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Week of September 19, 2026

Ha'Azinu

הַאֲזִינוּ

This week’s parsha

Almost the whole parsha is one song. On the last day of his life Moshe stands in front of the nation and does not give a speech — he sings, and he calls the heavens and the earth to stand there and listen. The song remembers the desert, the eagle, the honey from the rock; it says plainly that the people forgot; and it ends with Hashem saying that He wounds and He heals, and that He lives forever.

הַצּוּר֙ תָּמִ֣ים פָּעֳל֔וֹ כִּ֥י כָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אֵ֤ל אֱמוּנָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין עָ֔וֶל צַדִּ֥יק וְיָשָׁ֖ר הֽוּא׃

The Almighty’s works are flawless, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without injustice; righteous and upright is He.

Deuteronomy 32:4

This week’s songs

New songs for this parsha — the words of the pesukim and the vorts of the mefarshim below, set to be sung. Paste any of them into Suno with its style line and you have the niggun.

Hatzur Tamim Pa'olo

Take ATap to play
Take BTap to play
Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

slow soulful chassidic kumzitz niggun, deep warm male baritone lead with rich male harmonies, nylon acoustic guitar, soft strings and quiet cello, starts almost whispered and builds to a powerful heartfelt peak, minor key resolving warm, intimate live-room sound

[Intro — spoken plainly, no music yet]

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last song מֹשֶׁה ever taught us, on the last day of his life.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא —

He is righteous and He is true.

And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת,

He will never abandon you.

[Verse 1 — quiet, unhurried]

On his last day he stood and sang,

and called two witnesses to hear.

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens, lend your ear,

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear every word.

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let my teaching fall like rain —

and Rashi says the תּוֹרָה He gave us

is life to the world, the way the rain is life.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא —

He is righteous and He is true.

And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת,

He will never abandon you.

[Verse 2 — quiet, building]

הָבוּ גֹדֶל לֵאלֹקֵינוּ —

give greatness to our God, he said,

הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ —

is He not your Father, who made you His own?

And Rashi says on עַם נָבָל,

a foolish people, that it means only this:

a people that has forgotten

every single thing that was done for them.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא —

He is righteous and He is true.

And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת,

He will never abandon you.

[Verse 3 — warmer, opening up]

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found them in a desert land,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

He guarded them like the pupil of His eye.

כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ —

like an eagle waking up its nest —

and Rashi says: with mercy and with pity,

it never comes down on them all at once,

it beats its wings above the little ones

so they can wake, and have the strength to be lifted.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא —

He is righteous and He is true.

And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת,

He will never abandon you.

[Verse 4 — full voice, then softening]

They ate honey out of the rock, and they forgot Him.

צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי —

you forgot the Rock who bore you.

The song says it plainly, and then moves on.

כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ —

Hashem will judge on behalf of His people,

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, He says, it is I, I am He.

And Rashi says: I am the One who brings low,

and I am the One who lifts you up again.

[Chorus — everyone together, slow and warm]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole,

צַדִּיק וְיָשָׁר הוּא —

He is righteous and He is true.

And Sforno says: even in גָּלוּת,

He will never abandon you.

[Outro — near silence, one voice, fading out]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, and all His work is whole.

Ha'azinu Hashamayim

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

lively freilich Jewish wedding dance niggun, fast driving tempo, clarinet lead with brass and accordion, tight snare and bass drum, joyful male lead vocal with male backing vocals answering in call-and-response, builds to an exuberant finish, bright and warm

[Intro — spoken plainly over one clarinet]

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ! The whole parsha is one song — so let's sing it!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Verse 1 — bright and driving]

On his very last day he stood up to speak —

and he didn't give a speech, he sang!

יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי —

let it come down like rain! (like rain! like rain!)

הָבוּ גֹדֶל לֵאלֹקֵינוּ —

give greatness to our God! (give greatness!)

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Verse 2 — bright and driving]

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

the Rock, His work is whole! (it's whole! it's whole!)

כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט —

and every road He walks is just!

הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ —

He is your Father, He made you His own! (your Father!)

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Verse 3 — bright and driving]

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old! (remember!)

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ —

go ask your father, he will tell you! (ask him! ask him!)

