Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

We begin the holy shira of Ha'Azinu, where Moshe Rabbeinu calls upon the shamayim and the eretz to stand as eternal witnesses for Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu begs that his words of Torah and mussar should drop like rain and dew, bringing life and growth to the neshamos of Klal Yisrael, as he prepares to proclaim the great Name of Hashem and demand that we give kavod to Elokim.

All introductions, summaries, and contextual notes are the editor's commentary and are not part of the original text.אַלע הַקְדָּמוֹת, סִכּוּמִים, און הערות זענען דעם רעדאַקטאָר'ס באַמערקונגען און זענען נישט קיין טייל פונעם אָריגינעלן טעקסט.

פָּסוּק א

Pasuk 1

הַאֲזִינוּgive earהַשָּׁמַיִםO heavensוַאֲדַבֵּרָהand I will speakוְתִשְׁמַעand let hearהָאָרֶץthe earthאִמְרֵיthe words ofפִי׃my mouth

רַשִׁ״י

האזינוGive earהשמים.O heavensשֶׁאֲנִיthat Iמַתְרֶהwarnבָהֶםthemבְּיִשְׂרָאֵלin Israelוְתִהְיוּand you shall beעֵדִיםwitnessesבַּדָּבָר,to the matterשֶׁכָּךְfor soאָמַרְתִּיI saidלָהֶםto themשֶׁאַתֶּםthat youתִּהְיוּwill beעֵדִים,witnessesוְכֵןand likewiseותשמעand let hearהארץ.the earthוְלָמָּהand whyהֵעִידdid he call as witnessבָּהֶםagainst themשָׁמַיִםheavenוָאָרֶץ?and earthאָמַרsaidמֹשֶׁה:MosheאֲנִיI amבָּשָׂרfleshוָדָם,and bloodלְמָחָרtomorrowאֲנִיI amמֵת,deadאִםifיֹאמְרוּwill sayיִשְׂרָאֵלIsraelלֹאnotקִבַּלְנוּdid we acceptעָלֵינוּupon usהַבְּרִית,the covenantמִיwhoבָאcomesוּמַכְחִישָׁם?and refutes themלְפִיכָךְthereforeהֵעִידhe called as witnessבָּהֶםagainst themשָׁמַיִםheavenוָאָרֶץand earth—עֵדִיםwitnessesשֶׁהֵןthat theyקַיָּמִיםendureלְעוֹלָם.foreverוְעוֹד,and furthermoreשֶׁאִםthat ifיִזְכּוּthey act worthilyיָבֹאוּwill comeהָעֵדִיםthe witnessesוְיִתְּנוּand giveשְׂכָרָם,their rewardהַגֶּפֶןthe vineתִּתֵּןwill giveפִּרְיָהּits fruitוְהָאָרֶץand the earthתִּתֵּןwill giveיְבוּלָהּits yieldוְהַשָּׁמַיִםand the heavensיִתְּנוּwill giveטַלָּם,their dewוְאִםand ifיִתְחַיְּבוּthey act sinfullyתִּהְיֶהwill beבָהֶםagainst themיַדthe hand ofהָעֵדִיםthe witnessesתְּחִלָּהfirst—"וְעָצַרand He will restrainאֶת—הַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensוְלֹאand notיִהְיֶהthere will beמָטָרrainוְהָאֲדָמָהand the groundלֹאnotתִתֵּןwill giveאֶת—יְבוּלָהּ"its yieldדבריםDevarimי"ז17,וְאַחַרand afterכָּךְthat"וַאֲבַדְתֶּםand you shall perishמְהֵרָה"quicklyשםthereי"א11עַלbyיְדֵיthe hands ofהָאֻמּוֹת:the nations

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

יַעֲרֹףMay it dripכַּמָּטָרlike the rainלִקְחִיmy teachingתִּזַּלmay it flowכַּטַּלlike the dewאִמְרָתִיmy speechכִּשְׂעִירִםlike rainstormsעֲלֵיuponדֶשֶׁאvegetationוְכִרְבִיבִיםand like raindropsעֲלֵיuponעֵשֶׂב׃grass

