************************************************************** THE TANACH STUDY CENTER www.tanach.org In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag Shiurim in Chumash & Navi by Menachem Leibtag ************************************************************** For TISHA B’AV / Two shiurim HAFTARA - Questions for self study The following questions focus on the Haftara that we read on Tisha B'av morning from Sefer Yirmiyahu 8:13-9:23. 'Knowing' God 1.You are probably familiar with the concluding psukim of the Haftara: Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom Let not the strong man glory in his strength Let not the rich man glory in his wealth - But - only in this should one glory: Haskel v'ya'doah oti - he should use his wisdom to know me! For I the Lord act with chessed, mishpat, and tzedaka [kindness, justice, and charity (or equity)], for it is these traits that I desire - says the Lord. (see 9:22-23) Based on these psukim alone, what is the connection between knowing God and these three traits? Is God 'boasting' about His own traits? What is the difference between haskel and ya'doah? 2. Where is the first time that we find the Hebrew root [shoresh] of "yud.daled.ayin" in Chumash. [If (or when) you give up, try Breishit 2:10, 3:5-6 (note "haskel" as well) and especially 4:1.] How does each use of this verb relate to a relationship, and the intensity of that relationship? How would this background help explain why Yirmiyahu suggests that there is a mitzvah to know God (see 9:23)? 3. Review Breishit 18:17-24. Recall how this story relates to the birth of Yitzchak and the destruction of Sdom and Amora. Pay special attention to 18:19. What does the phrase "ki yi'daativ l'maan..." imply? How does this relate to the mention of tzedaka and mishpat later on in this pasuk? [How does it relate to the word "ayda'ah" in 18:21?] Does this pasuk discuss a 'relationship' between God and Avraham Avinu (and his offspring)? If so, what is the nature of that relationship? In your opinion, how does this pasuk relate to Yirmiyahu 9:22- 23? Does this pasuk in Yirmiyahu relate in any way to the prophecy of the destruction of a city? Does the pasuk in Breishit have anything to do with the destruction of a city? [Note Yirmiyahu 9:10/ 8:4-12, as well as 8:13-23.] 4. Review Yeshayahu chapter 1 (last week's Haftara). Note the use of the word "yadah" in 1:2-3. Does this chapter speak of destruction? Does this chapter compare Am Yisrael to Sdom and Amora? [Note 1:9-10.] Does this chapter speak of tzedek & mishpat? [Note 1:16-27!] 5. In what manner is Sdom 'antithetical' to Yerushalayim? Relate to the story of Avraham and Lot in Breishit chapter 13! Note as well Avraham's attitude towards the King of Sdom in chapter 14! See Yechezkel 16:46-50. According to these psukim, what was the primary sin of Sdom? How does this relate to the above questions? 6. Return now to the Haftara of Tisha B'av, and read 9:1-8. How does this relate to the above questions? How does this relate to Yirmiyahu's concluding statement in 9:22-23? Note especially 9:5 and the use of the word "daat"! Relate this to questions #1 and #2 above! Relate as well to Yirmiyahu 8:4-12. 7. To see how this theme continues in Yirmiyahu, see also 21:11, 22:1-5, 22:13-17 - especially 22:15-16 and its definition of what it means to 'know God'! See also 23:5-6, noting again the verb "haskel". See also 23:14-15, noting again Sdom & Amora. 8. Finally, note a very similar theme in the famous "mashal ha'kerem" of Yeshayahu in 5:1-10, note the citing of the lack of "tzedek & mishpat" as the reason for destruction. Based on our study of Sefer Breishit in regard to the reason why God chose Avraham Avinu to become His special nation, and based on Devarim 4:5-8 (in Parshat ha'shavua), why do you think that it is specifically this sin that leads to God's decision to destroy the Mikdash and send Am Yisrael into Exile? 9. In regard to 'knowing' God, see also Micha 6:8 (and 2:1-2). Then see Hoshea 6:1-6. Note "daat Hashem" and "chessed". [You can also try Amos 4:1-11, noting 4:1 and 4:11.] [Note also how God's anger with "korbanot" is prominent in all of the above prophecies, and how they all relate to "churban".] 