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the מִדְבָּר,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and guarded us like the pupil of His eye!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Verse 4 — bright and driving]

כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ —

like an eagle over its nest! (like an eagle!)

יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ —

He carried us up on His wing!

דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע —

honey out of the bedrock,

וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר —

and oil out of the hardest stone!

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Verse 5 — two quiet lines, then full band again]

And then they forgot Him. The song says it straight —

צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי —

you forgot the Rock who bore you.

But listen how it ends! רְאוּ עַתָּה —

see now! (see now!)

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I wound, and I am the One who heals! (He heals! He heals!)

[Chorus — everyone together, fast and joyful]

הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם —

listen, O heavens! (listen! listen!)

וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ —

and let the earth hear too! (hear it! hear it!)

[Outro — everyone, loud, then one clarinet note]

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people! (sing out! sing out!)

Zechor Yemos Olam (The Maggid)

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

spoken-word storyteller over soft Jewish acoustic backing, deep warm male narrator like a maggid at the table, gentle nylon guitar, upright bass and soft strings underneath, with a heartfelt sung male chorus in rich harmony between sections, kumzitz atmosphere, unhurried, intimate room sound

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

This week — פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ. Almost the whole parsha is one song, and מֹשֶׁה taught it out loud on the last day of his life. Listen to what he sings.

[Chorus — sung, warm and full, male harmony]

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

He starts by calling two witnesses who will outlast everyone standing in front of him. הַאֲזִינוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם — listen, heavens. וְתִשְׁמַע הָאָרֶץ — and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. יַעֲרֹף כַּמָּטָר לִקְחִי — let my teaching come down like rain. And then the line the whole song stands on — הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ — the Rock, His work is flawless; כִּי כָל־דְּרָכָיו מִשְׁפָּט — all His ways are justice. And then he turns on the people with a question: הֲלוֹא־הוּא אָבִיךָ קָּנֶךָ — is He not your Father, who made you His own?

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

שְׁאַל אָבִיךָ וְיַגֵּדְךָ — ask your father and he will tell you; ask your elders, and they will say it over. כִּי חֵלֶק הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — His people are His portion. יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר — He found them in a desert land, in an empty howling waste, and He circled them and taught them, יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ — and guarded them like the pupil of His eye. כְּנֶשֶׁר יָעִיר קִנּוֹ — like an eagle rousing its nest. יִפְרֹשׂ כְּנָפָיו יִקָּחֵהוּ — it spreads its wings and takes them, יִשָּׂאֵהוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתוֹ — and carries them on its wing. הַשֵּׁם בָּדָד יַנְחֶנּוּ — Hashem alone led them, with no strange god along for the road.

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

Carried over the high places of the land, eating the produce of the fields — דְבַשׁ מִסֶּלַע, honey out of bedrock, וְשֶׁמֶן מֵחַלְמִישׁ צוּר, oil out of the hardest stone, cream and milk and the best of the flocks and of the wheat. וַיִּשְׁמַן יְשֻׁרוּן וַיִּבְעָט — Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. צוּר יְלָדְךָ תֶּשִׁי — the Rock who bore you, you forgot. Hashem says אַסְתִּירָה פָנַי מֵהֶם — I will hide My face from them — and the song names fire and famine and the sword, young and old together, and it does not soften any of it. And then it stops itself for one reason only: פֶּן־יֹאמְרוּ יָדֵינוּ רָמָה — so that the enemy will never be able to stand there and say, our own hand did this, and not Hashem.

[Chorus — sung, warm and full, male harmony]

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

לוּ חָכְמוּ יַשְׂכִּילוּ זֹאת — if only they were wise, they would understand this, יָבִינוּ לְאַחֲרִיתָם — they would think about how it ends. כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם — their rock is nothing like our Rock. כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ — Hashem will judge on behalf of His people, וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם — and He will turn back to His servants when He sees their strength is gone. And then the biggest line in the song: רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא — see now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me. אֲנִי אָמִית וַאֲחַיֶּה — I put to death and I bring to life. מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא — I have wounded, and I am the One who heals. כִּי־אֶשָּׂא אֶל־שָׁמַיִם יָדִי — I lift My hand to heaven — חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם — I live forever. And the song that opened with heaven and earth as witnesses closes with singing: הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ — sing out, nations, for His people.