רַשִׁ״י

יערףdroppethכמטרas rainלקחי.my doctrineזוֹthisהִיאisהָעֵדוּתthe testimonyשֶׁתָּעִידוּthat you shall testify—שֶׁאֲנִיthat Iאוֹמֵרsayבִּפְנֵיכֶםin your presenceתּוֹרָהthe Torahשֶׁנָּתַתִּיwhich I gaveלְיִשְׂרָאֵלto Yisraelשֶׁהִיאthat it isחַיִּיםlifeלָעוֹלָםto the worldכְּמָטָרas rainזֶהthisשֶׁהוּאwhich isחַיִּיםlifeלָעוֹלָםto the worldעי'seeספריSifrei;כַּאֲשֶׁרjust asיַעַרְפוּdrop downהַשָּׁמַיִםthe heavensטַלdewוּמָטָר:and rain

רַשִׁ״י

יערף.it dropsלְשׁוֹןan expression ofיַטִּיף,drippingוְכֵןand soתהיליםTehillimס"הsixty five"יִרְעֲפוּןthey dropדָּשֶׁן",fatnessדבריםDevarimל"גthirty three"יַעַרְפוּthey shall dropטָל":dew

רַשִׁ״י

תזלit flowsכטל.as the dewשֶׁהַכֹּלwhich everyoneשְׂמֵחִיםrejoicesבּוֹ,in itלְפִיbecauseשֶׁהַמָּטָרthat the rainיֵשׁthere isבּוֹin itעֲצָבִיםannoyanceלַבְּרִיּוֹת,to peopleכְּגוֹןsuch asהוֹלְכֵיtravelers ofדְרָכִיםroadsוּמִיand oneשֶׁהָיָהwhoseבוֹרוֹhis pit wasמָלֵאfull ofיַיִןwineספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

כשעירם.like storm windsלְשׁוֹןan expression ofרוּחַwind ofסְעָרָה,tempestכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹlike its Targum"כְּרוּחֵיlike winds ofמִטְרָא",rainמָהjust asהָרוּחוֹתthe windsהַלָּלוּtheseמַחֲזִיקִיםstrengthenאֶת—הָעֲשָׂבִיםthe herbsוּמְגַדְּלִיןand make growאוֹתָם,themאַףso tooדִּבְרֵיwords ofתוֹרָהTorahמְגַדְּלִיןmake growאֶת—לוֹמְדֵיהֶן:their students

רַשִׁ״י

וכרביבים.and like showersטִפֵּיdrops ofמָטָר.rainנִרְאֶהit appearsלִיto meעַלonשֵׁםaccount ofשֶׁיּוֹרֶהthat it shootsכְּחֵץlike an arrowנִקְרָאit is calledרְבִיב,reviivכְּמָהlike thatדְאַתְּwhich youאוֹמֵרsay"רֹבֶהan archerקַשָּׁת"with a bowבראשיתBereishisכ"אtwenty-one:

רַשִׁ״י

דשא.grassארברי"ץ,herbariesעֲטִיפַתthe clothing ofהָאָרֶץthe earthמְכֻסָּהcoveredבְיֶרֶק:with greenery

רַשִׁ״י

עשב.Herbקֶלַחa stalkאֶחָדsingleקָרוּיis calledעֵשֶׂב,herbוְכָלand eachמִיןspeciesוָמִיןand speciesלְעַצְמוֹby itselfקָרוּיis calledעֵשֶׂב:herb

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

כִּיWhenשֵׁםthe name ofיְהוָהHashemאֶקְרָאI callהָבוּgiveגֹדֶלgreatnessלֵאלֹהֵינוּ׃to our God

רַשִׁ״י

כיWhenשםthe Name ofה'Hashemאקרא.I will callהֲרֵיbeholdכִּיכימְשַׁמֵּשׁservesבִּלְשׁוֹןin the meaning ofכַּאֲשֶׁר,whenכְּמוֹlikeויקראVayikraכ"גchapter 23"כִּי"Whenתָבֹאוּyou will comeאֶלtoהָאָרֶץ",the land"כְּשֶׁאֶקְרָאwhen I callוְאַזְכִּירand mentionשֵׁםthe Name ofה',Hashemאַתֶּםyouהבוascribeגדלgreatnessלאלהינוto our Godוּבָרְכוּand blessשְׁמוֹ,His Nameמִכָּאןfrom hereאָמְרוּthey saidשֶׁעוֹנִיןthat they answerבָּרוּךְBlessed beשֵׁםthe Name ofכְּבוֹדthe glory ofמַלְכוּתוֹHis Kingdomאַחַרafterבְּרָכָהa blessingשֶׁבַּמִּקְדָּשׁthat is in the Templeעי'seeספרי;SifreiמכילתאMechiltaשמותShemosי"ג;13ברכותBerachosכ"א;21aתעניתTaanisט"ז16b:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

