Parashat Ha’azinu – 5785

Calling G-d “The Rock” seems such a familiar expression that you might expect to see it a lot in the Torah. But it is not until this week, in Parashat Ha’azinu – at almost the end of the Torah – that we first hear G-d referred to as “The Rock”:

“The Rock (הַצּוּר֙ – Ha-Tsur), complete/perfect are G-d’s actions”(Deut. 32:4)

Until now, the word “tsur” – with the meaning “rock” – has only appeared six times in the Torah.[1] In Ha’azinu alone, Moses makes seven such references.[2] When something occurs seven times in Torah, we should take notice, as seven alludes to completeness.

What does it mean to be a “Rock”?

A Rock is just and true:
“The Rock… all [G-d’s] ways are justice: a G-d of truth and without iniquity, just and right.” (Deut. 32:4)

A Rock saves us from harm.
Moses criticizes Jeshurun (a name for Israel) because it “spurned the Rock of its salvation.” (Deut. 32:15)

A Rock provides shelter and protection.
Moses states that false gods do not provide refuge:“[G-d] will say: Where are their gods, the rock (tsur) in whom they sought refuge?” (Deut. 32:37)

He implies, however, that the G-d of Israel is able to provide such shelter and protection: “For – not like our Rock – is their rock.” (Deut. 32:31)

But a Rock may also be taken for granted, especially when times are good.
“But Jeshurun grew fat, and kicked … The Rock of your birth you forgot; and you forgot the G-d who brought you forth.” (Deut. 32:15-18).

While Parashat Ha’azinu emphasizes reliance on G-d as our Rock, we may also receive this support through G-d’s human emissaries.

The Torah repeatedly emphasizes that we should try to emulate G-d, and walk in G-d’s ways. “You shall keep the commandments of G-d, your G-d, to walk in his ways” (Deut. 8:6).[3]

Moses knows, from his own experience, that our support may come from G-d indirectly through other human beings. When Moses complains, “I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me,” (Num. 11:14), G-d tells him, “Gather to me seventy men of the elders of Israel … and bring them to the Tent of Meeting, that they may stand there with thee.” (Num. 11:16)

When Israel (led by Joshua) battled Amalek, Moses stationed himself on top of a hill. Whenever Moses held up his hand, Israel prevailed; but whenever he let down his hand, Amalek prevailed:

“But Moses’ hands grew heavy; so they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it, while Aaron and Hur, one on each side, supported his hands; thus his hands remained steady ( אֱמוּנָ֖ה – emunah) until the sun set. And Joshua weakened the people of Amalek …” (Ex. 17:12-13)

It is Aaron, his brother, and Hur, his nephew[4], who seat Moses on a stone (a symbol of stability, akin to a rock), station themselves on either side of Moses, and support his hands which remain steady. The word the Torah uses for “steady” – emunah – is also associated with G-d’s faithfulness: “All G-d’s ways are just, a faithful (emunah) G-d, never false.” (Deut. 32:4)

In our own lives, if we are fortunate, we have people who serve as our Rock in times of trouble.

I, too, know this from personal experience.

Almost two years ago, we suffered a tragic and unexpected loss. We were devastated.

But friends and family were suddenly there. People brought food (some still do!), invited me into their homes, called to check in, took me on dog walks and hikes. It would be impossible to name all G-d’s emissaries who held my hands steady.

Until recently, I’m not sure I understood this lyric by Paul Simon:

“My mama loves me, she loves me
She get down on her knees and hug me
Boy she loves me like a Rock
She rock me like the Rock of Ages
And love me.”                                    (“Loves me Like a Rock”, Paul Simon)

Was he saying that his mother loves him as if he were a rock?

Now, I get it. She loves him the way that a Rock loves him. She is there for him, getting down on her knees to meet him at his level. She hugs him in a way that is all enveloping. Embraced, she gently rocks him.

I said that I could not name all those whose support and care was indispensable. But there is one person that I would like to recognize:  My mother.

Through this vastly challenging time, my mother has loved me like a Rock loves me. She has been my Rock, and I let her know it.

In the days leading up to Yom Kippur, there is a tradition to ask forgiveness of all those we may have wronged.

I would like to propose another ritual:

Acknowledge the people in your life who have been there and supported you when your hands grew weak.

The ones who love you like a Rock loves you.

Shabbat Shalom.

[1]Tsur appears with other meanings. The six occurrences of tsur with the meaning of “rock” are: Ex. 17:6 (two occurrences); Ex. 33:20-2 (two occurrences); Num. 23:9; Deut. 8:15.

[2] Deut. 32:4; Deut. 32:13; Deut. 32:15; Deut. 32:18; Deut. 32:31(two occurrences); Deut. 32:37.

[3] See also Deut. 10:12, 11:22.

[4] Hur, according to tradition, is Moses’ nephew. See Rashi to Exod. 17:10.
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Rabbi Greg Schindler (AJR 2009). While at AJR, he was honored to serve as President of the Student Association. He is a community rabbi in Westport, CT where he conducts classes in Talmud and Tanakh. He has led Children’s High Holiday services for over 20 years. Each year, he writes and directs a new Yom Kippur comedic play based on the Book of Jonah , including “Jonah-gan’s Island”. “Batmensch”, “SpongeJonah SquarePants”, “Horton Hears an Oy” and more.