[Spoken Word — warm storyteller over soft guitar]

וַיָּבֹא מֹשֶׁה — and מֹשֶׁה came and spoke every word of this song in the hearing of the people, הוּא וְהוֹשֵׁעַ בִּן־נוּן — he and Hoshea the son of Nun. And when he finished he said: שִׂימוּ לְבַבְכֶם — set your hearts on all of this, and command your children to guard it and do it. כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם — this is not an empty thing for you — כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. כִּי מִנֶּגֶד תִּרְאֶה אֶת־הָאָרֶץ — from a distance you will see the land. But you will not come into it.

[Chorus — sung, warm and full, male harmony]

זְכֹר יְמוֹת עוֹלָם —

remember the days of old,

בִּינוּ שְׁנוֹת דּוֹר־וָדוֹר —

every year, every story told.

[Outro — one narrator voice, almost bare, guitar fading]

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם — it is your life. That is how the song ends.

Ani Ani Hu (The Anthem)

Lyrics & style line

Style for Suno

anthemic stadium rock, driving electric guitars and huge drums, quiet intimate opening verse building to a massive soaring singalong chorus, powerful male lead vocal with a wall of male backing vocals on the chorus, a bridge that drops to near silence then explodes, epic ringing finish

[Intro — one voice, spoken, almost bare]

פָּרָשַׁת הַאֲזִינוּ — the last song. And this is how it ends.

[Verse 1 — quiet, single clean guitar]

He found us in an empty place,

nothing out there but wind and stone.

יִמְצָאֵהוּ בְּאֶרֶץ מִדְבָּר —

He found us in the desert, all alone,

יִצְּרֶנְהוּ כְּאִישׁוֹן עֵינוֹ —

and He guarded us like the pupil of His eye.

[Pre-Chorus — drums entering, building hard]

And we forgot the Rock who bore us.

The song says it, and it does not look away.

But stay for the last word —

stay and hear what He says.

[Chorus — everyone together, huge and soaring]

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

[Verse 2 — quiet again, bass and clean guitar]

Every nation had a rock it trusted.

Where is it standing now?

כִּי לֹא כְצוּרֵנוּ צוּרָם —

their rock is nothing like our Rock,

הַצּוּר תָּמִים פָּעֳלוֹ —

and everything He does is whole.

And Sforno says He is so righteous

He will not abandon you, not even in גָּלוּת.

[Chorus — everyone together, huge and soaring]

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

[Bridge — near silence, one voice, then the whole band explodes]

כִּי־יָדִין הַשֵּׁם עַמּוֹ —

Hashem will judge on behalf of His people,

וְעַל־עֲבָדָיו יִתְנֶחָם —

and He will turn back to His servants.

כִּי לֹא־דָבָר רֵק הוּא מִכֶּם —

this is not an empty thing for you —

כִּי־הוּא חַיֵּיכֶם —

it is your life! It is your life!

[Chorus — everyone together, huge and soaring]

רְאוּ עַתָּה כִּי אֲנִי אֲנִי הוּא —

see now, it is I, I am He!

מָחַצְתִּי וַאֲנִי אֶרְפָּא —

I have wounded, and I am the One who heals!

And Rashi says: I bring low,

and I am the One who lifts you high!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

I live forever! I live forever!

[Outro — full band, then one guitar ringing out and fading]

הַרְנִינוּ גוֹיִם עַמּוֹ —

sing out, all you nations, for His people!

חַי אָנֹכִי לְעֹלָם —

He lives forever.

The parsha in brief

It is the last day of Moshe's life, and he does not give a speech. He sings. And before he sings a word he calls two witnesses who will still be standing long after everyone in front of him is gone: listen, heavens, and let the earth hear the words of my mouth. Then he says what kind of words these are going to be — let my teaching come down like rain, let it drip like dew, like storm winds on the grass. Rashi says the comparison is exact: rain is life to the world, and the Torah he is handing over is life to the world. Call out the name of Hashem, he tells them, and give greatness to our God. And then the line the whole song stands on: the Rock, His work is flawless, all His ways are justice, righteous and upright is He.

