fallen under my feet. (II Samuel 22:39)
QUALITY TO ACQUIRE THE TORAH: Does Not Take Pleasure in
Handing Down [Halachic] Decisions (Einoh Sameach B’hora’ah)
PROPHET: Baruch
LEVITICAL CITY: Betzer, City of Refuge
The thirty-ninth week of the year is
that of Rosh Chodesh Tammuz as well as Gimmel
Tammuz, the date of the Rebbe’s passing and also the beginning of the
liberation of the Sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe. Tammuz
is marked by the the fast of the 17th of Tammuz, when the walls of Jerusalem were breached. This month is
represented by the tribe of Reuven, Jacob’s firstborn.
In the verse of Haazinu, G-d exclaims that He is the One
true G-d. He causes death, but he also grants life. He strikes but He also
heals. This verse perfectly represents the month of Tammuz, which before the times of Mashiach is associated with death and suffering, but which
afterwards will be associated with life and healing.The Haftorah verse for this week seems related to the very last words in Haazinu, which state that “no one can rescue from My Hand.” During this month, in the past we have been crushed and consumed, but in the future, the enemies of the Jews will fall under their feet.
The quality
of this week is “does not take pleasure in handing down [halachic]
decisions.” This is related to the idea of not using the Torah for one’s own
honor. A more literal translation of the phrase, is that the person “is not
happy” in making rulings. Tammuz has
certainly been a month in which the Jewish people have not been happy in the
past, as we have been handed down difficult decrees during this time. Yet, we must realize that it is also in our power to reverse these decrees, through Teshuvah, repentance.
This week’s prophet is Baruch, the scribe of Jeremiah. Baruch
was given the task of reading Jeremiah’s dire prophecies to the people; a task
he certainly was not happy performing and in which he did not take pleasure.
Nevertheless, he handed down the decrees, in accordance to his master’s will.
Interestingly, all four prophets of the month of Tammuz are related to Baruch.
After Baruch, the following prophet is his father, then his brother, and then
finally his grandfather.
The
levitical city for this week is Betzer, which is also a city of refuge. Betzer
means fortification, a very appropriate name for this week, since it was in Tammuz that the fortifications of
Jerusalem were breached. It is also worth noting that all cities for this week
are connected to Moab, and Jeremiah’s prophecy against this nation in Chapter
48 of his book. Moab represents the kelipah
of broad powers (both physical and intellectual), and the fear of losing them.[1]
This is parallel to Reuven himself.