Seder Yomi

Chapter Previewהַקְדָּמָה

In this aliyah, the shirah of Ha'Azinu continues to describe the incredible, overflowing chesed that Hashem showered upon Klal Yisrael. Moshe Rabbeinu sings of how Hashem settled the nation in the most exalted and bountiful parts of Eretz Yisrael, feeding them the finest delicacies of the land, from sweet honey and rich oil out of the hard rocks to the fattest cattle, sheep, and the very best wheat and wine.

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

יַרְכִּבֵהוּHe made him rideעַלuponבמותיthe high places ofבָּמֳתֵיthe high places ofאָרֶץearthוַיֹּאכַלand he ateתְּנוּבֹתthe yield ofשָׂדָיfieldsוַיֵּנִקֵהוּand He suckled himדְבַשׁhoneyמִסֶּלַעfrom a cragוְשֶׁמֶןand oilמֵחַלְמִישׁfrom the flintyצוּר׃rock

רַשִׁ״י

ירכבהוHe made him rideעלonבמתיthe high places ofארץ.the earthכָּלall ofהַמִּקְרָאthe verseכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹ:is like its Targum

רַשִׁ״י

ירכבהוHe made him rideוגו'.etc.עַלonשֵׁםaccountשֶׁאֶרֶץthat the land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelגָּבוֹהַּis higherמִכָּלthan all ofהָאֲרָצוֹת:the lands

רַשִׁ״י

ויאכלthat he might eatתנובתthe produce ofשדי.the fieldsאֵלּוּthese areפֵרוֹתthe fruits ofאֶרֶץthe Land ofיִשְׂרָאֵלYisraelשֶׁקַּלִּיםwhich are quickerלָנוּבto shootוּלְהִתְבַּשֵּׁלand to ripenמִכָּלthan allפֵּרוֹתthe fruits ofהָאֲרָצוֹת:the other countries

רַשִׁ״י

וינקהוAnd He made him suckדבשhoneyמסלע.from a rockמַעֲשֶׂהAn incidentבְּאֶחָדwith oneשֶׁאָמַרwho saidלִבְנוֹto his sonבְּסִיכְנִיin Sichniהָבֵאbringלִיfor meקְצִיעוֹתdried figsמִןfromהֶחָבִית,the caskהָלַךְHe wentוּמָצָאand foundהַדְּבַשׁthe honeyצָףfloatingעַלuponפִּיהָ,its openingאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himזוֹthisשֶׁלofדְּבַשׁhoneyהִיאit isאָמַרHe saidלוֹto himהַשְׁקַעsinkיָדְךָyour handלְתוֹכָהּinto its midstוְאַתָּהand youמַעֲלֶהwill bring upקְצִיעוֹתdried figsמִתּוֹכָהּfrom its midstספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

במתיheights ofארץ.landלְשׁוֹןan expression ofגֹּבַהּ:height

רַשִׁ״י

שדי.Shaddaiלְשׁוֹןis an expression ofשָׂדֶה:a field

רַשִׁ״י

מחלמישfrom flint ofצור.rockתָּקְפּוֹthe strength ofוְחָזְקוֹand the hardness ofשֶׁלofסֶלַע,rockכְּשֶׁאֵינוֹwhen it is notדָּבוּקconnectedלַתֵּיבָהto the wordשֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיוthat is after itנָקוּדit is punctuatedחַלָּמִישׁChallamishוּכְשֶׁהוּאand when itדָבוּקis connectedנָקוּדit is punctuatedחַלְמִישׁ:Chalmish

רַשִׁ״י

ושמןand oilמחלמישfrom the flintyצור.rockאֵלּוּthese areזֵיתִיםolivesשֶׁלofגּוּשׁGushחָלָבChalabספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ב

Pasuk 2

חֶמְאַתButter ofבָּקָרcattleוַחֲלֵבand milk ofצֹאןflocksעִםwithחֵלֶבfat ofכָּרִיםlambsוְאֵילִיםand ramsבְּנֵיof the breed ofבָשָׁןBashanוְעַתּוּדִיםand he-goatsעִםwithחֵלֶבthe kidney-fat ofכִּלְיוֹתkidneys ofחִטָּהwheatוְדַםand the blood ofעֵנָבthe grapeתִּשְׁתֶּהyou drankחָמֶר׃as delicious wine