From there the song turns backwards and remembers. Remember the days of old, think about the years of every generation, ask your father and he will tell you, ask your elders and they will say it over. Hashem set the borders of the nations with His people in mind, and His people are His portion. He found them in a desert land, in an empty howling waste, and He circled them and taught them and guarded them like the pupil of His eye — like an eagle that wakes its nest and hovers above its young, spreads its wings, lifts them, and carries them on its wing. Rashi says an eagle never drops into the nest all at once; first it beats its wings above the little ones so they can wake up and be strong enough to receive it. Hashem alone led them, with no strange god along for the road.

Then the song describes what they were given — carried over the heights of the land, fed the produce of the fields, honey out of bedrock, oil out of the hardest stone, milk and cream and the best of the flocks and the wheat. And then, in one blunt line, what happened to it: Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. He abandoned the God who made him. The Rock who bore you, you forgot. The rebuke that follows is long and it is not softened — Hashem says He will hide His face, and the song names fire and famine and the sword and terror, young and old together. Only one thing holds it back: Hashem will not let the enemy stand over the wreckage and say that our own hand did this, and not Hashem.

And then it turns again, and the turn is the whole point. If only they were wise, Moshe says, they would understand how this ends. Their rock is nothing like our Rock. Hashem will judge on behalf of His people and turn back to His servants when He sees their strength is gone — and where are the other gods now? Let them stand up and help. See now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me. I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I heal. I raise My hand to heaven: I live forever. And the song that opened with heaven and earth as witnesses closes with the nations singing the praise of His people, because He will avenge the blood of His servants and make His land and His people whole.

Moshe came and spoke every word of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Hoshea the son of Nun. When he finished he told them to set their hearts on all of it and to command their children to keep it — it is not an empty thing for you, he said, it is your life. And that very same day Hashem told him to climb Mount Nevo, look across at the land of Canaan, and die there on the mountain, gathered to his people the way Aharon was, because of the waters of Merivah at Kadeish. From a distance you will see the land, He said. But you will not come into it.

At the Shabbos table

  1. Who did Moshe call to listen to his song?
  2. Which bird does the song use to describe how Hashem carried the people?
  3. Rashi says the Torah is like rain. Why?

Answers

  1. The heavens and the earth.
  2. An eagle, who lifts its young and carries them on its wing.
  3. Because rain is life to the whole world, and so is the Torah.

“Even at our worst, the Torah never stops calling us God's children.”

The whole parsha, aliyah by aliyah

All seven aliyos, in order, with the verse ranges as they are leined. The account of what happens stays to what the pesukim say; anything that explains why is quoted below.

  1. 1.Heaven and earth, listen

    Deuteronomy 32:1-32:6

    Moshe begins the song by calling the heavens to listen and the earth to hear the words of his mouth. He says his teaching should come down like rain and his words drip like dew, like storm winds on the grass and raindrops on the herbage. He calls out the name of Hashem and tells the people to give greatness to our God. Then comes the line the whole song rests on: the Rock, His work is flawless, all His ways are just, a God of faithfulness with no injustice, righteous and upright is He. Against that he sets the people: the fault was theirs, not His, a twisted generation. He ends with a question — is this how you repay Hashem? Is He not your Father, who made you and set you on your feet?

    הַצּוּר֙ תָּמִ֣ים פָּעֳל֔וֹ כִּ֥י כָל־דְּרָכָ֖יו מִשְׁפָּ֑ט אֵ֤ל אֱמוּנָה֙ וְאֵ֣ין עָ֔וֶל צַדִּ֥יק וְיָשָׁ֖ר הֽוּא׃

    The Almighty’s works are flawless, for all His ways are just; A God of faithfulness without injustice; righteous and upright is He.

    Deuteronomy 32:4

  2. 2.Remember, and ask your father

    Deuteronomy 32:7-32:12

    Moshe tells them to remember the days of old and think about the years of every generation — ask your father and he will tell you, ask your elders and they will say it over. When the Most High gave the nations their portions, He set the borders of the peoples with Bnei Yisroel in mind. Hashem's portion is His people, Yaakov the measure of His inheritance. He found them in a desert land, in an empty howling waste, and He surrounded them, gave them understanding, and guarded them like the pupil of His eye. Like an eagle rousing its nest and hovering over its young, He spread His wings, took them, and carried them on His wing. Hashem alone led them, with no strange god along.

