Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish
Subject: A Byte Of Torah I,XLIV Haazinu
From: ToraByte <CFRQC@CUNYVM.BITNET>
Date: Thursday, 8 Oct 1992 00:00:15 EDT
Organization: City University of New York/ University Computer Center

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                                     A                                   BS"D
   Volume I                       B Y T E     The Electronic
     Issue XLIV                     O F          Torah Weekly
                                 T O R A H
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 ----                    Editor : Zev S. Itzkowitz                       ----
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                           Dvar Torah of the Week
                           ----------------------

"Give ear O' heavens and I will speak, and hear O' earth, the sayings of my
mouth." (Deuteronomy 32:1)

 This verse is mysterious. Why does Moses ask the heavens and the earth to
act as witnesses? Moses was worried about the possibility that the Children
of Israel would try to abrogate the covenant that they just made with
Hashem. Moses thus asked for the two witnesses that were present from the
beginning of Creation (see Genesis 1:1). They would always be close to the
Children of Israel and would be able to withstand the test of time to act as
witnesses (Rashi). Furthermore, these witnesses are the bearers of the
agricultural reward and punishment promised by Hashem (Rashi).
 Why is the language when referring to the heavens, "give ear" and by the
earth, it is to "hear"? The difference in the language is due to the proximity
of the object being spoken to. The heavens were further away, thus in order
to hear, it had to 'give ear'. However, the earth was close to Moses, thus all
it had to do was to 'hear' (Ohr HaChayim). This furthermore explains the
difference of "I will speak" by the heavens and "the sayings of my mouth" by
the earth. The heavens were farther away, thus Moses had to speak to it.
However, the earth was adjacent to him. It would pick up anything said by
Moses, even that which was not directed towards the earth (Ohr HaChayim).
 Why are the heavens commanded to "give ear", while the earth is assumed to
"hear" by itself? The heavens are the one to give or withhold rain. Hence, it
must be commanded to pay special attention to the actions of the Children of
Israel. However, the earth produces in response to the actions of the heavens.
Thus, its actions are automatic and do not require a command (Keli Yakar).


                             Mussar of the Week
                             ------------------

"My lesson shall drop as rain, my saying will drop as dew; like a light rain
upon the tender herb, and the shower upon the grass." (Deuteronomy 32:2)

 This verse is puzzling. How would Moses' "lesson drop as rain" and his "saying
drop as dew"? When Moses spoke to the people he did so in accordance to their
level of comprehension. To the ones that were able to understand more, he
spoke deeper and with more complexity. To the ones that were not able to
understand as much, he spoke on a level that could be understood by them
(Keli Yakar). This is an important lesson that we can take for ourselves.
Everybody has different levels of understanding and different capabilities.
When we deal with each person, we should try to deal with that person in
accordance to what is his/her capacity for understanding the idea or issue
that is being discussed.

Have a Chag Kasher V'sameach (Succos is coming).

Please direct any comments, questions, etc. back to me here at CFRQC@CUNYVM,
or on internet CFRQC@cunyvm.cuny.edu. Please pass it on to a friend. If you
want to subscribe, please send e-mail to listserv@israel.nysernet.org
with the msg: SUB bytetorah <first name> <last name>.  --Zev Itzkowitz
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Newsgroups: soc.culture.jewish