Throughout the Tanach (the Bible), there are a number of recognised songs or poems. Two of those directly involving Moses – Shirat HaYam and Shirat Ha’azinu – represent bookends of our ancestors’ journey through the wilderness, from just after the Exodus from Egypt through to just before entering the Promised Land.
The song our ancestors sang after crossing the Red Sea was an expression of finally achieving freedom. Even though they were set free by Pharaoh after the 10th plague killed off the first born Egyptians, he hadn’t completely released them, opting to chase after them upon deciding he had made a mistake in letting them go. Crossing the Red Sea meant that their redemption was complete, Pharaoh was no longer a threat to their freedom.
Now, as we come to the end of Moses’ tenure, he offers a different type of song. Moses calls on the heavens and the earth to be witnesses to his ode, and he continues by expressing his love of and gratitude to God. This is contrasted by an array of prophetic warnings and reminders of the Israelites’ corrupt ways, including how they have the tendency to turn away from God; “They forsook the God who made them and spurned the Rock of their support. They incensed God with alien things, vexed God with abominations. They sacrificed to demons, no-gods, Gods they had never known, new ones, who came but lately, who stirred not your forebears’ fears” (Devarim 32:15-17).
After enjoying success, the Israelites became complacent and turned to idolatry. Ha’azinu reminds us that spiritual awareness and gratitude are especially important during times of abundance. It warns against the temptation to forget our dependence on and connection to God when we perceive our successes as purely self-made.
As is the case throughout the Book of Devarim, Ha’azinu also mentions some of the consequences for this type of behaviour. “Adonai saw and was vexed and spurned these sons and daughters. God said: I will hide My countenance from them, and see how they fare in the end. For they are a treacherous breed, children with no loyalty in them … I will sweep misfortunes on them, use up My arrows on them: Wasting famine, ravaging plague,deadly pestilence, and fanged beasts will I let loose against them, with venomous creepers in dust” (Devarim 32:19-20 and 23-24).
This is followed by the timely message that no matter how far off the path we stray, there is always the possibility of returning to just ways and conduct. “O nations, acclaim God’s people! For Adonai will avenge the blood of God’s servants, wreak vengeance on God’s foes, and cleanse God’s people’s land” (Devarim 32:43). The text emphasises that no matter how far one strays, God is always willing to accept genuine repentance. The door to teshuva remains open as long as we are ready to change.
Just as Shirat Hayam marks the beginning of our ancestors’ journey through the desert, with hope and anticipation of what lies ahead, Shirat Ha’azinu marks the end of that part of the journey, reflecting on missed opportunities and serving as a reminder that even though expectations aren’t always lived up to, acknowledging that we have a tendency to stray from the expected path, we have the option to return to correct and proper ways. Exercising true introspection and repentance, honouring past journeys and experiences helps us to maintain the covenant entered into between God and Israel through our ancestors.
Shabbat Shalom, Shana Tovah and G’mar Chagtimah Tovah.
Rabbi Sam Zwarenstein
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