Haftarah of Re'eh

Yeshayahu 54:11 – 55:5

This Haftarah is the third of the "Chapters of Comfort" of that we read between Tisha B'Av and Rosh HaShanah. As with the other Haftarot in the series, its purpose is to give hope to all the generations of the Jewish People and to reassure them that one day, Jerusalem will be rebuilt, that the Jewish People will be living there in safety and security, that their unique relationship with G-d will grow and deepen, and the entire world will acknowledge it and create a world of justice and righteousness. According to this Haftarah, the third step in this Redemption is the end of war and terror.

Given our painful history, the Jewish People are unable to envision a time of prosperity and security, never mind actual peace. G-d reassures us that He will personally make it happen. The raw materials of the rebuilding of Jerusalem will be of the precious stones that represent the Jewish People; their knowledge of G-d will form the foundation for great peace.

11) Poor woman, storm-tossed and uncomforted!

I am cutting rubies for your building stones,

and laying your foundations out of sapphires.

(יא) עֲנִיָּה סֹעֲרָה לֹא נֻחָמָה

הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי מַרְבִּיץ בַּפּוּךְ אֲבָנַיִךְ

וִיסַדְתִּיךְ בַּסַּפִּירִים:

12) I will inlay your windows with diamonds,

your gates with carbuncles,

and all your borders with precious stones.

(יב) וְשַׂמְתִּי כַּדְכֹד שִׁמְשֹׁתַיִךְ

וּשְׁעָרַיִךְ לְאַבְנֵי אֶקְדָּח

וְכָל גְּבוּלֵךְ לְאַבְנֵי חֵפֶץ:

13) All your children will be taught by Hashem;

great will be the peace of your children.

(יג) וְכָל בָּנַיִךְ לִמּוּדֵי ה'

וְרַב שְׁלוֹם בָּנָיִךְ:

Fear and terror will no longer be a part of your experience. As the source and creator of everything, including destruction, G-d has the power to ensure that weapons turned against the Jewish People do not hit their targets. Propaganda weapons will be equally powerless.

14)You will be established in righteousness,

you will be distanced from oppression,

as you will have no reason to fear;

and from terror,

as it will not come near you.

(יד) בִּצְדָקָה תִּכּוֹנָנִי

רַחֲקִי מֵעֹשֶׁק

כִּי לֹא תִירָאִי

וּמִמְּחִתָּה

כִּי לֹא תִקְרַב אֵלָיִךְ:

15) Truly, there will be nothing to fear but Me,

who could frighten you or attack you?

(טו) הֵן גּוֹר יָגוּר אֶפֶס מֵאוֹתִי

מִי גָר אִתָּךְ עָלַיִךְ יִפּוֹל:

16) It is I who has created the smith,

who fans coal fires

and makes the tools of his trade;

and it is I who has created the weapons of destruction.

(טז) הִנֵּה אָנֹכִי בָּרָאתִי חָרָשׁ

נֹפֵחַ בְּאֵשׁ פֶּחָם

וּמוֹצִיא כְלִי לְמַעֲשֵׂהוּ

וְאָנֹכִי בָּרָאתִי מַשְׁחִית לְחַבֵּל:

17) Any weapon made against you will not succeed,

any tongue raised against you in judgment, you will convict.

This is the lot of the servants of Hashem,

and their righteousness from Me, says Hashem.

(יז) כָּל כְּלִי יוּצַר עָלַיִךְ לֹא יִצְלָח

וְכָל לָשׁוֹן תָּקוּם אִתָּךְ לַמִּשְׁפָּט תַּרְשִׁיעִי

זֹאת נַחֲלַת עַבְדֵי ה'

וְצִדְקָתָם מֵאִתִּי נְאֻם ה': ס

With war and terror neutralized, the prophet addresses the Nations of the world, as they begin to realize that their philosophies are bankrupt, and turn to the Jewish People for perspective and guidance. King David's legacy of justice and righteousness will be the inspiration for the entire world.

55:1) Hey, all who are thirsty, come for water;

whoever has no money,

come take and eat.

Go get without payment,

without cost, wine and milk.

(א) הוֹי כָּל צָמֵא לְכוּ לַמַּיִם

וַאֲשֶׁר אֵין לוֹ כָּסֶף

לְכוּ שִׁבְרוּ וֶאֱכֹלוּ

וּלְכוּ שִׁבְרוּ בְּלוֹא כֶסֶף

וּבְלוֹא מְחִיר יַיִן וְחָלָב:

2) Why should you deal out money without getting bread?

Why do you labor without getting satisfied?

Listen to me, and eat well,

and delight your souls with plenty.

(ב) לָמָּה תִשְׁקְלוּ כֶסֶף בְּלוֹא לֶחֶם

וִיגִיעֲכֶם בְּלוֹא לְשָׂבְעָה

שִׁמְעוּ שָׁמוֹעַ אֵלַי וְאִכְלוּ טוֹב

וְתִתְעַנַּג בַּדֶּשֶׁן נַפְשְׁכֶם:

3) Lend me your ears, and come to me,

listen and your souls will live!

I will make with you an everlasting covenant,

like that of David’s faithful loyalty.

(ג) הַטּוּ אָזְנְכֶם וּלְכוּ אֵלַי

שִׁמְעוּ וּתְחִי נַפְשְׁכֶם

וְאֶכְרְתָה לָכֶם בְּרִית עוֹלָם

חַסְדֵי דָוִד הַנֶּאֱמָנִים:

4) Truly, I have made him a witness to the nations,

a leader and a commander of nations.

(ד) הֵן עֵד לְאוּמִּים נְתַתִּיו

נָגִיד וּמְצַוֵּה לְאֻמִּים:

5) Truly, you will call nations that you do not know,

and nations that do not know you, will run to you,

for the sake of Hashem, your G-d,

for the Holy One of Israel, Who glorifies you!

(ה) הֵן גּוֹי לֹא תֵדַע תִּקְרָא

וְגוֹי לֹא יְדָעוּךָ אֵלֶיךָ יָרוּצוּ

לְמַעַן ה' אֱ-לֹהֶיךָ

וְלִקְדוֹשׁ יִשְׂרָאֵל כִּי פֵאֲרָךְ:

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

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