Listening for Renewal
Parshat Haazinu 5785; Deuteronomy 32:1-52
This week’s Torah portion opens with the Hebrew word “Haazinu,” meaning “listen.” It’s more than a call for attention—it’s the beginning of a song Moses offers on his final day. Picture the scene: Moses, after a lifetime of leading, stands before his people, knowing he won’t enter the Promised Land. He pours his heart into this song, hoping his words will steady them for the journey ahead.
There’s something deeply human about this. Moses doesn’t just give a farewell speech—he reaches out in love and urgency, wanting his community to make wise choices after he’s gone. Whatever your faith, it’s easy to relate to wanting the best for those you care about, even if you can’t always walk every step beside them.
This Torah portion is traditionally read near Rosh Hashanah, the Jewish New Year—a season for reflection, renewal, and returning to G-d. This time invites everyone to pause, consider their choices, and reconnect with what matters most. Many can recognize that rhythm: faith as an ongoing journey, wandering and returning, with G-d’s invitation always waiting.
Right after this portion, the Torah reading cycle begins again with Genesis—“In the beginning.” This isn’t just ritual; it’s a reminder that G-d’s story with humanity never truly ends. Every ending is the seed of a new beginning, another chance to listen, return, and grow.
In his song, Moses calls heaven and earth as witnesses and describes G-d as a “Rock”—steady, reliable, unchanging. He uses the image of an eagle lifting its young, capturing both the tenderness and strength of G-d’s care. But Moses also warns that when people lose focus and chase after distractions, they risk losing that sense of shelter and purpose. The song holds this tension—G-d’s unwavering love and our own tendency to stray.
Consider times in your own life when you felt carried through difficulty or found strength you didn’t know you had. Maybe you sensed G-d’s steady presence guiding you, even if you only recognized it later. This song of Haazinu encourages us to give thanks for those moments and let gratitude shape how we live.
Let Moses’ song be a gentle nudge this week: take a breath, look at the path you’re on, and remember you’re not alone. Each day brings a fresh chance to reconnect, to choose what matters, and to walk in gratitude. Trust that G-d, your steady Rock, goes with you—offering strength, shelter, and hope as you move forward. May your journey ahead be filled with purpose and blessing.
Wishing you a good week, and Shabbat Shalom,
Rabbi Yonatan Hambourger