The Prophet Zecharia Speaks – But Are We Listening?
A blessing that (or when) you will listen to the commandments of G-D which I am commanding you today (Deut 11:27)
Rashi: Let them not be like old edicts to which a person doesn’t attach importance but rather like a new one toward which everybody runs! (commentary to Deut 6:6)
The Torah does not predicate its blessing on whether we listen to G-D’s word. It doesn’t write et ha-berakha im (if) but ki.(when) The Torah takes it for granted that at some point in our history we will all listen to all G-D’s words with a receptive heart and take them on board!
This includes heeding the words of the nevi’im (prophets) from Moshe Rabenu onwards until the very last prophetic pronouncements in Tanakh from the lips of Haggai, Zecharia and Malachi.
In my weekly Seniors shiur (on Zoom) we are currently immersed in Sefer Zecharia. A verse in the tenth chapter is so pellucidly pertinent to the here and now that it really is as though Zecharia is speaking to us here, today!
In order to unpack this remarkably prescient verse, we also need to tune in to what the far-sighted commentators through the ages are telling us.
Are we listening?
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ממנו פנה, ממנו יתד, ממנו קשת מלחמה, ממנו יצא כל נוגש יחדו
From themselves the cornerstone; from themselves the peg; from themselves the bow of war; from themselves all the leaders will press forward together (Zecharia 10:4)
Declares R’ David Altschuler (1687-1769) in his classic work Metsudot David: the cornerstone (pana) of an edifice is unique inasmuch as it is the only stone visible from two sides. As such it symbolizes the monarch. King David famously refers to himself as the stone which the builders had rejected, now become the rosh pina, the corner headstone (Psalms 118:22). R’ David Kimche, the Radak (1160-1235), suggests that it may refer broadly to the leaders of the nation. In other words, the government.
Are we listening?
Next, the peg (yated). This, says Malbim (1809-1879), is symbolic of the spiritual leaders of the populace, the rabbis. The moral and spiritual wellbeing of the nation depends upon them. They are like the peg upon which all vessels are hung.
Are we hanging in there?
Thirdly, the, the bow of war (keshet milkhama). This, declares Rashi (1040-1105), symbolizes the warrior leading the nation in battle. The military.
Are we paying attention?
And the last phrase of the verse tells us that all these leaders – political, spiritual, military – will press forward together. In unity! (Nogais means to press, to drive, to urge, to impel.)
Who will empower all these leaders? The rank and file, the population at large, the Jewish citizenry, Klal Yisrael! Formerly, the people were ruled by foreign overlords; now the leaders will come forth mimenu, from themselves (Mahari Kara). Not only will the leaders carry the population with them, the amkha will drive its leaders, impelling them to advance the political, military and spiritual agendas, enthusing them with their active support and encouragement. The nation and its leaders will be one!
Are we still listening?
Later, in verse 6, the navi speaks of beit Yehuda and beit Yosef. In a strictly literal sense, this refers to the two post-Solomonic segments of a once-united nation, the southern tribes (Judea) loyal to the house of David and the secessionist Northern Kingdom (Samaria). But in a more symbolic sense it depicts two meta-historical rival wings of the House of Israel. No longer will one oppose the other. Unity will reign. (See the commentary of Radak).
Do we get it?
Now let us reinterpret Zecharia 10:4 and the essence of 10:6 while remaining faithful to the prophet’s vision as understood by our classical rabbinical commentators.
Empowered by the people, the elected government.
Empowered by the people, the rabbinic leaders.
Empowered by the people, the warriors of the IDF.
Empowered by the people, all the leaders – political, military and spiritual – will come together.
The two opposing political wings in Israel will operate in peace and unity.
What an exalted, unforgettable vision!
But then, alas, we wake up to the reality.
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That is what Medinat Yisrael ought to look like. But how very far from the vision we are!
We have a strong government attempting to overthrow a genocidal enemy. Why is it that a leading member of the main left-wing opposition party sees fit this week to publicly call the elected leader of Israel “toxic”, thus giving fuel and encouragement to our enemies and our fair-weather-friends who would love nothing more than to see him and his government torpedoed?
We have valiant IDF soldiers being moser nefesh, placing their lives at risk in the quest of eliminating our most dangerous terrorist enemy. Why is it that at this critical time those who purport to represent the rabbinic leadership speak of “civil war” if charedim are not exempted forthwith from enlistment? Why do they prioritize their own concerns above the national need? Where indeed is the effective spiritual leadership that ought to be unifying the nation instead of dividing it?
And of course, we have G-D! He is doing His part in showering us with open miracles, as He has done ever since the Simchat Torah massacre. We pray for one more miracle, that the remaining hostages be released. But the myriads of left-wing Israeli protesters lining the streets of Tel Aviv are just making it easier for Hamas to dig in their heels and say “no deal” when they had been apparently on the brink of accepting a proposal to release all the hostages. We are experiencing the very opposite of Zecharia’s vision of the masses embracing the nation’s leaders in support.
We seem to be hellbent on making it harder for G-D too to do His work!
Is nobody listening to Zecharia?
The prophet’s exalted vision is out there, waiting to be fulfilled. We have the capability to fulfill it. But, sadly, not the will.
One day all that will change. The opening verses of our sidra promise it!