הַצּוּרThe Rockתָּמִיםperfect isפָּעֳלוֹHis workכִּיforכָלallדְּרָכָיוHis ways areמִשְׁפָּטjusticeאֵלa God ofאֱמוּנָהfaithfulnessוְאֵיןand withoutעָוֶלinjusticeצַדִּיקrighteousוְיָשָׁרand uprightהוּא׃is He

רַשִׁ״י

הצורThe Rockתמיםperfect isפעלו.His workאַעַ"פִּeven thoughשֶׁהוּאthat He isחָזָק,strongכְּשֶׁמֵּבִיאwhen He bringsפֻּרְעָנוּתpunishmentעַלuponעוֹבְרֵיthose who transgressרְצוֹנוֹ,His willלֹאnotבְּשֶׁטֶףin a floodהוּאHeמֵבִיאbrings itכִּיbutאִםratherבְּדִין,with justiceכִּיbecauseתמיםperfect isפעלוHis work:

רַשִׁ״י

אלA Godאמונה.of faithfulnessלְשַׁלֵּםto payלַצַּדִּיקִיםto the righteousצִדְקָתָםtheir righteousnessלָעוֹלָםin the worldהַבָּא,to comeוְאַעַ"פִּand even thoughשֶׁמְּאַחֵרthat He delaysאֶת—תַּגְמוּלָם,their rewardסוֹפוֹHis end isלְאַמֵּןto verifyאֶת—דְּבָרָיו:His words

רַשִׁ״י

ואיןand withoutעול.injusticeאַףevenלָרְשָׁעִיםto the wickedמְשַׁלֵּםHe paysשְׂכַרthe reward ofצִדְקָתָםtheir righteousnessבָּעוֹלָםin the worldהַזֶּהthisעי'seeספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

צדיקRighteousוישרand uprightהוא.He isהַכֹּלallמַצְדִּיקִיםjustifyעֲלֵיהֶםupon themselvesאֶת—דִּינוֹ,His judgmentוְכָךְand soרָאוּיit is fittingוְיָשָׁרand rightלָהֶם,for themצדיקrighteousמִפִּיfrom the mouth ofהַבְּרִיּוֹתthe creationsוישרand uprightהואHe isוְרָאוּיand it is fittingלְהַצְדִּיקוֹ:to justify Him

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

שִׁחֵתIt corruptedלוֹto HimלֹאnotבָּנָיוHis childrenמוּמָםtheir blemishדּוֹרa generationעִקֵּשׁcrookedוּפְתַלְתֹּל׃and twisted

רַשִׁ״י

שחתThey corruptedלוto Himוגו'.etc.כְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ,according to its Targum"חַבִּילוּ"They corruptedלְהוֹןfor themselvesלָאnotלֵהּ":for Him"

רַשִׁ״י

בניוHis childrenמומם.their blemishבָּנָיוHis childrenהָיוּthey wereוְהַשְׁחָתָהand the corruptionשֶׁהִשְׁחִיתוּthat they corruptedהִיאit isמוּמָם:their blemish

רַשִׁ״י

בניוHis childrenמומם.their blemishמוּמָםthe blemishשֶׁלofבָּנָיוHis childrenהָיָהwasוְלֹאand notמוּמוֹ:His blemish

רַשִׁ״י

דורA generationעקש.crookedעָקֹםbentוּמְעֻקָּל,and twistedכְּמוֹlike"וְאֵתand —כָּלallהַיְשָׁרָהthe straightnessיְעַקֵּשׁוּ"they pervertמיכהMichahג'chapter 3.וּבִלְשׁוֹןand in the language ofמִשְׁנָהMishnah"חֻלְדָּהa weaselשֶׁשִּׁנֶּיהָwhose teethעֲקֻמּוֹתare bentוַעֲקוּשׁוֹת":and crooked

רַשִׁ״י

ופתלתל.And twistedאנטורט"ילייש,entortilleכַּפְּתִילlike a threadהַזֶּהthisשֶׁגּוֹדְלִיןthat they twineאוֹתוֹitוּמַקִּיפִיןand wrapאוֹתוֹitסְבִיבוֹתaroundהַגְּדִיל;the strandפְּתַלְתֹּלPetaltolמִןis ofהַתֵּבוֹתthe wordsהַכְּפוּלוֹתthat are doubledכְּמוֹlike"יְרַקְרַק"greenish"אֲדַמְדָּם"reddishויקראVayikraי"ג13"סְחַרְחַר"flutteringתהיליםTehillimל"ח38,"סְגַלְגַּל"roundתרגוםTargumיונתןYonasanמלכיםMelachimאIז'7:

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

הֲIs itלַיְהוָהto Hashemתִּגְמְלוּyou requiteזֹאתthisעַםO nationנָבָלvileוְלֹאand notחָכָםwiseהֲלוֹאis notהוּאHeאָבִיךָyour FatherקָּנֶךָWho acquired youהוּאHeעָשְׂךָmade youוַיְכֹנְנֶךָ׃and established you

רַשִׁ״י

הלה'Is it to Hashemתגמלוyou requiteזאת.thisלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתֵּמָהּ,wonderוְכִיis it thatלְפָנָיוbefore HimאַתֶּםyouמַעֲצִיבִיןgrieveשֶׁיֵּשׁWho hasבְּיָדוֹin His handלִפָּרַעto punishמִכֶּםfrom youוְשֶׁהֵיטִיבand Who did goodלָכֶםto youבְּכָלwith allהַטּוֹבוֹת?the goodnesses

רַשִׁ״י

עםA peopleנבל.foolishשֶׁשָּׁכְחוּthat forgotאֶת—הֶעָשׂוּיthat which was doneלָהֶם:to them

רַשִׁ״י

ולאand notחכם.wiseלְהָבִיןto understandאֶת—הַנּוֹלָדוֹת,the future consequencesשֶׁיֵּשׁthat it isבְּיָדוֹin His powerלְהֵיטִיבto do goodוּלְהָרַע:and to do evil

רַשִׁ״י

הלואIs notהואHeאביךyour fatherקנך.Who acquired youשֶׁקְּנָאֲךָ,Who acquired youשֶׁקִּנֶּנְךָWho nested youבְּקַןin a nest ofהַסְּלָעִיםthe rocksוּבְאֶרֶץand in a landחֲזָקָה,strongשֶׁתִּקֶּנְךָWho prepared youבְּכָלwith allמִינֵיkinds ofתַקָּנָה:benefit

רַשִׁ״י

הואHeעשך.made youאֻמָּהa nationבָּאֻמּוֹת:among the nations

רַשִׁ״י

ויכננך.and He established youאַחֲרֵיafterכֵןthatבְּכָלwith allמִינֵיkinds ofבָסִיסfoundationוְכַןand base—מִכֶּםfrom youכֹּהֲנִים,priestsמִכֶּםfrom youנְבִיאִיםprophetsוּמִכֶּםand from youמְלָכִים,kingsכְּרַךְa metropolisשֶׁהַכֹּלthat everything isבּוֹin itספרי;SifreiחוליןChullinנ"וfifty-six:

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

In this opening aliyah, Moshe Rabbeinu praises the perfect ways of Hashem, the Rock whose actions are entirely just and faithful, without any wrongdoing. He then contrasts Hashem's perfection with the crookedness of a generation that acts corruptly toward Him, calling out Klal Yisrael for their foolish ingratitude to the Father who created, fashioned, and established them.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is telling us in this parsha that the words of Torah are compared to rain and dew: "May my discourse come down as the rain, my speech distill as the dew." Lichoira, we have to understand the difference between these two. Rain can sometimes be heavy and storming, which is like those times in life when we are hit with a sudden, powerful inspiration or a major wake-up call. But dew is different. Dew falls quietly, almost invisibly, night after night, consistently nourishing the ground without any noise or drama.

This is the great chiddush of the shira of Ha'Azinu for our daily avodas Hashem. We often wait for the "rain", for that big, dramatic moment of inspiration, a powerful speech, or a major life event to shake us up and make us grow. But the Torah is teaching us that real, lasting growth, the kind that truly builds a Yid, comes from the "dew." It comes from the quiet, daily consistency of learning a little bit of Torah every single day, day in and day out, even when we do not feel any special excitement.

When you set a fixed time for learning and stick to it, even for just ten minutes a day, you are letting the dew of the Torah saturate your neshama. Over time, this quiet consistency completely transforms a person, making them into a vessel for yiras Shamayim and true growth.

Today, do not wait for a burst of inspiration to learn or to do a mitzvah. Commit to one small, quiet spiritual habit, like learning two halachos or one passuk of Chumash, and do it at a set time, completely undisturbed, letting the quiet dew of Torah build you step by step.