    כְּנֶ֙שֶׁר֙ יָעִ֣יר קִנּ֔וֹ עַל־גּוֹזָלָ֖יו יְרַחֵ֑ף יִפְרֹ֤שׂ כְּנָפָיו֙ יִקָּחֵ֔הוּ יִשָּׂאֵ֖הוּ עַל־אֶבְרָתֽוֹ׃

    Like an eagle who rouses his nest, fluttering over his young, He extends His wings, grasps them, He bears them on His wing.

    Deuteronomy 32:11

  3. 3.Honey from the rock, and forgetting

    Deuteronomy 32:13-32:18

    He carried them over the high places of the land and fed them the produce of the fields, honey out of bedrock and oil out of the hardest stone, butter of cattle and milk of sheep, the best of the flocks and of the wheat, and the red wine of grapes. Then the song turns: Yeshurun grew fat and kicked. Grown thick and heavy, he abandoned the God who made him and insulted the Rock of his salvation. They provoked Him with strangers and with things He detests, and brought offerings to powers that were no gods at all, new ones their fathers had never known. The aliyah ends with the plainest line of the whole rebuke: the Rock who bore you, you forgot.

    צ֥וּר יְלָדְךָ֖ תֶּ֑שִׁי וַתִּשְׁכַּ֖ח אֵ֥ל מְחֹלְלֶֽךָ׃

    the Rock Who bore you, you disregarded; you forsook the Almighty Who delivered you.

    Deuteronomy 32:18

  4. 4.Hashem hides His face

    Deuteronomy 32:19-32:28

    Hashem saw and was angered, and said He would hide His face from them and see what their end would be. They provoked Him with what is not a god, so He would answer with what is not a nation. The song lists what will come — fire, famine, wild beasts, the sword outside and terror indoors, for young and old alike — and it does not soften any of it. Then it stops itself: Hashem says He would have scattered them entirely, except that the enemy would misread it and say that our own hand won this, and not Hashem. Those nations, the song says, have lost their counsel and have no understanding.

    לוּלֵ֗י כַּ֤עַס אוֹיֵב֙ אָג֔וּר פֶּֽן־יְנַכְּר֖וּ צָרֵ֑ימוֹ פֶּן־יֹֽאמְרוּ֙ יָדֵ֣ינוּ רָ֔מָה וְלֹ֥א יְהוָ֖ה פָּעַ֥ל כָּל־זֹֽאת׃

    Were it not for the enemy’s amassed rage, lest their oppressors estrange; lest they say, ‘Our armed might has prevailed, and not Adonoy has performed all this.’

    Deuteronomy 32:27

  5. 5.If only they were wise

    Deuteronomy 32:29-32:39

    If they were wise they would understand this and think about how it ends. How could one man chase a thousand, unless their Rock had handed them over? Their rock, Moshe says, is nothing like our Rock. Vengeance belongs to Hashem, kept sealed away in His treasuries for the right time. But Hashem will judge on behalf of His people and turn back to His servants when He sees their strength gone. He asks where the gods they trusted are now — let those gods stand up and help. And then the answer: see now that I, I am He, and there is no god beside Me; I put to death and I bring to life, I have wounded and I heal, and no one saves from My hand.

    רְא֣וּ ׀ עַתָּ֗ה כִּ֣י אֲנִ֤י אֲנִי֙ ה֔וּא וְאֵ֥ין אֱלֹהִ֖ים עִמָּדִ֑י אֲנִ֧י אָמִ֣ית וַאֲחַיֶּ֗ה מָחַ֙צְתִּי֙ וַאֲנִ֣י אֶרְפָּ֔א וְאֵ֥ין מִיָּדִ֖י מַצִּֽיל׃

    Now observe! For it is I! I am the One! and no god matches Me; I put to death and make live, I smite and I heal and no one can rescue from My grasp.

