This Shabbos is sweetly straight after Rosh HaShanah so what a special Shabbos of renewel of our beautiful relationship with HaShem..Our Parsha this Shabbos is Parshas Ha'Azinu where Moses Calls Heaven and Earth to witness how we behave.
Why would Moshe call Heaven and Earth to watch us and listen to how we follow HaShem?The answer to this goes right back to the beginning of the Creation and of Man and Woman,which is what we remember at this Holy time of Rosh HaShanah.In the first verse of the Torah,HaShem says that He Created Heaven and Earth.Here,the word Elokim is used to show us HaShem's attribute of Justice in Creating Heaven and Earth.So right from the beginning there was a place called Heaven to go to ,when keeping HaShem's Commandments and an Earth to be tested so we could earn that Heaven by tests and be punished if we fall so we can atone and do teshuvah.Now,in our Parsha,Moshe reminds us and calls Heaven and Earth to listen. and hear his words as we are again reminded that we are to work toward Heaven by doing good on Earth and atone through Earth which can punish us with hardships,so we can earn Heaven.
From the very beginning,Heaven and Earth that HaShem Created to be over us as Judges,point to the very important fact of free choice,
Now that Moshe is about to leave us,he calls Heaven and Earth to remember its duty to better us.
The verse says,' Ha Azinu HaShamaim Va'Adabera Ve Tishma Ha'Aretz Imrei Phi,' - 'Give ear oh Heavens and I will speak and may the Earth hear the words of my mouth.' So Moshe asks the Heavens (as there are seven of them as the word Shamaim shows in the plural in Bereishit) to listen. And the Earth to hear the words that Moshe speaks.Here,Moshe tells Heaven and Earth,two witnesses, to watch over us and judge us so we can be guided toward HaShem.
It is interesting that Moshe first asks for listening so the words can be heard.This is like HaShem,who calls to us all the time and speaks to us all the time and we will hear if we first choose to listen.It is our duty to first give ear to HaShem so we can take in His Words. For He speaks to us constantly-if we would only listen.
As we stand before HaShem on these Holy Days,let us remember to not just speak,but to give ear to G-D's needs and choose to truly listen to His precious song as Moshe's song is written to appeal to us.May we ,from now on, grow closer to HaShem .I wish HaShem a Holy Shabbos Kodesh and Shanah Tova a sweet year with love and to all with love,Shabbos Kodesh with love and Shanah Tovah Ketivah Ve Chatima Tova.