Is there a more perfect month for us to read parshat Haazinu? Hashem had asked Moshe and Yehoshua in parshat Vayelech to write a song for Bnei Yisrael, but it wasn’t just any song. Moshe and Yehoshua were told to write a song about Bnei Yisrael and their journey with Hashem. A song to keep Bnei Yisrael close to Hashem. A song that even when they stray, they will know Hashem is with them. A song that shows Bnei Yisrael that even when times are tough, they need to call out to Hashem and when they do teshuva (repent), it will all flip around.
After Selichot, shofar blowing and Rosh Hashanah, on this Shabbat, we are finally singing that exact song. But why a song? This past month and now the beginning of Tishrei we, the Jewish people, have been singing songs— the song of the shofar; the songs of Selichot; the songs in Rosh Hashanah prayers; Now, Haazinu and soon, the songs of the Yom Kippur prayers! All these songs have a message—a message of hope, forgiveness, and love. Music is part of the reason why this message can be portrayed. A song lifts moods and spirits; in fact, “A song is a window into our souls.”
When the shofar blasts, it is a song without words but is supposed to touch our hearts and wake us up. It is a wake-up call to recognize the reality of how we act and then the recognition that Hashem is waiting for us to call to Him. When we sing the Selichot, we are singing it with such passion and knowing that Hashem is merciful. We feel that he will forgive us if we try to better ourselves. On Rosh Hashanah we sing about Hashem’s greatness and we hear the song of Chana. We recognize Hashem’s love for us and it is a time when we have hope that the requests we prayed for others and ourselves will come true.
On Yom Kippur, we sing and recognize Hashem’s greatness and love for us. We reconnect with Him and show Him how much we love Him. We recognize how we should change and what we can and need to become. Haazinu is part of this tune. Haazinu is the song that we shouldn’t just sing, but we need to listen to. Hashem had Moshe and Yehoshua sing this to show His love for us, to show His forgiving nature and to show we are so much better than we think. May you all find your song that brings you close to Hashem and wakes you up, making you your best self. Gmar Chatima Tova!
