Haftarah of Shabbat Rosh Chodesh

Yeshayahu 66:1-24

This Haftarah, read whenever Rosh Chodesh falls out on Shabbat, is the very last chapter of Yeshayahu, in which he describes the later stages in the process of Redemption.

The Haftarah begins at The Beginning: G-d created the world, and everything belongs to Him. He cannot be manipulated with “gifts”, and those who try to do so are on a path to evil. G-d prefers those who care about what He asks of them, not those who do whatever they wish, and then attempt to buy Him off.

1) So says Hashem:

The Heavens are My throne,

and the Earth is My footstool;

What house can you build for Me?

What kind of resting place?

(א) כֹּה אָמַר ה'

הַשָּׁמַיִם כִּסְאִי

והָאָרֶץ הֲדֹם רַגְלָי

אֵי זֶה בַיִת אֲשֶׁר תִּבְנוּ לִי

וְאֵי זֶה מָקוֹם מְנוּחָתִי:

2) And all these My hand has made,

and all these have come into being, says Hashem;

and at these I will look at,

at one who is poor, and humble, and who trembles at My word.

(ב) וְאֶת כָּל אֵלֶּה יָדִי עָשָׂתָה

וַיִּהְיוּ כָל אֵלֶּה נְאֻם ה'

וְאֶל זֶה אַבִּיט

אֶל עָנִי וּנְכֵה רוּחַ וְחָרֵד עַל דְּבָרִי:

3) Slaughtering an ox, is like killing a person;

sacrificing a sheep, like strangling a dog;

bringing an offering, like the blood of a pig;

bringing incense, like blessing evil.

So, too, they chose their paths,

their foulness was their souls' desire.

(ג) שׁוֹחֵט הַשּׁוֹר מַכֵּה אִישׁ

זוֹבֵחַ הַשֶּׂה עֹרֵף כֶּלֶב

מַעֲלֵה מִנְחָה דַּם חֲזִיר

מַזְכִּיר לְבֹנָה מְבָרֵךְ אָוֶן

גַּם הֵמָּה בָּחֲרוּ בְּדַרְכֵיהֶם

וּבְשִׁקּוּצֵיהֶם נַפְשָׁם חָפֵצָה:

4) So, too, I will choose their troubles,

their nightmares I will bring upon them.

Because I called, and there was no answer;

I spoke, and they did not listen.

They did evil in My eyes,

that which I did not desire is what they chose.

(ד) גַּם אֲנִי אֶבְחַר בְּתַעֲלֻלֵיהֶם

וּמְגוּרֹתָם אָבִיא לָהֶם

יַעַן קָרָאתִי וְאֵין עוֹנֶה

דִּבַּרְתִּי וְלֹא שָׁמֵעוּ

וַיַּעֲשׂוּ הָרַע בְּעֵינַי

וּבַאֲשֶׁר לֹא חָפַצְתִּי בָּחָרוּ: ס

People who do His will regardless of consequences will ultimately see His justice in the world.

5) Listen to the word of Hashem,

you who tremble at His word;

your brothers - who hate you, who alienate you - say:

"Through my name, Hashem is honored."

We shall see your joy, while they are shamed!

(ה) שִׁמְעוּ דְּבַר ה'

הַחֲרֵדִים אֶל דְּבָרוֹ

אָמְרוּ אֲחֵיכֶם שֹׂנְאֵיכֶם מְנַדֵּיכֶם

לְמַעַן שְׁמִי יִכְבַּד ה'

וְנִרְאֶה בְשִׂמְחַתְכֶם וְהֵם יֵבֹשׁוּ:

6) A sound of tumult from the city; a sound from the palace;

the sound of Hashem paying back His enemies.

(ו) קוֹל שָׁאוֹן מֵעִיר קוֹל מֵהֵיכָל

קוֹל ה' מְשַׁלֵּם גְּמוּל לְאֹיְבָיו:

The next section describes the redemption of Jerusalem, using the metaphor of a woman about to give birth. The process is not easy - there will be unexpected spurts and surprising developments - but once it has started, G-d will not let anything stop it.

7) Before she even feels pangs, she gives birth;

even before a labor pain comes, she gives birth to a boy.

(ז) בְּטֶרֶם תָּחִיל יָלָדָה

בְּטֶרֶם יָבוֹא חֵבֶל לָהּ וְהִמְלִיטָה זָכָר:

8) Who has heard of such a thing? Who has seen the like?

Can a land go through labor in one day?

Can a nation be born at once?

But Zion went into labor and thus gave birth to her children!