    Deuteronomy 32:39

  6. 6.I live forever

    Deuteronomy 32:40-32:43

    Hashem raises His hand to heaven and says: I live forever. He speaks of sharpening His sword and taking judgment in hand, of paying back His foes and those who hate His people. Then the song ends the way it does not begin — with praise. Sing out, nations, for His people, because He will avenge the blood of His servants, pay back His enemies, and make His land and His people whole again.

    הַרְנִ֤ינוּ גוֹיִם֙ עַמּ֔וֹ כִּ֥י דַם־עֲבָדָ֖יו יִקּ֑וֹם וְנָקָם֙ יָשִׁ֣יב לְצָרָ֔יו וְכִפֶּ֥ר אַדְמָת֖וֹ עַמּֽוֹ׃ (פ)

    Let the nations extol His people for He shall avenge the blood of His servants and wreak vengeance on His enemies and reconcile His land, His people.

    Deuteronomy 32:43

  7. 7.The last mountain

    Deuteronomy 32:44-32:52

    Moshe came and spoke all the words of this song in the hearing of the people, he and Hoshea the son of Nun. When he finished, he told them to set their hearts on everything he had testified to them that day, and to command their children to guard and do all the words of this Torah. It is not an empty thing for you, he said — it is your life, and through it you will live long on the land you are crossing the Yardein to inherit. That very day Hashem spoke to Moshe: go up Mount Nevo in the land of Moav, facing Yereicho, and see the land of Canaan. Die there on the mountain and be gathered to your people, as Aharon your brother died on Hor Hohor, because you did not sanctify Me at the waters of Merivah at Kadeish. From a distance you will see the land, but you will not enter it.

    כִּ֠י לֹֽא־דָבָ֨ר רֵ֥ק הוּא֙ מִכֶּ֔ם כִּי־ה֖וּא חַיֵּיכֶ֑ם וּבַדָּבָ֣ר הַזֶּ֗ה תַּאֲרִ֤יכוּ יָמִים֙ עַל־הָ֣אֲדָמָ֔ה אֲשֶׁ֨ר אַתֶּ֜ם עֹבְרִ֧ים אֶת־הַיַּרְדֵּ֛ן שָׁ֖מָּה לְרִשְׁתָּֽהּ׃ (פ)

    For it is not a futile thing for you, for it is your life; and by this matter will you live long on the land that you are crossing the Yardein there to inherit.’’

    Deuteronomy 32:47

From the mefarshim

Every one of these is the mefaresh’s own words, fetched and checked — not a summary.

  1. 1.Rashi — Torah is life like the rain is life

    יערף כמטר לקחי. זוֹ הִיא הָעֵדוּת שֶׁתָּעִידוּ — שֶׁאֲנִי אוֹמֵר בִּפְנֵיכֶם תּוֹרָה שֶׁנָּתַתִּי לְיִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהִיא חַיִּים לָעוֹלָם כְּמָטָר זֶה שֶׁהוּא חַיִּים לָעוֹלָם (עי' ספרי); כַּאֲשֶׁר יַעַרְפוּ הַשָּׁמַיִם טַל וּמָטָר:

    יערף כמטר לקחי MY DOCTRINE DROPPETH AS RAIN — This is the evidence that ye will have to give: that in your presence I declare that the Torah which I gave to Israel (לקחי) is life to the world as the rain which is life to the world (cf. Sifrei Devarim 306:17) — even as the heavens drop down dew and rain.

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 32:2:1

  2. 2.Rashi — a God of faithfulness keeps His promise

    אל אמונה. לְשַׁלֵּם לַצַּדִּיקִים צִדְקָתָם לָעוֹלָם הַבָּא, וְאַעַ"פִּ שֶׁמְּאַחֵר אֶת תַּגְמוּלָם, סוֹפוֹ לְאַמֵּן אֶת דְּבָרָיו:

    אל אמונה A GOD OF FAITHFULNESS — faithful to recompense the righteous their righteousness in the world to come; and even though He defers their recompense, in the end He will prove faithful (אמן) to His promise.

