Haftarah of Lech Lecha

Yeshayahu 40:27 – 41:16

As in the other "Chapters of Comfort" of Yeshayahu, the prophet attempts to deal with existential questions and crises of faith of the Jewish People in Exile.

In this Haftarah, Yeshayahu implies that the Jewish People have reached a conclusion about G-d's apparent lack of involvement in our destiny: either He doesn't know what is happening to us, or, He doesn't care. The prophet challenges this suggestion: "Don't you know better? You're not saying these things because you believe them, you are saying them because you are tired." However, Hashem does not tire. His strength has no bounds, and it is our infinite renewable resource. Youth has no patience, and when they fail to reach their goals, they despair. Israel is not a young nation – our trust in Hashem is the source of our strength to go on.

27) Why do you say, Yaakov, why do you claim, Israel, “My path is hidden from Hashem, my trial is overlooked by my G-d?”	(כז) לָמָּה תֹאמַר יַעֲקֹב וּתְדַבֵּר יִשְׂרָאֵל נִסְתְּרָה דַרְכִּי מֵה’ וּמֵאֱ-לֹהַי מִשְׁפָּטִי יַעֲבוֹר:
28) Don’t you know? Haven’t you heard? Hashem is the G-d of the world, Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not tire, does not get exhausted; His understanding cannot be fathomed.	(כח) הֲלוֹא יָדַעְתָּ אִם לֹא שָׁמַעְתָּ אֱ-לֹהֵי עוֹלָם ה’ בּוֹרֵא קְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ לֹא יִיעַף וְלֹא יִיגָע אֵין חֵקֶר לִתְבוּנָתוֹ:
29) He gives strength to the weary, to the powerless, great might.	(כט) נֹתֵן לַיָּעֵף כֹּחַ וּלְאֵין אוֹנִים עָצְמָה יַרְבֶּה:
30) Young men do get tired, get exhausted; youths do falter and fail.	(ל) וְיִעֲפוּ נְעָרִים וְיִגָעוּ וּבַחוּרִים כָּשׁוֹל יִכָּשֵׁלוּ:
31) But those who trust in Hashem renew their strength, they rise up like eagles, they run and not get exhausted, walk and not get tired.	(לא) וְקוֹיֵ ה’ יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ יַעֲלוּ אֵבֶר כַּנְּשָׁרִים יָרוּצוּ וְלֹא יִיגָעוּ יֵלְכוּ וְלֹא יִיעָפוּ: פ

Not only the Jewish People, but also the nations of the world doubt G-d's role in history. The prophet presents an example from history, a powerful figure, a political leader representing justice and enjoying nearly miraculous military success. It is G-d Who causes these things to happen; it is through such outstanding individuals that He drives history toward His goals.

41: 1) Listen to me, continents! Nations, renew your strength; approach, then speak, let us go to trial together.	א) הַחֲרִישׁוּ אֵלַי אִיִּים וּלְאֻמִּים יַחֲלִיפוּ כֹחַ יִגְּשׁוּ אָז יְדַבֵּרוּ יַחְדָּו לַמִּשְׁפָּט נִקְרָבָה:
2) Who arose from the East? Justice follows in his footsteps. Nations were given over to him, and kings subdued. His sword turns all to dust, to driven straw, his bow.	(ב) מִי הֵעִיר מִמִּזְרָח צֶדֶק יִקְרָאֵהוּ לְרַגְלוֹ יִתֵּן לְפָנָיו גּוֹיִם וּמְלָכִים יַרְדְּ יִתֵּן כֶּעָפָר חַרְבּוֹ כְּקַשׁ נִדָּף קַשְׁתּוֹ:
3) He pursues them but passes unharmed, upon roads his feet had never walked.	(ג) יִרְדְּפֵם יַעֲבוֹר שָׁלוֹם אֹרַח בְּרַגְלָיו לֹא יָבוֹא:
4) Who has acted and caused this? Who names the generations in advance? I, Hashem, am the first. and with the last, I am He.	(ד) מִי פָעַל וְעָשָׂה קֹרֵא הַדֹּרוֹת מֵרֹאשׁ אֲנִי ה’ רִאשׁוֹן וְאֶת אַחֲרֹנִים אֲנִי הוּא:

The reaction of the nations to this harbinger of justice is fear. They turn to each other for strength and solidarity - but only to reinforce their idols. Even though they themselves are the craftsmen that made the idols, even though they realize that these idols might fall apart at any minute, nevertheless they stick with them.

