The designation, “Shabbos Shuva” is given because, on this day, we read the Haftorah from the prophet Hosea which says: “Return O Israel to the L-rd Your G-d. HaShem, who is our compassionate Father, is reaching out and waiting for each and every one of us to come to Him.

The parsha opens with the electrifying words, “Ha’azinu HaShamayim - “Listen o Heavens and I will speak, and may the earth hear the words of my mouth (Deut. 32:1).

Moshe Rabbenu reminds us that even when he is no longer here physically, the heavens and the earth will stand as eternal witnesses and testify that we sealed an irrevocable covenant with G-d. Moshe Rabbenu calls upon heaven and earth to serve as witnesses, for even as they are constant and unchanging, so must our loyalty to Torah be constant and unchanging. Homiletically, the heavens represent our spiritual essence and the earth our physical being. Both must act in consonance to fulfill G-d’s Will.

Our sages ask why Moses proclaimed “Ha’azinu” - “Listen” before “Adaberu” - “I shall speak.”

The answer should give us all pause. It is only if we are desirous of listening that G-d’s Words will find a place in our hearts. If, G-d forbid, we are bent upon closing our ears, shutting our minds, then alas, the Words will never reach us. In these, the most sacred days in our calendar year, when G-d Himself stretches out His Hands, and is willing to help us change and start a new life, let us be sure that we are listening. It’s all up to us. Let us start by making a commitment to pray regularly, to perform acts of loving kindness, charity and to study Torah. Join us at one of our many Torah classes.