On this Shabbat, which falls between Yom Kippur and Sukkot, we read “Ha’azinu,” the next-to-last portion of the Torah. Moses begins his farewell song with sweeping imagery: “Listen, O heavens, and I will speak; let the earth hear the words of my mouth.” The Torah opened with the creation of heaven and Earth; it closes by summoning them as witnesses.
“Ha’azinu” is both a poetic hymn and a solemn warning. It urges the people of Israel to remain faithful to the covenant, while recalling the miracles of their journey through the desert: “He found them in a desert land, in a desolate wasteland.... He surrounded them, cared for them, protected them like the apple of His eye” (Deut. 32:10). Our sages explain that God’s protection came through the clouds of glory, which encircled the people in divine shelter.
After “Ha’azinu” comes Sukkot, where we dwell in special shelters which, according to our sages, are a remembrance of those clouds of glory – a celebration of the divine presence that sheltered our ancestors in the wilderness, and that continues to embrace us today. The roof of the sukkah, the s’chach, is made of fronds or branches placed close enough together to give shade, but with enough space between so that at night we can glimpse the stars. It is on Sukkot that the Torah most emphatically bids us be joyful, in our assurance of divine protection.
A vision of Sukkot
Yoram Raanan’s painting Portal was born through a long, transformative process of experimentation, open-mindedness, and discovery. Over the course of three years, the canvas was turned upside down, layered and reworked, evolving slowly until the final vision emerged – a joyful vision of Sukkot.
When looking at the painting, our eyes are first struck by clouds that seem to be flowing both upward and downward simultaneously. The upper clouds look like wings fluttering, reminding us of how we were, and still are now on Sukkot, sheltered under the wings of the divine presence.
As we look more closely, we see the heavens and a portal into another realm, transporting us into an airy spiritual space, to a dimension beyond. A tangible depth invites us into a magical space of stars, constellations, orbs, celestial pillars, lights, candles, and flickering flames. That space is also a place of protection and security, as the clouds encircle and, it is to be hoped, unite us all once again. The opening is eye-shaped, recalling the Torah’s words: “He protected them like the apple of His eye” (ibid.).
As Shabbat bridges the solemnity of Yom Kippur and the joy of Sukkot, both Torah and art remind us: Between heaven and Earth lies a sheltering presence, a glimpse of eternity, and the promise of unity beneath the wings of the divine.
“Ha’azinu” closes (Deut. 32:40-43) with a vision of redemption – God’s justice revealed, Israel uplifted, and the world rejoicing together. May it be fulfilled soon!
Chag sameach!
Meira Raanan is the author of Art of Revelation: A Visual Encounter with the Jewish Bible, a commentary on the paintings of her husband, Yoram Raanan. She is also a teacher of meditation.
Esther Cameron is a poet, scholar, and essayist living in Jerusalem. She is editor-in-chief of The Deronda Review.