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32

September 20 • 2018

jn

Parshat Haazinu:
Deuteronomy 32:1-
52; II Samuel 22:1-
51.

ometimes we catch ourselves
repeatedly saying something
to our kids and not being
listened to: “Turn off the light;”
“Don’t stay up late;” “Do your
homework.”
Other times we go so far as to
list outcomes and consequences
to different actions but still it feels
like we are talking to the walls.
A prevalent example is
we are much more open
the pressure that teenagers
to taking a deeper look
feel regarding living up to
at what Moshe is trying
their parents’ standards
to say. We feel safer;
for getting into a select
our defenses are down,
college. While parents are
and we can more easily
constantly telling their
process and internalize
children that they love and
the messages of self-
accept them regardless, the
acceptance and self-
Rabbi Yarden
teens just don’t seem to
growth.
Blumstein
hear that.
This is how we have
This week’s Torah
to educate our youth.
portion can be looked at in
More than the words we
two ways. At first glance,
say, our whole approach
it may seem that Moshe is
should reflect that no matter what
desperately trying to tell us the
our teens accomplish or what
consequences of our choices one
academic achievement they reach,
last time, hoping that the message
they still have a place within our
would finally sink in. To which one community. Furthermore, their
could ask, “If I didn’t listen until
place in the community is not
now, what’s going to make this
earned or valued according to
message be any different?”
what they do right or wrong.
Alternatively, Haazinu can be
In a poem, every word carries
seen as a message to us about
weight and is valued, so, too, each
how to tell those around us
one of us. It is this foundation of
what we really want to say. In
unconditional acceptance that
this parshah, Moshe changes his
will allow our teens to truly self-
whole approach. While nearly the
reflect and recognize areas of
entire Torah and all of Moshe’s
improvement without judgment or
conversations are written in prose, shame.
Haazinu is written as a poem.
As we enter this new year and
Moshe’s underlying message
explore resolutions for ourselves,
was that no matter where we
our families and community,
fall within the poem, we belong
maybe we should consider
equally. This message is reinforced that rather than making a new
by a tradition that everyone’s name resolution, an old resolution can
is alluded to within this poem;
be made in a whole new way. •
some names are easier to find
and some may be quite obscured,
Rabbi Yarden Blumstein is the teen director
but together they all form the
at Friendship Circle of Michigan and leads a
minyan class at Frankel Jewish Academy.
community that has lasted for
generations.
Haazinu covers both positives
and negatives, compliments and
critiques; yet in this framework,

