Jewish educational and Hebrew scholar Irene Lancaster displays on the consolation that comes after struggling.
The distinction between the final Shabbat haftorah of struggling and this Shabbat haftorah of comfort couldn’t be higher.
From the start of chapter 40, God tells Isaiah to consolation his folks. So God was now reconciled to the Jewish folks.
In the meantime, the somber quick day of Tisha B'Av has handed, to be instantly adopted by an uplift. The dejection attributable to the destruction of the 2 temples was changed by the return from exile and the rebuilding of the group.
Already within the accompanying studying from the Torah Va-etchanan (Deuteronomy 3:23-7:11) Moses describes the mission of the Jewish folks.
Right here he explains the philosophical and non secular foundations of Israel and explains why Israel should be positioned in its personal land, on the crossroads of the world, between Europe, Africa and Asia.
No distant desert island for little Jewish folks; to be able to do God's work and provide service to the world, Israel should be continuously seen, planted within the eye of the storm.
For the way can a small folks, charged with finishing up God's mission on the earth, stay closed and safe in a hermetically sealed setting?
Israel should be seen to the remainder of the world as dwelling proof of the existence of the One God.
To this finish, the ten commandments are repeated plus a reminder of the unique Sinai expertise.
God additional warns of the risks of idolatry and calls all heaven and earth to behave as witnesses. And from chapter 6, verse 4, Moses recites an important prayer within the Jewish liturgy: “Hear, O Israel, the Lord is our God, one and solely.”
The Jewish folks ought to love the One God with their complete being, and most significantly, educate this Torah to their youngsters and grandchildren. At each hour of the day and night time, the Jewish folks must be preoccupied with the Torah.
Moreover, the youngsters of Israel ought to always remember that they had been as soon as slaves in Egypt. The kids of Israel are 'am segulah', the honored folks. They could be small, however they’re nice in high quality solely after they bear in mind their mission on the earth.
This has nothing to do with pure qualities; Jews are literally cussed and cussed. Solely by way of fixed self-work by way of Torah research and apply will Jews be capable to set up the distinctive group of Israel. Solely on this means will the Jewish folks really turn into a “mild to the nations.”
Solely God's love each day redeems the Jewish folks. God is 'Ne'eman' (Deuteronomy 7:9) fixed and at all times there for you.
This theme is repeated by the prophet Isaiah in chapter 40, our first of seven Haftorot of comfort, main as much as Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Yr).
In phrases well-known all through the world, Isaiah guarantees the constructing of roads by way of deserts; elevating low valleys and decreasing mountains and hills.
Everybody acknowledges these actions as miracles of God. Then again, Bh can be in comparison with a shepherd who tenderly cares for his flock (Isaiah 40:11).
And but Bh is the only real Creator of all. Even the best cultures, whether or not Egyptian, Assyrian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman, or trendy, are a mere “drop within the bucket” (verse 15) in comparison with a mighty Creator who additionally cares about every particular person individual. On this, Gd is exclusive.
The one Gd merely can’t be in comparison with another entity; to take action is idolatry.
Gd isn’t solely the ruler of all the universe, but additionally the God of eternity ('olam', verse 28).
Those that belief in God will “go ahead” and by no means develop weary (verse 31).
This final thought has been interpreted by many as a reference to the exhausting weariness of life within the diaspora in comparison with the rejuvenating and energizing impact of life within the promised land.
Thus begins the rise of the seven-week interval, starting with the doom of Tisha B'Av and culminating within the crowning glory of Rosh Hashanah, the primary day of the Jewish New Yr.
