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What is the connection between Yeshaya’s prophecy from the time of King Chizkiya and the story of Bnei Yisrael’s enslavement many hundreds of years earlier? Rashi explains that the prophecy was intended to comfort Bnei Yisrael, reminding them how Hashem took a small group of people and rooted them in Egypt until they became comparable to the produce that covers the world. According to this, "haba’im" refers to the 70 descendants of Yaakov who descended to Egypt.
The Radak explains that the pasuk is referring to the time of the coming of Mashiach, when our nation will blossom. Israel, which has been without roots in exile, will return home and be rooted, on the bottom, and will flower, on the top. According to this approach, "haba’im" refers to the days that are to come.
The Malbim has a third approach. The pasuk is explaining the significance of the Nation of Israel, from where they stem, and what they have undergone to get to where they are. Yeshaya compared the remnants of the nation, after the great losses it suffered at the hands of the enemy, to a vine that was destroyed above ground, but its roots were intact. From those roots, it was rejuvenated and flowered. According to the Malbim, "habaim" is the growth of the vine that grew from the roots of what appeared as a dried up, hopeless plant.
In our days it is possible to see how all three explanations complement each other. In Egypt, after Yosef’s death, the descendants of Yaakov may have been tempted to give up hope of liberation, but Moshe was sent to inform them that its time had come. The few that had turned into many but had been enslaved, would blossom. So too, Yeshaya told the people of his time that they would survive the onslaught of the Assyrians, which had ravaged so much of the country, like their predecessors had survived the enslavement in Egypt.
Some 70 years ago, a large part of our nation was destroyed. Entire communities were obliterated. Two from a city and one from a community survived. One might have thought that there would be no restoration. The answer: "Israel will bud and blossom." After millennia of exile, liberation seemed impossible. However, our generation merited to see that there is always hope and that Hashem keeps His promises. The dry roots and the dead bones were resurrected. Rashi, the Radak, and the Malbim are all right. May we merit seeing the complete liberation.
Rabbis in Midrash
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P'ninat Mishpat A Non-Contractor in Changing Times – part II
(based on ruling 85128 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Moreshet Shaul Hashem Is your Shadow – part II
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 420 – an address from 1941
Parashat Hashavua Happiness for the Right Reasons
[With painful longing, we share these divrei Torah from our co-Rosh Kollel for close to 40 years, Harav Moshe Ehrenreich zt”l.]
Israel and the Nations A Few Minutes & Many Innovative Ideas on Antisemitism & What to do About It
As we approach the High Holidays, this short lecture (18 minutes) deals with the unfortunate situation of how Israel and the Jewish People stand against antisemitism, analyzing its cause according to Rav Kook, and how to deal with the issue pragmatically & via our prayers.
Ha'azinu PURSUIT is PERFECTION
p. Ha'azinu, Shabbat Shuva
Rav Kook deals with the question of the seemingly hopeless nature of Tshuva. For G-d Himself knows that He created us with free will, which inevitably means we will sometimes make mistakes and choose wrong. This can easily be frustrating, freezing us into inaction and ye'ush (loss of hope). If one sins even once, does he chalila have no choice but suicide?! Moreover, our Godly conscience demands justice, righteousness and perfection, but we all know this is impossible, so what's the solution? Rav Kook's innovative thinking, strongly based on chazal (our sages), offers an inciteful and important aspect to this topic, especially this time of year!
Sukkot Bug-Free Sukkah: Essential Halachic and Practical Schach Guide
How to inspect, clean, and store bamboo mats and palm branches to protect your mitzvah and holiday meals.
