Shabbat Chazon

This coming Shabbat is known as Shabbat Chazon. It is connected with the first word of the Haftarah, on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av. It represents a vision of doom by the Prophet Isaiah.

He bemoaned the degradation of the Jewish people and how they lost their way from the path of holiness. Even the ox and the donkey, knew their master, but Israel did not know.

They merely paid lip service to the Creator, by offering sacrifices without the proper intention. Such distant worship of G-d, was abominable in Hashem’s eyes. Proper intent is necessary for one’s worship to bear fruit. Isaiah went on to discuss the corrupt leaders who will influence the people at the time of their decline.

He is alluding to the fact that Jews can fall lower than animals. The animals have instincts to run for shelter to escape danger for self preservations. Man can fall even lower where he knowingly does things that will cause harm, but he does them anyways.

Because it was primarily man’s corruption that led to his fall, a verse of hope ends this very painful chapter. ציון במשפט תפדה ושביה בצזקה, “Zion shall be redeemed with justice, and its returnees with acts of kindness. This refers to the ethical integrity and a spiritual and moral return, that will be necessary to bring about our ultimate redemption.

This is the antidote to the corruption and immorality that will lead to our destruction. Integrity and acts of kindness will bring the results that we all crave. No more mourning and sadness. We have had enough. The joy of Redemption is at hand. And it is within our reach to bring it about speedily in our time.