Parashat Ha'azinu (Deuteronomy 32:1 - 32:52)

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

A weekly Torah exploration for families by Michael S. Raileanu, M.A.Ed.

Shana tovah to all of our loyal readers! We hope 5770 gets off to a great start for you. As is our policy we comment on the Torah reading for the Saturday of the week we are publishing. Therefore, as we are approaching the end of the book of Deuteronomy we come to Ha'azinu, Deut. 31:1 - 32:52. Moshe stands before the Jewish people and speaks to them in a poem of unbelievable beauty and surpassing blessing. Moshe recounts, one more time, everything that the Jewish people have been through together. It ends with God officially telling Moshe that his time has come and He directs him to the place where he is to die and God will bury him. It is a striking parasha.

Why did Moshe speak in a poem here at the end? Have you ever composed a poem to help you learn something? Have you put something to music for the same reason? How has it helped?
We are told in 32:20 that at one point God will, "...hide my countenance (His face) from them (the Jewish people)." What does that mean? What might happen when God's face is hidden from us? When that happens, what would we need to do to bring God's face back to us? What would you do?
During Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur we refer to God as "Avinu Malkeynu (our Father, our King)." This parasha calls God our Father, too. In what ways is God like a parent? In what ways is God like a Ruler?
We are also told that God is like an eagle protecting the young in a nest. What other metaphors can you come up with for our relationship with God? Why do you think it is important for people to try and explain our relationship with God in these kinds of terms?
What is your relationship with God like? How do you connect with God?