10. With this background, review the shiur on Zecharya chapters 7-8, noting how it reflects a similar theme (but on the redemption side). b'hatzlacha, Menachem ====== SHIUR for Tisha b'Av ************************************************************* THE TANACH STUDY CENTER [http://www.tanach.org] In Memory of Rabbi Abraham Leibtag ************************************************************* TISHA b’AV - The Four Fast Days Why do we fast on Tisha B'av? The primary answer, of course, is to remember the destruction of the Bet Ha'Mikdash and Yerushalayim. Yet, according to the Navi Zecharya, not only Tisha B'av, but all four of the fast days in which we remember Yerushalayim will one day take on an added dimension. In the following shiur, our study of Zecharya chapters 7- 8 will help us understand an important aspect of Tisha b’av which is especially relevant today, no less than it was over two thousand years ago. INTRODUCTION: HISTORICAL BACKGROUND Chagai & Zecharya, the two prophets who inspired the building of the Second Temple, lived during the time period which is better known as "shivat tzion" - the return to Zion. This important era of Jewish History begins with the famous decree of Cyrus (the first king of the Persian empire), allowing the Jews to return to Jerusalem to rebuild the Temple, after seventy years of Babylonian exile (see Ezra 1:1- 9). Unfortunately, that first effort to rebuild the Temple in Jerusalem was thwarted by the complaints of the local population (see Ezra 3:1-4:5). It was only some twenty years after their original return, when permission to build was finally granted by Darius (the Great), in the second year of his reign. In that very same year, both Chagai and Zecharya deliver their opening prophecies, encouraging the people that despite their rather pitiful predicament there was hope that this new Bet Ha'Mikdash would one day be greater than the first Bet Ha'Mikdash. [See Chagai chapters 1-2, Zecharya chapters 1-3.] During this time period of shivat tzion, many thousands of Jews had indeed returned to Zion (see Ezra chapter 2), however many thousands more remained in Bavel [later to be known as the ‘Jews of the Diaspora’]. THE BIG QUESTION Our shiur begins with a study of Zecharya chapter 7, a prophecy delivered in the fourth year of Darius (i.e. two years after construction of the Mikdash began), as a delegation of Jews from Bavel comes to Jerusalem to inquire in regard to a very important halachik question: "Ha’evkeh b’chodesh ha’chamishi - Shall we continue to weep in the fifth month (i.e. Tisha b'Av), do we abstain ourselves as we have been doing all these years?" [See Zecharya 7:1-3.] Their question is quite understandable. Since the time of destruction of the First Temple some seventy years earlier, the custom in Bavel had been to fast every year on Tisha B'av. Now, in the fourth year of Darius, as the construction of the new Temple is almost complete (it was finally completed in sixth year of Darius/ see Ezra 6:15), it may no longer be necessary to fast! Therefore, the delegation from Bavel inquires in order to inform the Jews of the Diaspora of the proper halacha, i.e. whether or not they need to continue fasting every year on Tisha B'av. A BETTER QUESTION, & A BETTER ANSWER For such a simple and logical question, we should expect a straightforward 'yes or no' answer. Instead, Zecharya fields this question with a complex prophetic answer, spanning two chapters. He begins [following an ancient Jewish custom] by answering their question with his own question: "[And God said to me:] Say to the people...When you fasted and lamented on the fifth and seventh months [i.e. Tisha b'Av and Tzum Gedalya] during the last seventy years, have I been fasting?! And when you eat and drink (not on a fast day), is it not you who decides to eat or drink?!" (7:4-6) Note how God’s answer appears to be quite rhetorical, implying that they have reached the 'wrong address'. In other words, this prophecy implies that Am Yisrael should not be asking God concerning the laws of the fast days. After all, the fast days are not God's commands, rather they are customs instituted by the people themselves in order to remember Yerushalayim. Just as the people decide when and what they eat, let them decide on their own when they should fast. In any case, this is not a question for God to answer. However, in case the people are truly interested in God's opinion in regard to the rebuilding of the Second Temple, Zechayra takes this opportunity to relay God's primary message -but note that it has nothing to do with fasting: "Pay attention to the very same things which the earlier prophets [had warned your forefathers] when Jerusalem and its surrounding areas were populated and tranquil [i.e. during the good years of first Temple period]... Execute true justice, deal loyally and compassionately with one another. Do not defraud a widow, orphan, stranger, or poor man, and do not plot evil against one another."