רַשִׁ״י

חמאתclotted cream ofבקרthe herdוחלבand milk ofצאן.the flockזֶהthisהָיָהwasבִּימֵיin the days ofשְׁלֹמֹה,Shlomoשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it statesמלכיםMelachimאIד'4"עֲשָׂרָהtenבָקָרoxenבְּרִאִיםfattenedוְעֶשְׂרִיםand twentyבָּקָרoxenרְעִיof the pastureוּמֵאָהand one hundredצֹאן":sheep

רַשִׁ״י

עםwithחלבfat ofכרים.lambsזֶהthisהָיָהwasבִּימֵיin the days ofעֲשֶׂרֶתthe tenהַשְּׁבָטִים,tribesשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidעמוסAmosו'six"וְאֹכְלִיםand who eatכָּרִיםlambsמִצֹּאן":from the flock

רַשִׁ״י

חלבthe fat ofכליותkidneys ofחטה.wheatזֶהthisהָיָהwasבִּימֵיin the days ofשְׁלֹמֹה,Shlomoשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרas it is saidמלכיםMelachimאAlephה'Heh"וַיְהִי"and it wasלֶחֶםthe food ofשְׁלֹמֹהShlomoוְגוֹ'":etc."

רַשִׁ״י

ודםAnd the blood ofענבthe grapeתשתהyou shall drinkחמר.foaming wineבִּימֵיin the days ofעֲשֶׂרֶתthe tenהַשְּׁבָטִיםtribes"הַשֹּׁתִיםwho drinkבְּמִזְרְקֵיin bowls ofיַיִן"wineעמוסAmosו'six:

רַשִׁ״י

חמאתButter ofבקר.cattleהוּאit isשֻׁמָּןthe fatהַנִּקְלָטthat is gatheredמֵעַלfrom uponגַּבֵּיthe top ofהֶחָלָב:the milk

רַשִׁ״י

וחלבAnd milk ofצאן.sheepחָלָבmilkשֶׁלofצֹאן,sheepוּכְשֶׁהוּאand when itדָבוּקis connectedנָקוּדit is vowelledחֲלֵב,chalevכְּמוֹlike"בַּחֲלֵב"in the milk ofאִמּוֹ"its mother"שמותShemosכ"ג23:

רַשִׁ״י

כרים.Karimכְּבָשִׂים:sheep

רַשִׁ״י

ואילים.And ramsכְּמַשְׁמָעוֹ:is like its literal meaning

רַשִׁ״י

בניsons ofבשן.Bashanשְׁמֵנִיםfat onesהָיוּ:they were

רַשִׁ״י

כליותkidneys ofחטה.wheatחִטִּיםwheatsשְׁמֵנִיםfatכְּחֵלֶבlike the fat ofכְּלָיוֹתkidneysוְגַסִּיןand largeכְּכוּלְיָא:like a kidney

רַשִׁ״י

ודםAnd the blood ofענב.a grapeתִּהְיֶהyou shall beשׁוֹתֶהdrinkingיַיִןwineטוֹבgoodוְטוֹעֵםand tastingיַיִןwineחָשׁוּב:fine

רַשִׁ״י

חמר.Chamarיַיִןwineבִּלְשׁוֹןin the language ofאֲרַמִּיAramaic"חֲמַר",chamarאֵיןis notזֶהthisשֵׁםa nounדָּבָרof a thingאֶלָּאbut ratherלְשׁוֹןan expression ofמְשֻׁבָּחexcellentבְּטַעַם,in tasteווי"נושvinousבְּלַעַז.in old Frenchוְעוֹדand furthermoreיֵשׁthere isלְפָרֵשׁto explainשְׁנֵיthe two ofמִקְרָאוֹתversesהַלָּלוּtheseאַחַרafterתַּרְגּוּםthe translationשֶׁלofאֻנְקְלוֹסOnkelos"אַשְׁרִינוּןHe settled themעַלuponתָּקְפֵּיthe strongholds ofאַרְעָאthe landוְגוֹ'":etc

פָּסוּק ג

Pasuk 3

וַיִּשְׁמַןAnd grew fatיְשֻׁרוּןYeshurunוַיִּבְעָטand kickedשָׁמַנְתָּyou grew fatעָבִיתָyou grew thickכָּשִׂיתָyou became coveredוַיִּטֹּשׁand he forsookאֱלוֹהַGodעָשָׂהוּWho made himוַיְנַבֵּלand he spurnedצוּרthe Rock ofיְשֻׁעָתוֹ׃his salvation

