Haazinu
Close to Heaven: Close to Earth
We find in the 'sifri' that Moshe was "close to heaven" and distant from the earth." It was for this reason that he opened the Torah reading of Haazinu by stating, "Listen, heaven, and hear - earth." Addressing the heavens Moshe used an expression that denotes closeness (haazinu), while with regard to the earth he used an expression which indicates distance for he was "close to heaven and distant from the earth.
Yeshayahu, by contrast, addressed the earth with an expression of closeness, and the heavens with an expression that indicates distance. This was because he was "distant from heaven and close to earth".
This must be understood. "Listen, heaven, and hear earth" is a verse in the Torah, each word of which must be a lesson (since "Torah" means "teaching") for each and every Jew as to how he is to conduct his life. Since the Torah tells us "Listen, heaven, and hear - earth," we are evidently "expected to attain the level of being "close to heaven and distant from earth."
This is perplexing indeed. If the towering prophet Yeshayahu was considered to be "distant from heaven and close to earth," how are we expected to be "close to heaven and distant from earth"? Alternatively, if it is indeed true that each and every Jew can attain this level, how was it that Yeshayahu found this level unattainable?
We must perforce say that Yeshayahu's words, which were said as an adjunct to Moshe's words, allude to an even loftier level than Moshe's own; only after Yeshayahu empowered by the 1eve1 of Moshe - attained the 1eve1 of being "c1ose to heaven and distant from earth," was he then able to attain the even higher 1eve1 of being "distant from heaven and close to earth."
Since Yeshayahu's words are a1so part of the Torah, it is se1f-evident that his exhortation, which is even loftier than Moshe's, is a1so within the grasp of every Jew. After becoming "c1ose to heaven and distant from earth," every Jew is then expected to reach the higher degree of being "distant from heaven and close to earth."
Since a11 aspects of Torah are re1ated to the season in which they are read, we can readi1y understand that the above-mentioned twofo1d 1esson of Moshe and Yeshayahu is especia11y pertinent during the Ten Days of Penitence, at which time we read the portion of Haazinu.
How are we to attain these levels?
During the whole year, a Jew's divine service mostly invo1ves those things that have to do with "earth" - the Torah and the mitzvos as they are found here be1ow. With the advent of the Ten Days of Penitence, however, every Jew fee1s discontented with his earthy state and desires to repent - to return and be enveloped by G-d.
Since "a person is found wholly where his desire is", it follows that the desire to be totally at one with G-d immediately affects such an individua1, so that he attains a state of being "c1ose to heaven" (G-d1iness) and "distant from earth."
However, this is but the first step. Soon afterwards, having quenched his thirst for G-dly revelation, the same individua1 comes to the rea1ization that G-d's Essence is more readily attainab1e by transforming the wor1d into a dwe11ing p1ace for Him. The person then fee1s "c1oser to earth and distant from heaven" - he becomes aware that nothing can be greater than earth1y beings becoming vesse1s to contain G-d's essence. And this is accomplished by fulfilling G-d's passionate desire to have a dwelling place for his essence in this nethermost world.