(7:7- 10) God's answer is very powerful, for in it, He reads ‘between the lines’ of their original question. If the people are fasting on Tisha B'av, it is not only to remember what happened to Yerushalayim, but more important, it is to remember why the Temple was destroyed. God takes this opportunity to remind Bnei Yisrael that the Mikdash was destroyed because or their behavior, for they did not follow the guidance of their prophets. In a nutshell, God's answer is quite simple: He is not interested in their fasting. More important is that the people follow His laws properly, especially those of social justice, and not repeat the sins of their forefathers. Implicit from prophecy of Zecharya is the reason why the first Bet ha'Mikdash was destroyed: God's anger was kindled primarily due to both a lack of social justice and a lack of fraternity within Am Yisrael (and not necessarily due to religious impiety). [See for example Yirmiyahu 7:8-11, 7:21-23, 8:4-9, 9:1-8,22- 23 (that's in the Haftara for Tisha B'av!) A similar theme repeats itself throughout the Later Prophets, "v'akmal". The ‘classic answer’ that the first Bet Ha’Mikdash was destroyed due to the sins of idol worship, murder, and “arayot” etc. is based on the Gemara in Yoma 9b and the puskim in Melachim II chapter 21 in regard to God’s decision to destroy the First Temple due to the sins during the time period of Menashe. However to reconcile these two sources requires a complete shiur.] WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE QUESTION Zecharya’s prophecy implies that the primary reason for fasting on Tisha B'av should be to remember why Jerusalem was destroyed. In the prophet's eyes, it would be meaningless to fast simply to remember what happened. Instead, God is interested that we remember why those tragic events took place. Should a group come to ask for prophetic guidance, Zecharya would rather hear questions in the like of: 'What should we do assure that God's redemption will be complete? What does God expect from us?' Zecharya would rather the people become 'participants' in the process of redemption, rather than 'spectators'. With this backdrop, we can better appreciate how Zecharya continues this prophecy. First, he reminds the people that even though God had punished their forefathers with Jerusalem's destruction for not listening (see 7:11-14), now they must recognize that a new opportunity has arisen: "Thus says the Lord: I am very zealous for Zion... I have returned to Yerushalayim, for it will be called Ir Ha’emet - the city of emet - truth, and the mountain of God – Har Ha’kodesh - the mountain of holiness... (see 8:1-3) Just as God had gone out of His way to punish Jerusalem, now He is going out of His way to help rebuild Jerusalem, but on the condition that it become a city of truth. God can only provide the opportunity, it is up to people to make Jerusalem a city of truth! [Note how this pasuk implies that God’s return to Jerusalem is dependant upon Am Yisrael’s ability to make Jerusalem a city of justice – a very important ‘proviso’.] A HINT FOR THE DIASPORA Note, that up until this point, God has not answered the delegation itself. Instead, He has taken the opportunity to address the entire nation (see 7:5) regarding the ultimate goal of this redemption, i.e. that Jerusalem become a city characterized by social justice (8:1-3), and the hope that it will soon return to political and economic maturity as well (see 8:4-6). This is followed by what appears to be a message as well for the Jews in the Diaspora: "Thus says the Lord: I will rescue My people from lands of the east and from the lands of west, and I will bring them home to dwell in Jerusalem. They shall be My people, and I will be their God, [on the condition of] in truth and righteousness - b'emet u'b'tzdaka" (see 8:7-8) It could be that Zecharya is 'hinting' here to the Diaspora that instead of worrying about whether or not to fast on Tisha B'av, they should be considering their own return to Tzion, to help their brethren create a Jerusalem of emet u'tzdaka, [but this interpretation may be a bit too zionistic]. This hope for the ingathering of all the Exile in Zecharya's prophecy continues with the hope for a better economy and future prosperity (see 8:9-13). Finally, after repeating His claim that He is eager to help the redemption of His people (8:14-15), God summarizes His advice concerning how this redemption will be achieved: "These are the things that you must do: Speak truth to one another, emet u’mishpat shalom shiftu b’shareichem - render true and perfect justice in your gates. And do not contrive evil against one another, and do not love perjury, for all these things I hate - declares the Lord" (8:16-17) BACK TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION Now, after charging the people with His true hopes and expectations from this generation of shivat tzion, God finally answers the original question in regard to the future of Tisha B'av and the other fast days for Jerusalem: "Thus says the Lord: The fast of the fourth month (17th Tamuz), the fast of the fifth month (Tisha B'av), the fast of the seventh month (Tzum Gedalya), and the fast of the tenth month (10th of Tevet), shall become for the House of Judah days of joy and gladness – happy festivals - [on the condition that] you must love and follow – emet v'shalom - truth and peace. " (8:18-19) [compare emet v'shalom with 7:9, 8:3 & 8:16] God declares that should Am Yisrael fulfill their destiny and establish a nation characterized by justice & truth, there will no longer be any reason to fast. Instead, these fast days will become holidays. [See Further Iyun section for an explanation why they actually become holidays.]