Ha'azinu 5776:           The Whole Thing

By Rabbi Joshua (completely known as the Hoffer) Hoffman

After completing speaking the words of the shira of Ha’azinu to the people, Moshe tells them, "Apply your heart to all the words that I testify against you this day which you are to instruct your children to be careful to be careful to perform all the words of the Torah: for it is not an empty thing from you, for it is your life, and through this matter shall you prolong your days on the land to which you cross the Yarden to take possession of it" (Devarim 32: 46-47).  Moshe was hereby delivering a message to the older generation, about to enter Eretz Yisroel, in telling them to be careful to instruct their children properly. What was the nature of this message?  What was Moshe concerned about that would have an impact on the children about to enter the land?

The Chasam Sofer explains that the younger generation did not experience all the miracles that the older generation lived with throughout their stay in the wilderness. When they would enter Eretz Yisroel, the nation would live according to the laws of nature, although assisted by divine providence in a more hidden way. Moshe was concerned that their trust in God would be deficient as a result, and, therefore he told the older generation to inculcate the proper trust in God in their children

Rav Moshe Yehudah Jacobovits, in his Zichron Moshe, suggests a different explanation. He says that Moshe's emphasis was on keeping the entirety of the Torah, which is why he said there is nothing empty in it. He feared that if the parents would neglect even the most minute aspect of the Torah, the next generation would continue the process and neglect even more. This is because the Torah is a unified entity, with all its components joining to form a unified whole. Leaving anything out compromises this unity, and leads to further dissolution. The analogy to this is the human body, which works together as a unit. When one part does not function properly, the entire organism is affected. That is why Moshe told the people to apply their hearts to the Torah, comparing, thereby, the unity of the Torah to the unity of the body.

Following Rabbi Jacobovits' explanation, we come full circle to the beginning of the shira of Ha'azinu. The shira begins by calling heaven and earth as witness. The analogy here, too, is to the unified organism of the universe. Modern science has, in fact, viewed the universe as a unified organism, with the proper functioning of each component having far reaching implications for the rest of the organism. This is the imagery that Moshe gave over to the people when instructing them in how to guide their children in their new land.

A joyous Yom Tov to all, from the entire Netvort staff.