Parsha Ha'azinu
October 3, 2025/12 Tishrei 5786
Shabbat Shalom friends:
This parsha starts with a song for the Jewish people that connects us to the world around us, starting with the natural world. The song begins by calling the heavens and the earth to serve as witnesses to the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. As required, we have two witnesses that through their very actions will testify as to the deeds of the Jews. For as Rashi notes with supporting verses, the earth and heaven will bestow produce and rain (or withhold) based on our actions.
The next verse states: “May my teaching drop like rain, may my utterance flow like dew…”, which Rashi defines as the Torah, providing the life-giving material, akin to the rain and dew which sustains life. Essentially this is saying that the connection between a productive and sustainable world relies on Jewish people keeping our covenant. Is this possible, that it is all about the Jews?
According to the Pew Research Center (2025), Jews make up 0.2% of the world population. What percentage of news reports is devoted to Israel and Jews? What percentage of GDP can be accredited to Jews, directly or indirectly? While these numbers are harder to quantify, Israel is one of the top ten countries in research publications per capita, and those numbers do not even include the Jewish diaspora.
During the week of Yom Kippur though, we need to look at this from the opposite direction. The world needs us! Not only does the world need us, it needs us not for our economic prowess or our technologies, but for our Torah! Because it is from our relationship with G-d that those things come. As Yom Kippur is spent together in prayer, focusing on that relationship for the sake of the world, may we all be sealed in the book of life for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
Important Note: Kaparot (atonement) is a commonly conducted ritual prior to Yom Kippur. Money (or a chicken) is swung around one’s head three times while reciting a prayer and then donated. If you perform Kaparot, please donate as you see fit or send to the shul as soon as you can (recommend the equivalent amount to the chicken) and it will go to the Torah repair fund. Please do not send chickens.
Rabbi Josh
This parsha starts with a song for the Jewish people that connects us to the world around us, starting with the natural world. The song begins by calling the heavens and the earth to serve as witnesses to the covenant between G-d and the Jewish people. As required, we have two witnesses that through their very actions will testify as to the deeds of the Jews. For as Rashi notes with supporting verses, the earth and heaven will bestow produce and rain (or withhold) based on our actions.
The next verse states: “May my teaching drop like rain, may my utterance flow like dew…”, which Rashi defines as the Torah, providing the life-giving material, akin to the rain and dew which sustains life. Essentially this is saying that the connection between a productive and sustainable world relies on Jewish people keeping our covenant. Is this possible, that it is all about the Jews?
According to the Pew Research Center (2025), Jews make up 0.2% of the world population. What percentage of news reports is devoted to Israel and Jews? What percentage of GDP can be accredited to Jews, directly or indirectly? While these numbers are harder to quantify, Israel is one of the top ten countries in research publications per capita, and those numbers do not even include the Jewish diaspora.
During the week of Yom Kippur though, we need to look at this from the opposite direction. The world needs us! Not only does the world need us, it needs us not for our economic prowess or our technologies, but for our Torah! Because it is from our relationship with G-d that those things come. As Yom Kippur is spent together in prayer, focusing on that relationship for the sake of the world, may we all be sealed in the book of life for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year.
Important Note: Kaparot (atonement) is a commonly conducted ritual prior to Yom Kippur. Money (or a chicken) is swung around one’s head three times while reciting a prayer and then donated. If you perform Kaparot, please donate as you see fit or send to the shul as soon as you can (recommend the equivalent amount to the chicken) and it will go to the Torah repair fund. Please do not send chickens.
Rabbi Josh