רַשִׁ״י

עבית.you became thickלְשׁוֹןan expression ofעֹבִי:thickness

רַשִׁ״י

כשית.You became coveredכְּמוֹlikeכָּסִיתָ,you coveredלְשׁוֹןan expression of"כִּי"Becauseכִסָּהhe coveredפָנָיוhis faceבְּחֶלְבּוֹ"with his fatness"איובIyovט"ו15,כְּאָדָםlike a personשֶׁשָּׁמֵןwho is fatמִבִּפְנִיםfrom withinוּכְסָלָיוand his flanksנִכְפָּלִיםare foldedמִבַּחוּץ,from withoutוְכֵןand soהוּאitאוֹמֵרsaysשםthere"וַיַּעַשׂ"and he madeפִּימָהfolds of fatעֲלֵיuponכָסֶל":flank"

רַשִׁ״י

כשית.You are coveredיֵשׁthere isלָשׁוֹןan expressionקַלlightבִּלְשׁוֹןin the expression ofכִּסּוּי,coveringכְּמוֹlike"וְכֹסֶהand coversקָלוֹןshameעָרוּם"a prudent manמשליMishleiי"ב12,וְאִםand ifכָּתַבit had writtenכִּשִּׂיתָ,you coveredדָּגוּשׁ,with a dageshהָיָהit would beנִשְׁמָעunderstood asכִּסִּיתָyou coveredאֶת—אֲחֵרִים,othersכְּמוֹlike"כִּיforכִסָּהhe coveredפָנָיו"his faceאיובIyovט"ו15:

רַשִׁ״י

וינבלAnd he lightly esteemedצורthe Rock ofישעתו.his salvationגִּנָּהוּHe showed contempt for Himוּבִזָּהוּ,and He scorned Himכְּמוֹasשֶׁנֶּאֱמַרthat which is saidיחזקאלYechezkelח'chapter 8"אֲחוֹרֵיהֶםtheir backsאֶלtowardsהֵיכַלthe Sanctuary ofה'Hashemוְגוֹ'",and so onאֵיןthere is noלְךָto youנִבּוּלcontemptגָּדוֹלgreaterמִזֶּהthan thisספריSifrei:

פָּסוּק ד

Pasuk 4

יַקְנִאֻהוּThey made Him jealousבְּזָרִיםwith strangersבְּתוֹעֵבֹתwith abominationsיַכְעִיסֻהוּ׃they angered Him

רַשִׁ״י

יקנאהו.they made Him jealousהִבְעִירוּthey kindledחֲמָתוֹHis wrathוְקִנְאָתוֹ:and His jealousy

רַשִׁ״י

בתועבת.With abominationsבְּמַעֲשִׂיםwith deedsתְּעוּבִים,abominableכְּגוֹןsuch asמִשְׁכַּבlying ofזְכוּרa maleוּכְשָׁפִיםand sorceryשֶׁנֶאֱמַרthat it is saidבָּהֶםregarding themתּוֹעֵבָה:abomination

פָּסוּק ה

Pasuk 5

יִזְבְּחוּThey sacrificedלַשֵּׁדִיםto demonsלֹאnotאֱלֹהַa godאֱלֹהִיםgodsלֹאnotיְדָעוּםthey knew themחֲדָשִׁיםnew onesמִקָּרֹבfrom recentlyבָּאוּthey cameלֹאnotשְׂעָרוּםfeared themאֲבֹתֵיכֶם׃your fathers

רַשִׁ״י

לאNotאלה.godsכְּתַרְגּוּמוֹlike its translation"דְּלֵיתthat there is notבְּהוֹןin themצְרוֹךְ",needאִלּוּifהָיָהthere wasבָהֶםin themצְרוֹךְneedלֹאnotהָיְתָהwould there beקִנְאָהjealousyכְפוּלָהdoubledכְּמוֹlikeעַכְשָׁוnowספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

