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What happened in the meantime? Later in our haftara, Yeshayahu said: "Woe unto me for nidmeiti" (Yeshayahu 6:5). The expression nidmeiti is found only this one time in Tanach, and so it is not surprising that many meanings have been suggested. Targum Yonatan posits that it means that he was worthy of rebuke, although the etymological connection is hard to discern (perhaps for this reason, Rashi does not cite it). Rashi explains that Yeshayahu felt that he should die because he saw the "face of the Divine Presence" (Shoftim 13:22). He supports this idea with the fact that Manoach thought he would die for seeing something divine and from the fact that in Tzefania (1:11) the root is used as a parallel to nichrat (uprooted). The Radak agrees with Rashi regarding content, although he brings an etymological connection from elsewhere (Hoshea 10:15).
The Pesikta (Pesikta Rabbati 33) says that nidmeiti is from the root damom (like the word dumiya) and expounds as follows: "I saw things that are impossible to see and still live, and yet I saw and did live. Should I not have added my praise to that of the ministerial angels?! If I had joined my praise with theirs, I would have lived forever like them. How could it be that I was silent?" According to this approach, this silence was behind a failure that we will soon discuss.
According to this approach, it is possible that Yeshayahu was so shaken by the power of what he saw (the divine revelation of the ma’aseh hamerkava) that he was unable to speak. We find a similar phenomenon regarding Yechezkel, who, after his initial prophecy, was told: "I will glue your tongue to your pallet, and you will be mute" (Yechezkel 3:26). There is little option but to say that Yeshayahu was silent during this whole time due to the unprecedented prophecy of the ma’aseh hamerkava. Amos began prophesying two years before the ra’ash (literally, earthquake) (see Amos 1:1), and almost his whole prophecy was focused on it. He describes the ra’ash with similar words to those of Yeshayahu, and proclaims, "I have seen Hashem" (ibid. 9:1). This vision concludes his book and perhaps his period as a prophet, due to the awe-stricken silence it brought on. We find something similar regarding Michayahu (Melachim I, 22:19).
Therefore, we can summarize that sometimes the silence of prophets is a natural response to the loftiness of their prophetic vision. Let us pray that we will all internalize that "there is a time to be silent and a time to speak" (Kohelet 3:7). (An expansion of this theme can be found in my book Tzofnat Yeshayahu.)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Rabbis in Midrash
Lessons
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P'ninat Mishpat P'ninat Mishpat: Complaints about Contractor’s Work – part II
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
(based on ruling 83037.1 of the Eretz Hemdah-Gazit Rabbinical Courts)
Chemdat Yamim Moreshet Shaul: Twin Foundations
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
Based on Siach Shaul, Pirkei Machshava V’Hadracha p. 690
D'varim Judaism’s Social Vision
Re’eh
Giving is more than an act of generosity—it is an essential part of human dignity that belongs to everyone, rich and poor alike. The ultimate goal of help is to empower others to stand on their own.
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.