(ח) מִי שָׁמַע כָּזֹאת מִי רָאָה כָּאֵלֶּה

הֲיוּחַל אֶרֶץ בְּיוֹם אֶחָד

אִם יִוָּלֵד גּוֹי פַּעַם אֶחָת

כִּי חָלָה גַּם יָלְדָה צִיּוֹן אֶת בָּנֶיהָ:

9) "Will I cause labor to start and not bring birth?" says Hashem;

"If I am giving birth, will I stop it?" said your G-d.

(ט) הַאֲנִי אַשְׁבִּיר וְלֹא אוֹלִיד יֹאמַר ה'

אִם אֲנִי הַמּוֹלִיד וְעָצַרְתִּי אָמַר אֱ-לֹהָיִךְ:

As redemption finally arrives, Jerusalem is described as the thrilled new mother, and the Jewish People as the newborn child.

10) Rejoice with Jerusalem, be glad with her, all who love her;

celebrate with her, all who have mourned her.

(י) שִׂמְחוּ אֶת יְרוּשָׁלִַם וְגִילוּ בָהּ כָּל אֹהֲבֶיהָ

שִׂישׂוּ אִתָּהּ מָשׂוֹשׂ כָּל הַמִּתְאַבְּלִים עָלֶיהָ:

11) So that you nurse, and be filled,

from the breast of her comfort;

so that you suckle, and enjoy,

from the bosom of her glory.

(יא) לְמַעַן תִּינְקוּ וּשְׂבַעְתֶּם

מִשֹּׁד תַּנְחֻמֶיהָ

לְמַעַן תָּמֹצּוּ וְהִתְעַנַּגְתֶם

מִזִּיז כְּבוֹדָהּ: ס

The prophet continues to use the metaphor of the Jewish People as a cherished child. The nations of the world will nurture them and be delighted with them. Jerusalem herself will comfort the Jewish People as only a mother can. The Hand of G-d will be evident from the flourishing of His people, who serve Him.

12) For so says Hashem:

I spread upon her peace, like a river;

like a flooded stream, the honor of nations;

and you will nurse from it;

they will carry you on their hips,

and play with you on their laps.

(יב) כִּי כֹה אָמַר ה'

הִנְנִי נֹטֶה אֵלֶיהָ כְּנָהָר שָׁלוֹם

וּכְנַחַל שׁוֹטֵף כְּבוֹד גּוֹיִם

וִינַקְתֶּם

עַל צַד תִּנָּשֵׂאוּ

וְעַל בִּרְכַּיִם תְּשָׁעֳשָׁעוּ:

13) Like a man whose mother comforts him,

so I will comfort you; in Jerusalem you will be comforted.

(יג) כְּאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר אִמּוֹ תְּנַחֲמֶנּוּ

כֵּן אָנֹכִי אֲנַחֶמְכֶם וּבִירוּשָׁלִַם תְּנֻחָמוּ:

14) You will see, and your hearts will celebrate,

your bones will sprout like grass,

and it will be known that the hand of Hashem is with His servants,

and anger with His enemies.

(יד) וּרְאִיתֶם וְשָׂשׂ לִבְּכֶם

וְעַצְמוֹתֵיכֶם כַּדֶּשֶׁא תִפְרַחְנָה

וְנוֹדְעָה יַד ה' אֶת עֲבָדָיו

וְזָעַם אֶת אֹיְבָיו:

The Haftarah now describes G-d's anger at His enemies, and the prophet switches to male metaphors of war and fire. G-d will not be fooled by those who pretend to be pure and holy, whose actions do not match their false ideals.

15) For now Hashem comes in fire,

and his chariot like a storm,

to quell His anger in fury,

and His rebuke in flames of fire.

(טו) כִּי הִנֵּה ה' בָּאֵשׁ יָבוֹא

וְכַסּוּפָה מַרְכְּבֹתָיו

לְהָשִׁיב בְּחֵמָה אַפּוֹ

וְגַעֲרָתוֹ בְּלַהֲבֵי אֵשׁ:

16) For in the fire of Hashem, we will be judged,

by His sword, all living beings;

and many will be the casualties of Hashem.

(טז) כִּי בָאֵשׁ ה' נִשְׁפָּט

וּבְחַרְבּוֹ אֶת כָּל בָּשָׂר

וְרַבּוּ חַלְלֵי ה':

17) Those who make themselves holy and pure in the gardens,

after one in the circle,

those who eat pork, insects, and rodents,

together will be ended, says Hashem.

