Shabbos Table

A Quick Note on the Parshah- Ha’azinu (Deuteronomy 32) is almost entirely a song, a prophetic poem delivered by Moses to the Israelites on the last day of his life. It is stark, powerful, and paints a sweeping picture of God’s faithfulness, Israel’s forgetfulness, the consequent punishments, and the ultimate redemption.

The Song of Ha’azinu begins with a powerful and famous call to heaven and earth to bear witness. But within its poetic verses, one word is repeated like a haunting drumbeat- “Tzur” (צור). This word is typically translated as “Rock.”

“The Rock, His work is perfect, for all His ways are justice.” (Deuteronomy 32:4)

“You forgot the Rock who bore you; you forgot the God who brought you forth.”(Deuteronomy 32:18)

Why does Moses, in his final masterpiece, choose to refer to God as “The Rock” so prominently? A rock is cold, hard, and immovable. Why not “The Shepherd,” “The King,” or “The Father,” all of which are also used in Torah? What lesson is hidden in this metaphor?

Classical commentators delve into the symbolism of a rock.

1. Rashi on verse 4 explains that the word “Tzur” is used because God is “strong and enduring.” Like a rock that withstands the elements, God’s covenant and justice are eternal and unchanging. He is a foundation that cannot be shaken.
2. The Sforno adds a layer of purpose. A rock is not just for standing on. It is also a source. From a flint rock, you can strike life-giving fire. From a rocky cliff, life-giving water can flow (as in the story of Moses striking the rock at Meribah). The Sforno suggests that God, the Rock, is the ultimate source of all sustenance and spiritual vitality.

So, we have two primary ideas- The Rock as a stable foundation and The Rock as a source of life.

The genius of the “Rock” metaphor is revealed in its duality, and it speaks directly to the human condition described in the song.

The poem describes a tragic cycle-

1. Israel is blessed and becomes prosperous.
2. In their comfort, they grow fat and forget God (“Yeshurun became fat and kicked” – 32:15).
3. They attribute their success to their own power or to other “gods” (idols, money, power, etc.).
4. God, in response, withdraws His protection, and they face hardship.
5. In their distress, they remember the true source of their strength and cry out.

The takeaway- When we are faithful and connected, God is the Foundation Rock. We build our lives upon His ethical and spiritual laws. This foundation provides stability, direction, and purpose. It is “perfect” and “just.”

When we are forgetful and rebellious, God becomes the Hard Place. The same unchanging, eternal nature that was our source of stability now becomes the immutable law of cause and effect. Our actions “strike” against the Rock of justice, and we experience the painful consequences. We are, quite literally, between a Rock and a hard place.

The verse “You forgot the Rock who bore you” (32:18) captures this perfectly. We forget that the very foundation of our existence and the source of all our blessings is this one, unchanging Reality. We think we can ignore it without consequence.

The message of Ha’azinu is profoundly relevant to our lives today. We all seek security and sustenance. We look for it in our careers, our bank accounts, our social status, or our own intellect.

Parshat Ha’azinu asks us, What is the “Rock” upon which you are building your life?

• Is your sense of security built on the shifting sands of material success, which can be swept away in an instant?
• Or is it built on the solid Rock of timeless values, community, faith, and a commitment to justice and compassion?

The same principle that can be our most stable foundation and our most profound source of meaning (like water from a stone) will become the “hard place” we crash into if we live a life of arrogance, selfishness, and forgetfulness of our higher purpose.

Moses’s final song is a timeless warning and an invitation: To consciously choose to build our lives upon the Rock, so that we may always draw from its strength, rather than dash ourselves against its truth.

Shabbat Shalom.