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 32:4:2

  3. 3.Sforno — He will not abandon you even in galus

    צדיק, because He is so righteous He will not abandon you even in exile

    Sforno on Deuteronomy 32:4:5

  4. 4.Rashi — a foolish people is one that forgets

    עם נבל. שֶׁשָּׁכְחוּ אֶת הֶעָשׂוּי לָהֶם:

    עם נבל A FOOLISH PEOPLE — i.e., a people that has forgotten all that has been done to them,

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 32:6:2

  5. 5.Rashi — how the eagle wakes its young

    כנשר יעיר קנו. נִהֲגָם בְּרַחֲמִים וּבְחֶמְלָה, כַּנֶּשֶׁר הַזֶּה רַחְמָנִי עַל בָּנָיו, וְאֵינוֹ נִכְנָס לְקִנּוֹ פִּתְאֹם עַד שֶׁהוּא מְקַשְׁקֵשׁ וּמְטָרֵף עַל בָּנָיו בִּכְנָפָיו בֵּין אִילָן לְאִילָן, בֵּין שׂוֹכָה לַחֲבֶרְתָּהּ, כְּדֵי שֶׁיֵּעוֹרוּ בָּנָיו וִיהֵא בָהֶם כֹּחַ לְקַבְּלוֹ (ספרי):

    כנשר יעיר קנו AS AN EAGLE STIRRETH UP ITS NEST — He guided them with mercy and pity like the eagle which is full of pity towards his young and does not enter its nest suddenly — before it beats and flaps with its wings above its young passing between tree and tree, between branch and branch, in order that its young may awake and have enough strength to receive it (Sifrei Devarim 314:1).

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 32:11:1

  6. 6.Rashi — the One who brings low is the One who raises

    אני אני הוא. אֲנִי לְהַשְׁפִּיל וַאֲנִי לְהָרִים:

    אני אני הוא [THAT] IT IS I, EVEN I — I am He Who have the power to abase (make low) and it is I who have the power to raise,

    Rashi on Deuteronomy 32:39:2

  7. 7.The Midrash — a condition made at the six days of creation

    Rabbi Yoḥanan said: The Holy One blessed be He stipulated a condition with the sea [upon its creation] that it should split before Israel. That is what is written: “The sea returned to its power [le’eitano]” (Exodus 14:27), in accordance with its condition [litna’o] that He stipulated with it. Rabbi Yirmeya ben Elazar said: It is not only with the sea alone that the Holy One blessed be He stipulated, but with everything that was created during the six days of Creation. That is what is written: “My hands stretched the heavens and commanded all their host” (Isaiah 45:12) – right from when “My hands stretched the heavens,” “I commanded all their host.” I commanded the sea that it should split before Israel. I commanded the heavens and the earth that they should be silent before Moses, as it is stated: “Listen, the heavens, and I will speak, and the earth will hear the sayings of my mouth” (Deuteronomy 32:1). I commanded the sun and the moon that they should stand still before Joshua, as it is stated: “Sun, stand still at Givon; [and Moon, in the Valley of Ayalon]” (Joshua 10:12). I commanded the ravens that they should sustain Elijah, as it is stated: “The ravens would bring him bread and meat…” (I Kings 17:6). I commanded the fire that it should not harm Ḥananya, Mishael, and Azarya. I commanded the lions that they should not harm Daniel. I commanded the heavens that they should open before Ezekiel, as it is stated: “The heavens opened…” (Ezekiel 1:1). I commanded the fish that it should spew out Jonah, as it is stated: “The Lord said to the fish, and it spewed out Jonah” (Jonah 2:11).

    Bereshit Rabbah 5:5

Vorts & shmuessen on this parsha

Good vorts and shmuessen on this parsha from around the Torah world — a taste of each, and the link to learn it properly. Every excerpt is verbatim, checked against the page itself.

No AI writes Torah here — every pasuk, Rashi and Midrash is fetched word-for-word from Sefaria and checked before it prints. Read exactly how.

Texts from Sefaria — Pentateuch with Rashi's commentary by M. Rosenbaum and A.M. Silbermann, 1929-1934 (Public Domain) · Eliyahu Munk, HaChut Hameshulash (CC-BY) · The Sefaria Midrash Rabbah, 2022 (CC-BY) · Tanach with Ta'amei Hamikra (Public Domain) · Metsudah Chumash, Metsudah Publications, 2009 (CC-BY)