(יז) הַמִּתְקַדְּשִׁים וְהַמִּטַּהֲרִים אֶל הַגַּנּוֹת

אַחַר אַחַת בַּתָּוֶךְ

אֹכְלֵי בְּשַׂר הַחֲזִיר וְהַשֶּׁקֶץ וְהָעַכְבָּר

יַחְדָּו יָסֻפוּ נְאֻם ה':

Everyone will be shown that G-d does see their actions and does care. Those who learn that lesson will go out to the rest of the world, and will express their new-found appreciation for G-d and His people by helping Jews come back to Jerusalem, where they will renew their service to Hashem.

18) Yet I am aware of their deeds and thoughts;

it has come time to gather all the nations and languages,

they will come and see My honor.

(יח) וְאָנֹכִי מַעֲשֵׂיהֶם וּמַחְשְׁבֹתֵיהֶם

בָּאָה לְקַבֵּץ אֶת כָּל הַגּוֹיִם וְהַלְּשֹׁנוֹת

וּבָאוּ וְרָאוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי:

19) I will place upon them a sign,

and send out from them refugees to the nations,

Tarshish, Pul, Lud, Keshet, Tuval, and Yavan,

the far-off islands who have not heard of Me,

and have not seen My honor;

and they will tell of My honor in the nations.

(יט) וְשַׂמְתִּי בָהֶם אוֹת

וְשִׁלַּחְתִּי מֵהֶם פְּלֵיטִים אֶל הַגּוֹיִם

תַּרְשִׁישׁ פּוּל וְלוּד מֹשְׁכֵי קֶשֶׁת תֻּבַל וְיָוָן

הָאִיִּים הָרְחֹקִים אֲשֶׁר לֹא שָׁמְעוּ אֶת שִׁמְעִי

וְלֹא רָאוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי

וְהִגִּידוּ אֶת כְּבוֹדִי בַּגּוֹיִם:

20) They will bring all your brothers from all the nations,

as an offering to Hashem,

on horses, chariots and carriages, mules and dromedaries,

to My Holy Mountain, Jerusalem, said Hashem;

just as the Nation of Israel would bring offerings,

in a pure vessel to the House of Hashem.

(כ) וְהֵבִיאוּ אֶת כָּל אֲחֵיכֶם מִכָּל הַגּוֹיִם

מִנְחָה לַה'

בַּסּוּסִים וּבָרֶכֶב וּבַצַּבִּים וּבַפְּרָדִים וּבַכִּרְכָּרוֹת

עַל הַר קָדְשִׁי יְרוּשָׁלִַם אָמַר ה'

כַּאֲשֶׁר יָבִיאוּ בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל אֶת הַמִּנְחָה

בִּכְלִי טָהוֹר בֵּית ה':

21) And from them I will take Cohanim and Leviim,

said Hashem.

(כא) וְגַם מֵהֶם אֶקַּח לַכֹּהֲנִים לַלְוִיִּם

אָמַר ה':

Ultimately, the entire world will recognize both the concept of Shabbat (G-d's authority as Creator) and the concept of Chodesh (G-d's continued involvement in the world). And those who choose not to ... very unpleasant things await them.

22) For as the renewed Heavens and the renewed Earth

that I make, stand before Me, says Hashem,

so your lineage and your name will stand.

(כב) כִּי כַאֲשֶׁר הַשָּׁמַיִם הַחֲדָשִׁים וְהָאָרֶץ הַחֲדָשָׁה

אֲשֶׁר אֲנִי עֹשֶׂה עֹמְדִים לְפָנַי נְאֻם ה'

כֵּן יַעֲמֹד זַרְעֲכֶם וְשִׁמְכֶם:

23) It will be, from month to month, from Shabbat to Shabbat,

all mankind will come to bow before Me, said Hashem.

(כג) וְהָיָה מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ וּמִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ

יָבוֹא כָל בָּשָׂר לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לְפָנַי אָמַר ה':

24) They will go view the corpses of the men who betray Me,

for their maggots will not die, and their fire will not go out,

and they will be an object of scorn for all mankind.

(כד) וְיָצְאוּ וְרָאוּ בְּפִגְרֵי הָאֲנָשִׁים הַפֹּשְׁעִים בִּי

כִּי תוֹלַעְתָּם לֹא תָמוּת וְאִשָּׁם לֹא תִכְבֶּה

וְהָיוּ דֵרָאוֹן לְכָל בָּשָׂר:

So as not to end on such a negative image, the second-to-last verse is repeated.

23) It will be, from month to month, from Shabbat to Shabbat,

all mankind will come to bow before Me, said Hashem.

(כג) וְהָיָה מִדֵּי חֹדֶשׁ בְּחָדְשׁוֹ וּמִדֵּי שַׁבָּת בְּשַׁבַּתּוֹ

יָבוֹא כָל בָּשָׂר לְהִשְׁתַּחֲוֹת לְפָנַי אָמַר ה':

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

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