The End of Torah

Haazinu: patterns

We always read Haazinu on Shabbath Tshuva, the Shabbath between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. 

the Shabbath when we hope that our resolutions for improvement will result in a favorable year. 

And we read a parsha about an inevitable spiral.  Gd's favor results in complacency that ends in rebellion.  The rebellion leads to defeat by cruel enemies.  The arrogance of the enemies results in their downfall.  Gd's favor returns to Israel

What do we do with the cycle? of course, this describes a national, not a personal cycle.  And the timing of the cycle is not defined.  Perhaps we can hasten the good and delay the bad.   But we are trapped in the cycle.   This is a prophecy of logical sequence.  It becomes the way we view our history. 

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Zoth Habracha: subtlety

There is hardly a veneer of superficial meaning in this parsha.  It is all subtllty, symbolism.  But Moshe"s transgression is prominent.  The failure to glorify Gd at the waters of Meriva. The humblest of men failed to show the necessary humility. 

Now, before Yom Kippur, we examine our deeds, why we do not enter into our rewards.  Our little And, the avoidable errors, the wrong big decisions, the wrong small choices. The failure to do better. What we can reveal to ourselves and what will remain hidden until the death bed.

The bracha is vague to make it more (often) true.  The bracha is a prognosis and a prediction and a prescription

The parsha ends with the fulfillment of the ultimate prediction, the one we bet money on ( life insurance).  It ends with Moshe's death.

Nobody fulfills her full potential.