Prophecies Unfolding
The Haftara for Parshat Ekev (Yishayahu 49:14-51:3) gives hope to Zion and Jerusalem that their children who have been sent to exile will return.
One can’t help but notice that the Haftara foreshadows a lot of what is happening in the State of Israel today.
Just as a mother does not forget her children, God does not forget Zion (which can refer to Jerusalem or the entire Land of Israel).
God promises (Yishauahu 49:17-19):
Your children (banayich) will run to you; your destroyers, your demolishers, will all be gone from you. Raise your eyes; look around and see: the children all gathered and coming back to you. As I live, so says the Lord, you will wear them as jewels, which you will tie on like a bride. For your ruins, for your wastelands, for the land of your destruction, for you will be too narrow for your dwellers, while those who would destroy you will be far away from you.
In the text of Yishayahu that was found in the Dead Sea Scrolls, rather than banayich (your children) the word is spelled bonayich (your builders). “Your builders” also fits well in contrast to the second half of the verse which speaks about your destroyers.
We see the play on words “banayich” and “bonayich” as well in The Talmud, Brachot 64a:
Rabbi Elazar said on behalf of Rabbi Chanina: Torah scholars increase peace in the world, as it is said: “And all your children will be students of HaShem, and your children will have peace”-don not read “your children” but “your builders.”
Jerusalem is being rebuilt. We are working on pushing out our enemies who try to destroy us. We are living in a time of Kibutz Galuyot, the Ingathering of the Exiles with Jews making aliya from all over the world despite the war that we are still fighting. Our cities continue to expand with new construction everywhere.
In 49:24-25, the Haftara speaks about releasing hostages:
Can prey be taken back from a mighty warrior? Can a victor’s captives escape? For so says the Lord: Even the captives of the strong can be taken back and prey of the tyrant can escape, I Myself shall fight against those who fight you, I will save your children.
God explains that He can fight our enemies on our behalf, including freeing captives when the captors think that what they are doing can be justified and don’t want to release them.
The Haftara ends on a positive note (51:3):
The Lord has comforted Zion, brought comfort to all her ruins; He has made her desert like Eden, her arid land like the Lord’s garden; joy and happiness are found in her, thanksgiving, and a voice of song.
Our deserts bloom. Beautiful plants, trees, flowers, fruits and vegetables are growing throughout Israel.
Now we pray that with God’s help, we will see the return of the remaining hostages and the end of the war so that we will be able to feel true happiness in Jerusalem and throughout Israel.