5) The continents saw this and were frightened, the ends of the earth shook with fear, they drew near and approached.	(ה) רָאוּ אִיִּים וְיִירָאוּ קְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ יֶחֱרָדוּ קָרְבוּ וַיֶּאֱתָיוּן:
6) Each one supports the other, to his brother says, “Be strong!”	(ו) אִישׁ אֶת רֵעֵהוּ יַעְזֹרוּ וּלְאָחִיו יֹאמַר חֲזָק:
7) The craftsmen fortifies the smith, the one who flattens with the hammer, helps the one who pounds with the mallet. He says about the glue, “It’s good!”, yet fortifies it with nails, so it won’t collapse.	(ז) וַיְחַזֵּק חָרָשׁ אֶת צֹרֵף מַחֲלִיק פַּטִּישׁ אֶת הוֹלֶם פָּעַם אֹמֵר לַדֶּבֶק טוֹב הוּא וַיְחַזְּקֵהוּ בְמַסְמְרִים לֹא יִמּוֹט:ס

The prophet then contrasts the nations supporting and reinforcing their false idols and ideologies to G-d supporting and reinforcing the Jewish People. G-d has chosen us to serve Him, and that carries with it some very real dangers. He tells us not to fear, and to persevere against those who incite against us. He is in control, He is the source of our courage, He has power over history, and our enemies have nothing.

8) But you, Israel, are my servant Yaakov whom I have chosen, the descendent of Avraham, who loved Me.	(ח) וְאַתָּה יִשְׂרָאֵל עַבְדִּי יַעֲקֹב אֲשֶׁר בְּחַרְתִּיךָ זֶרַע אַבְרָהָם אֹהֲבִי:
9) Whom I have held up from the ends of the earth, from among its nobles I have called you, I said to you, “You are My servant,” I have chosen you and have not rejected you.	(ט) אֲשֶׁר הֶחֱזַקְתִּיךָ מִקְצוֹת הָאָרֶץ וּמֵאֲצִילֶיהָ קְרָאתִיךָ וָאֹמַר לְךָ עַבְדִּי אַתָּה בְּחַרְתִּיךָ וְלֹא מְאַסְתִּיךָ:
10) Do not fear, because I am with you, do not be anxious, because I am your G-d. I give you courage, even support you, even hold you up with the right arm of My justice.	(י) אַל תִּירָא כִּי עִמְּךָ אָנִי אַל תִּשְׁתָּע כִּי אֲנִי אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ אִמַּצְתִּיךָ אַף עֲזַרְתִּיךָ אַף תְּמַכְתִּיךָ בִּימִין צִדְקִי:
11) They will be ashamed and embarrassed, all that fume at you; they will be as nothing, will be gone, the men who oppose you.	(יא) הֵן יֵבֹשׁוּ וְיִכָּלְמוּ כֹּל הַנֶּחֱרִים בָּךְ יִהְיוּ כְאַיִן וְיֹאבְדוּ אַנְשֵׁי רִיבֶךָ:
12) You might look for them, but you won’t find them, the men who incited against you; they will be as nothing, as zero, the men who wage war against you.	(יב) תְּבַקְשֵׁם וְלֹא תִמְצָאֵם אַנְשֵׁי מַצֻּתֶךָ יִהְיוּ כְאַיִן וּכְאֶפֶס אַנְשֵׁי מִלְחַמְתֶּךָ:
13) For I am Hashem, your G-d, who fortifies your right arm, who tells you, ”Do not fear! I support you!”	(יג) כִּי אֲנִי ה’ אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ מַחֲזִיק יְמִינֶךָ הָאֹמֵר לְךָ אַל תִּירָא אֲנִי עֲזַרְתִּיךָ: ס

We might appear to be at the end of our strength, approaching extinction, but G-d will give us strength and power - physical, emotional, and spiritual - to fight again. Our enemies will disappear, and we will prevail.

14) Do not fear, worm-eaten Yaakov, ebbing Israel; I support you, says Hashem, your redeemer, the Holy One of Israel.	(יד) אַל תִּירְאִי תּוֹלַעַת יַעֲקֹב מְתֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנִי עֲזַרְתִּיךְ נְאֻם ה’ וְגֹאֲלֵךְ קְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל:
15) I will make you like a new threshing tool, with extra sharp teeth; you will thresh the mountains and crush them, you will make the hills like chaff.	(טו) הִנֵּה שַׂמְתִּיךְ לְמוֹרַג חָרוּץ חָדָשׁ בַּעַל פִּיפִיּוֹת תָּדוּשׁ הָרִים וְתָדֹק וּגְבָעוֹת כַּמֹּץ תָּשִׂים:
16) You will winnow them and the wind will carry them off, the storm will disperse them. But you will rejoice in Hashem, in the Holy One of Israel, you will exult!	(טז) תִּזְרֵם וְרוּחַ תִּשָּׂאֵם וּסְעָרָה תָּפִיץ אוֹתָם וְאַתָּה תָּגִיל בַּה’ בִּקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל תִּתְהַלָּל: פ

Copyright © Kira Sirote

In memory of my father, Peter Rozenberg, z"l

לעילוי נשמת אבי מורי פנחס בן נתן נטע ז''ל