Give ear, O heavens, and I will speak; and may the earth hear the words of my mouth. [32:1]
When the Great Maggid of Mezritch ZY”A, was once away from home studying at the Heilige Ba’al Shem Tov ZY”A, he expressed his wish to his Rebbe to return home to his family that was awaiting him. The Great Ba’al Shem Tov requested that he stay longer. After some time, The Ba’al Shem Tov gave the Maggid permission, and explained his actions as follows. Just as Moshe Rabbeinu said, “Hazienu hashomayim vo’adabeiroh, etc., If the heavens listen, I will speak, etc. so too said the Baal Shem Tov, as long as you my Talmud [student] is listening to my words, I will be a wellspring to utter the words of Torah of Hashem. - Similar to this we see also, ומתלמידי יותר מכולם )תענית ז'., מכות י'.( From my students more than all [Tanis 7., Makos 10.]
The Me’or Veshomesh says that a Darshon (Mentor), is a Tzinur (channel) to say what the listeners must hear. As it says in Pirkei Avos, שזכות אבותם מסייעתם - The Zechus Avos (Merit of the Ancestors) of those learning and listening, helps he who is speaking.
Parshas Shiras Hazienu: Song and Rebuke
Parshas – Shiras Hazienu, has a special uniqueness. Firstly, the Shira itself is already mentioned in Parshas Vayeilech. Secondly, the timing of this Parsha, as it sometimes is Shabbos Shuvoh and sometimes after Yom Kippur. In essence it is a content of Shiroh and Mussar – Song and rebuke. We may therefore say that Parshas Hazienu is very appropriate to be read either on Shabbos Shuvoh before Yom Kippur, as we are preoccupied in the Mitzvoh of Teshuvoh, or after Yom Kippur as we are clean from all Aveiros (sins) and are preparing for the festive day of the Yom Tov of Sukkos.
After Yom Kippur: Days of Happiness
...After Yom Kippur are days of happiness, as it says, “Go eat in joy your bread etc...., as Hashem has accepted your actions. This is all that we will be able to serve Hashem in cleanliness. After Yom Kippur that we have been forgiven, we can serve Hashem with happiness and purity. The happiness itself shows that we have been forgiven in front of Hashem Yisborach.
Sefer Sefas Emes
It is said about the Chasam Sofer ZY”A, that in the days following Yom Kippur until Sukkos, he was on a great “Ruchniyusdigoh” (spiritual) level. Therefore, he attained great heights and could not put his concentration in his study of Torah, so instead he would fill the days with Shiros Visibochos (song and praise) to Hashem.
This is very appropriate for this Shabbos too, as the Parsha we Lein (read) is Shiras (the song of) Hazienu. More so in the current year, as it is not as it is usually Shabbos Shuvoh and we would then read Shuvoh Yisroel (Hoshea 14:2), we rather read the Shiroh of Dovid Hamelech (Shmuel 2, 22:1). This is very appropriate for the great time of happiness which follows Yom Kippur, as we are cleansed from Aveiros (sins). As we mentioned, a Bas Kol (Heavenly voice) sounds,
...יצתה בת קול ואמרה לו לך אכול בשמחה לחמך ושתה ...רכש לבקתנ ךישעמ תא םיקלאה הצר רבכ יכ ךניי בוט בלב מדרש רבה קהלת - פרשה ט' פסקה ז'
“Leich Echol BiSimchoh – Go and eat with happiness your bread and drink with goodness your wine for Hashem is willing in your actions etc.” This is very befitting for Klall Yisroel who has come close to Hashem during the time before Tishrei and the beginning of Tishrei on Rosh Hashonoh, Aseres Yimei Teshuvoh and Yom Kippur. They will now continue this elevation which they attained until now through Teshuvoh MiYiroh (repentance of fear), with Teshuvoh MeiAhavoh (repentance through love of Hashem). As the Beis Aharon of Karlin ZY”A said, just as the Mekoros – Wellsprings are open on Rosh Hashonoh and Yom Kippur by virtue of Yiroh – fear, so to are they open during the Yom Tov of Sukkos with Ahavoh – Love of Hashem. The more we “invest” in this intermediate Shabbos, between these great Yomim Tovim, it will strengthen the upcoming Yom Tov and escort us with great strengths through the whole year. May we be Zoche that it be a year in which we attain and retain Ahavas Hashem and Yiras Hashem. And a year of which we are Zoche to the Geuloh Shleimoh, Omein.