חדשיםNew onesמקרבfrom close byבאו.they cameאֲפִלּוּevenהָאֻמּוֹתthe nationsלֹאnotהָיוּwereרְגִילִיםaccustomedבָּהֶםto them—גּוֹיa non-Jewשֶׁהָיָהwho wasרוֹאֶהseeingאוֹתָם,themהָיָהwouldאוֹמֵרsayזֶהthis isצֶלֶםan idol ofיְהוּדִי:a Jew

רַשִׁ״י

לאnotשערוםfeared themאבתיכם.your fathersלֹאnotיָרְאוּdid they fearמֵהֶםof them—לֹאnotעָמְדָהdid standשַׂעֲרָתָםtheir hairמִפְּנֵיהֶם,because of themדֶּרֶךְit is the wayשַׂעֲרוֹתof the hairsהָאָדָםof a personלַעֲמֹדto standמֵחֲמַתbecause ofיִרְאָה,fearכָּךְthusנִדְרַשׁit is expoundedבְּסִפְרֵי.in Sifreiוְיֵשׁand there isלְפָרֵשׁto explainעוֹדfurtherשערוםshe'arumלְשׁוֹןan expression ofישעיהYeshayahuיג,13כא21"וּשְׂעִירִיםand satyrsיְרַקְּדוּshall danceשָׁם",thereשְׂעִירִיםsatyrsהֵםthey areשֵׁדִים,demonsלֹאnotעָשׂוּdid makeאֲבוֹתֵיכֶםyour fathersשְׂעִירִיםsatyrsהַלָּלוּ:these

פָּסוּק ו

Pasuk 6

צוּרthe Rockיְלָדְךָwho begot youתֶּשִׁיyou neglectedוַתִּשְׁכַּחand you forgotאֵלGodמְחֹלְלֶךָ׃who brought you forth

רַשִׁ״י

תשי.you have forgottenתִּשְׁכַּח.you shall forgetוְרַבּוֹתֵינוּbut our Rabbisדָרְשׁוּexpoundedכְּשֶׁבָּאwhen He comesלְהֵיטִיבto do goodלָכֶםto youאַתֶּםyouמַכְעִיסִיןprovokeלְפָנָיוbefore Himוּמַתִּישִׁיםand weakenכֹּחוֹHis powerמִלְּהֵיטִיבfrom doing goodלָכֶםto youספריSifrei:

רַשִׁ״י

אלthe Godמחללך.Who brought you forthמוֹצִיאֲךָWho brought you outמֵרֶחֶם,from the wombלְשׁוֹןan expression ofתהליםTehillimכט29"יְחוֹלֵלmakes to bring forthאַיָּלוֹת",hindsתהליםTehillimמ"ח48"חִילtravailכַּיּוֹלֵדָה":as a woman in childbirth

Chapter Summaryסִכּוּם

The aliyah then transitions into a painful rebuke, describing how Klal Yisrael became bloated from all this physical abundance, grew fat and kicked, and ultimately turned their backs on Hashem. Instead of showing gratitude to the Rock of their salvation, they turned to abominations and sacrificed to new, powerless demons and foreign gods that their ancestors never knew, completely forgetting the Creator Who brought them into being.

לְמַעֲשֶׂהWhat To Take Home

The Torah is describing a very frightening spiritual reality here in Parshas Ha'Azinu. Hashem showers Klal Yisrael with the greatest, sweetest shefa, giving us honey from the rock, the finest wheat, and the richest milk. But then, the very next pasuk warns us of the tragic result: "Vayishman Yeshurun vayiv'at", Jeshurun grew fat and kicked. The moment things became comfortable and abundant, we forgot the Source of it all and turned to empty, modern vanities.

This is a major yesod in our avodah. The yetzer hara's most dangerous weapon is not poverty or hardship, but rather the numbing effect of comfort. When life is smooth and we have everything we need, we naturally tend to become "gross and coarse," losing our spiritual sensitivity. We start taking our brachos for granted, and mimeila, we forget our total dependence on Hashem.

To combat this, we have to make a conscious effort to use our physical pleasures as a springboard to connect to Hashem, rather than a reason to drift away. When you enjoy a good meal, a comfortable home, or a moment of success, don't just let it pass. Stop and realize that this sweetness is coming directly from Hashem's hand.

Today, when you experience any physical comfort or pleasure, even something as simple as a warm drink or a good meal, pause for five seconds before or after, and explicitly thank Hashem for the sweetness He put into your life, using that physical pleasure to bring you closer to Him instead of letting it make you complacent.