We’ve begun the journey from Tisha B’Av to Rosh HaShanah – a seven week season full of special readings from the prophets for consolation and comfort. Seasonally, after the acknowledgement and feeling of calamity against the Jewish people throughout the ages on Tisha B’Av, these haftarot are set to sooth our spirits reminding us that we will be forgiven, G-d is with us, redemption is still possible.
For a second year, we enter this season of consolation in the midst of ongoing calamity at the hands of Jewish leaders representing what they call the Jewish state. The prophets intended these weeks of consolation for the Jewish people when we were the targets of oppression – what are we to do with them when collectively the tables have turned? When today the oppression is being done by our hands and in our name? And when that calamity is not just ended, but ongoing and unrelenting? How can the words of the prophets ring true to us now? Can we move toward a season of teshuva – renewal-through-accountability – when the wrong is still happening without remorse, in fact when signs point to the plan for escalation?
In the first haftarah of consolation this week, Isaiah 40:4 says: “Let every valley be raised, Every hill and mount made low. Let the rugged ground become level and the ridges become a plain.” The commentator known as Malbim, a 19th century Ashkenazi rabbi, interprets this line as saying that this line refers to the path of the exiled Jewish people will be made easy for their return.
In fact the Jewish people are in exile. We are in exile from our core values, from our Torah of justice, from our solidarity with the oppressed, from our compassion and our humanity. We need support and love, we need strength and conviction, we need persistence and return. And yes, we need our path to be made easy – valleys raised and mountains made low – such that we can traverse the path of return.
There are many leading this path of return among us. May your paths be undeterred and unobstructed. May these seven weeks remove barriers to our return and may this calamity end so healing and renewal can begin.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
For a second year, we enter this season of consolation in the midst of ongoing calamity at the hands of Jewish leaders representing what they call the Jewish state. The prophets intended these weeks of consolation for the Jewish people when we were the targets of oppression – what are we to do with them when collectively the tables have turned? When today the oppression is being done by our hands and in our name? And when that calamity is not just ended, but ongoing and unrelenting? How can the words of the prophets ring true to us now? Can we move toward a season of teshuva – renewal-through-accountability – when the wrong is still happening without remorse, in fact when signs point to the plan for escalation?
In the first haftarah of consolation this week, Isaiah 40:4 says: “Let every valley be raised, Every hill and mount made low. Let the rugged ground become level and the ridges become a plain.” The commentator known as Malbim, a 19th century Ashkenazi rabbi, interprets this line as saying that this line refers to the path of the exiled Jewish people will be made easy for their return.
In fact the Jewish people are in exile. We are in exile from our core values, from our Torah of justice, from our solidarity with the oppressed, from our compassion and our humanity. We need support and love, we need strength and conviction, we need persistence and return. And yes, we need our path to be made easy – valleys raised and mountains made low – such that we can traverse the path of return.
There are many leading this path of return among us. May your paths be undeterred and unobstructed. May these seven weeks remove barriers to our return and may this calamity end so healing and renewal can begin.
Shabbat shalom,
R’ David
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