Shabbat Chazon: Isaiah Readies Us for Tishah B’Av and Beyond
(A community study session led by Rabbi Sacks on August 6, 2022)
- Tishah B’Av begins tonight at sundown.
Questions to Consider As We Begin:
- What is Tishah B’Av?
- Why do we have it?
- How do we observe it?
- This Shabbat prepares us for Tishah B’Av
Note that neither last night nor this morning have I referred to this Shabbat by the name of the Torah portion. Traditionally this Shabbat is called either Shabbat Chazon or Shabbat Shachor.
The haftarah we just recited was not chosen for any relationship to the Torah portion, but because of Tishah B’Av. It is considered the final haftarah of the T’lat D’puranuta, the Three Haftarot of Admonition, that mark the three weeks leading to Tishah B’Av
III. Let’s look at Isaiah 1:21 (p. 1003).
אֵיכָה֙ הָיְתָ֣ה לְזוֹנָ֔ה קִרְיָ֖ה נֶאֱמָנָ֑ה מְלֵֽאֲתִ֣י מִשְׁפָּ֗ט צֶ֛דֶק יָלִ֥ין בָּ֖הּ וְעַתָּ֥ה מְרַצְּחִֽים׃
How she has become a harlot!
The faithful city that was filled with justice
was where righteousness once dwelt–but now, murderers.
- Let’s first notice that the first word is “Eichah.” Let’s compare this verse to other verses beginning with Eichah in the book of Eichah/Lamentations.
- Lamentations 1:1
אֵיכָ֣ה ׀ יָשְׁבָ֣ה בָדָ֗ד הָעִיר֙ רַבָּ֣תִי עָ֔ם הָיְתָ֖ה כְּאַלְמָנָ֑ה רַבָּ֣תִי בַגּוֹיִ֗ם שָׂרָ֙תִי֙ בַּמְּדִינ֔וֹת הָיְתָ֖ה לָמַֽס׃
How lonely the city dwells.
Once with plenty of people, she has become like a widow
Once a prince among the provinces, she has become a thrall.
- Lamentations 2:1
אֵיכָה֩ יָעִ֨יב בְּאַפּ֤וֹ ׀ אֲדֹנָי֙ אֶת־בַּת־צִיּ֔וֹן הִשְׁלִ֤יךְ מִשָּׁמַ֙יִם֙ אֶ֔רֶץ תִּפְאֶ֖רֶת יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל
וְלֹא־זָכַ֥ר הֲדֹם־רַגְלָ֖יו בְּי֥וֹם אַפּֽוֹ׃
How HaShem has wrathfully shamed Fair Zion!
HaShem has cast down, from heaven to earth, the majesty of Israel.
G!d did not remember the Divine Footstool, the day of Divine wrath.
- Lamentations 4:1
אֵיכָה֙ יוּעַ֣ם זָהָ֔ב יִשְׁנֶ֖א הַכֶּ֣תֶם הַטּ֑וֹב תִּשְׁתַּפֵּ֙כְנָה֙ אַבְנֵי־קֹ֔דֶשׁ בְּרֹ֖אשׁ כׇּל־חוּצֽוֹת׃
How the gold is dulled, the finest gold debased;
precious gems are spilled at every street corner.
Questions to Consider:
- What links these verses (in addition to the word Eichah, “How”)?
- When something bad has happened, why respond with Eichah?
- What is the difference between Eichah/How? and Madu-a/Why?
So Isaiah notes that Israelite society is declining.
- Scan Isaiah–and identify at least one behavior that Isaiah depicts as setting Israel on the course toward decline.
- Does that kind of behavior happen today?
- Does it lead to a decline?
- How can we avoid that?
- Deuteronomy 4:29 (p. 1012)
וּבִקַּשְׁתֶּ֥ם מִשָּׁ֛ם אֶת־יְהֹוָ֥ה אֱלֹהֶ֖יךָ וּמָצָ֑אתָ
You will seek–and find–HaShem your G!d from there
According to the Baal Shem Tov, “from there” means wherever you happen to be, including in exile.
- How does the Baal Shem Tov’s interpretation comfort us?
- Isaiah 1:27–Final verse of today’s haftarah (p. 1004)
צִיּ֖וֹן בְּמִשְׁפָּ֣ט תִּפָּדֶ֑ה וְשָׁבֶ֖יהָ בִּצְדָקָֽה׃
Zion shall be saved by justice / Her repentant ones by righteousness.
How do the two halves of the verse relate to each other?
- How does this verse help comfort us, at least a bit, after the main thrust of the haftarah?
- Does this verse resonate with you? How so?
VII. Importance of Tishah B’Av
- Why is it important to have a collective fast day and a day of memory of/memorial for tragic events in our history?