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Yeshayahu however presents an alternative, seemingly opposing way of looking at the destruction in the haftara following the previous quote: "בְּרֶגַע קָטֹן עֲזַבְתִּיךְ; וּבְרַחֲמִים גְּדֹלִים אֲקַבְּצֵךְ. בְּשֶׁצֶף קֶצֶף הִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי רֶגַע מִמֵּךְ, וּבְחֶסֶד עוֹלָם רִחַמְתִּיךְ אָמַר גֹּאֲלֵךְ, ה'. – I have abandoned you in a small moment…With anger I hid My face from you for a moment...". This is not the theological premise that Hashem Himself inflicted upon us the destruction. This is quite the opposite – Hashem seemingly abandoned us! The destruction and exile were enabled only because Hashem left us open to the elements (albeit for only a small moment) and did NOT intervene on our behalf. The destruction therefore represents a breach in our connection with Hashem and shows that He seemingly does NOT care about us. It follows from this that had He really cared about us He would not have allowed the destruction to take place at all. It is only because He ignored us and "turned a blind eye" that the evil was able to succeed.
On both a personal and a national level this is a very frightening concept. As opposed to last week where we portrayed Hashem as always orchestrating all events (even the bad ones), here Yeshayahu posits that there are times when Hashem seemingly relinquishes control. This concept first appears right at the end of Moshe Rabbenu's life when Hashem introduces to him the term Hester Panim (Hiding the Face): "וְחָרָה אַפִּי בוֹ בַיּוֹם הַהוּא וַעֲזַבְתִּים וְהִסְתַּרְתִּי פָנַי מֵהֶם, ...וְאָנֹכִי, הַסְתֵּר אַסְתִּיר פָּנַי בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא. And My anger will burn on that day and I will leave them [Bnei Yisrael] and I will hide my face from them…I will surely hide My face on that day" (Dvarim 31). Hashem warns that there will be a time when Am Yisrael will turn away from the service of Hashem and will worship Avoda Zara instead. So great will His anger be then that He will hide his face from us.
What makes this hester panim so frightening? In every event that happens in our lives we are used to saying "Baruch Hashem this good thing happened", or "With Hashem's help we will succeed", or even in times of mourning we realize that "Hashem gave and Hashem took, may His name be blessed." This is the mainstay of our existence and helps us through life's vicissitudes. To suddenly have that carpet pulled from under our feet and to realize that whatever happens now is purely random and up to the whims of those surrounding us is quite a scary thought. This is much more of a punishment than receiving a "slap in the face", which although it may sting, at least it reflects Hashem's concern for us.
And on a national scale too, this seems to disregard all those prophecies and statements of Chazal that reflect the exile as a direct punishment from Hashem, with precise accuracy of mida keneged mida – meting out justice in accordance with the crime. One case in point is found in Vayikra (26:34) אָז תִּרְצֶה הָאָרֶץ אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ כֹּל יְמֵי הֳשַׁמָּה וְאַתֶּם בְּאֶרֶץ אֹיְבֵיכֶם אָז תִּשְׁבַּת הָאָרֶץ וְהִרְצָת אֶת שַׁבְּתֹתֶיהָ The length of the exile will be exactly equal to the number of Shemita years that the nation failed to allow the land to rest. Here we see Hashem's hand directly involved in the exile! How then does hester panim fit into the picture?
The answer is presented in the next Shiur
Rabbi Hillel Maizels
The Rabbi of Kehillat Ohel Efraim in the city of Ariel of "Bet Shalom" Shul in the Ariel University.
The Seven Weeks of Condolence Is Redemption Fixed or Flexible
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 1
The Seven Weeks of Condolence God's Punishment and Comfort are our Support
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 4
The Seven Weeks of Condolence Does G-d Care About Us
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 5
The Seven Weeks of Condolence Rebuilding Jerusalem
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 3
The Seven Weeks of Condolence Rebuilding Jerusalem
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 3
The Seven Weeks of Condolence Kibutz Galuyot and Self Hatred
Shiv'a de-Nechemta: The Philosophy of Comfort and Redemption - 2
Rabbis in Midrash
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Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 9 - "Seeing is Believing" (parag. 21-30)
These paragraphs elaborate on the theme that seeing and knowing is better than any attempt to prove logically, and begins explaining the difference between Israel and gentiles.
Ein Aya Various Universal Stages of the Geula Process
Rav Kook examines the various stages of redemption, explaining how (in addition to the obvious oft-mentioned stages of ingathering the exiles, reviving the Hebrew language, army, state etc.) the messianic dream of world prosperity, the State of Israel and world unity can and are realistically and logically gradually coming true.
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 8- "Answering Questions on the Kuzari's Proof from Mass Revelation
How do we know that the "claim" of mass revelation to 2,000,000 witnesses at Mt. Sinai is really true? This important class answers all of the questions skeptics ask about this claim of the Kuzari.
Ein Aya Armies Still Necessary for Balance & the War Against Wars
Rav Kook explains why the world was originally divided into the various seemingly contradicting ideologies and cultures, in order to develop each one respectively. Swords or armies symbolize how each respective ideology defends themselves, as well as deters their opposing ideologies and cultures. On the other hand, the messianic era will be one of peace, and Rav Kook explains the transition to that stage, which mankind is already undergoing.
The Land of Israel LGBT'S IN ISRAEL
The question was asked, how can one make Aliyah with the LGBT parades?
Kuzari -Rabbi Ari Shvat Kuzari class 7 - Five Accumulative Proofs of G-d
As a preparation for the Kuzari's classic proof of G-d from the mass-revelation at Sinai, we start here with 5 other directions to strengthen our belief which also contribute to what the Kuzari will present as well.
Ein Aya Muscle & Meaning: The Dual Nature of Gevurah (Physical Strength)
Is physical strength and fitness a necessity or an ideal? Although it if often totally overlooked among topics of Judaism, Rav Kook writes that it clearly is also a necessity to deter the many enemies of Israel, but even in Y'mot HaMashiach, in the Messianic era, to a certain extent, it's ideal continues even after our enemies will have been finished off.
