In this week’s portion, Ki Tavo (When you come into the land…), the Israelites are told that the first fruits should be brought to God. God also tells the people that if they follow God’s rules and precepts they will be rewarded, but if they do not follow the rules set before them, they will be severely punished.
The torah portion continues Moses’ narrative as he is preparing himself and the Israelites for his eventual death. Like a parent, Moses reminds them over and over of their obligations to God and as a nation to each other.
On Shabbat not only do we read this torah portion, but we also read a haftarah—one of the readings from the prophets—from the Book of Isaiah. From Tisha B’Av (the Ninth day of the month of Av) when we recall the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem until Rosh HaShanah, every Shabbat we read a portion of the Book of Isaiah. These seven readings from Isaiah, are known as the “Sheva de-Nechamta” (The Seven Haftarot of Consolation). The Shabbat after Tisha B’Av, Isaiah tells us “Nachamu, Nachamu…Comfort, comfort my people…” Week after week the Haftarah portions remind us that God will offer comfort and these messages crescendo in their message and urgency until the week before Rosh Hashanah when the prophet Isaiah states: “I greatly rejoiced in the Lord.”
This week’s Haftarah has words that may be familiar, as they are echoed in the song “L’cha dodi” that we sing to welcome Shabbat into our homes and lives. The words say:
“Arise, shine (Jerusalem) for your light has come, the gory of the Eternal is upon you!”
Isaiah says to the people of Jerusalem that although they have experienced destruction and devastation, God will be with you.
As we approach Rosh Hashanah, we may heed Isaiah’s message: we have been through an exceedingly difficult six months. We have been quarantined in our homes, we have been separated from friends and family, our lives have been turned upside down and inside out by this pandemic. But we still persevere. We have found our way, we have developed new routines, and eventually we will walk out of this seemingly never-ending wilderness into some sort of Promised Land.
This year’s Rosh Hashanah will be unlike any Rosh Hashanah any of us have ever experienced. We will be apart -even if we are together. But we are still a community and when the shofar blasts the great Tekiah Gedolah—this year we most sincerely pray for a New Year filled with peace, blessing, sustenance, and most importantly, a year filled with health.
Shabbat Shalom.
Cantor Evan Kent