. THE MESSIANIC DREAM Zecharya finishes his prophecy with an even higher aspiration concerning the future of the Second Temple: "Thus says the Lord: A time will still come when the inhabitants of many lands and great nations will come and gather in Yerushalayim to seek and find God's favor..." (see 8:20-23) Zecharya's concluding words echo the hope of Yeshayahu's famous prophecy concerning the ultimate goal for the nation of Israel. [See Isaiah 2:1-4 (& Micha 4:1-5), see also the parallel 'partial quote' at entrance to the United Nations Bldg.] The reason for this conclusion is quite simple. Should Am Yisrael truly set up this ideal society of emet v'shalom, tzedek u'mishpat, then the Bet Ha'Mikdash can fulfill its ultimate purpose to become a beacon by which all nations can find the proper path to God. [See also Devarim 4:5-8 & I Melachim 8:41-43!] ZECHARYA TODAY Although Zecharya's prophecy to the founding fathers of "bayit sheni" (the Second Temple) was in response to a question raised some 2500 years ago, it is no less (and maybe even more) meaningful today, as we are in the midst of a redemption process whose direction is not clear. If there is prophetic message for Tisha B'av today, which can be agreed upon by every Jew, "chiloni" or "dati"; Orthodox, Conservative, or Reform; in Israel or in the Diaspora - it is that of Zecharya chapters 7-8. If there is a prophecy that recognizes all the realities of a 'less than perfect' geulah (redemption) process, yet shows the first step in the path to achieve its highest goals - it is the nevuah of Zecharya. If there is a prophecy which can unite Am Yisrael today, and set us in the proper direction so that next year it will no longer be necessary to fast on Tisha B'av - it is this nevuah of Zecharya. "Tzom kal", Menachem ========================== FOR FURTHER IYUN A. Regarding why the fast days will one day become holidays, Rav Yaakov Meidan, (in a shiur on 10 b'Tevet many years ago), suggested that each fast day actually contains a potential holiday: 17th of Tamuz Had Bnei Yisrael not sinned at "chet ha'egel", then on the 17th of Tamuz, Bnei Yisrael would have received the luchot and the rest of the Torah! In potential, this could have been a holiday similar to Simchat Torah. 9th Av Had Bnei Yisrael not sinned at "chet ha'meraglim", then on the day after the meraglim returned - the 9th of Av - Bnei Yisrael would have begun their conquest of Eretz Canaan. In potential, this could have been a holiday similar to Yom Atzmaut! Tzum Gedalya From the account in Yirmiyahu chapter 41, it seems that Gedalya was assassinated on Rosh Ha'shana. We fast on 3 Tishrei because we can't fast on Yom Tov. Rosh Ha'shana already is a holiday, when we 'celebrate' God's Creation of the world. 10 Tevet This one is bit more complicated, and requires an entire shiur to explain why. Iy"h, next year before 10 Tevet. B. In our shiur on Megillat Esther (if you didn't save it, it's downloadable from the web site), we mentioned how several passages in Megillat Esther may have based on the prophecies of Zecharya. With the above shiur as a background, it should be easier to appreciate those points in that shiur, especially in regard to the manner in which Mordechi instituted that we celebrate Purim. C. In the above shiur, Zecharya explained that the churban of the first bet ha'Mikdash was due to a lack of social justice and what seems to be "sinat chinam". Usually, we remember the Midrash that claims that Bayit Rishon was due to 'idolatry, murder, & arayot', while Bayit Sheni was due to "sinat chinam". To support that Midrash, see II Melachim chapter 21, which explains God's verdict of destruction of Bayit Rishon in the time period of Menashe. Had Menashe not performed teshuva, the destruction may have taken place at that time, however his repentance as well as the reform of his grandson Yoshiyahu delayed the destruction. [See II Divrei Ha'yamim chapters 33- 36 for a more complete understanding of this time period.] The final destruction came during the time period of Tzidkiyahu. This is a complicated sugya. Iy"h we'll deal with in detail on the series on Nviim Rishonim which will begin iy"h this year in Elul. In any case, as we saw in the above shiur, the nviim also speak of "sinat achim" during the time period of "bayit rishon" as well. Note especially the story of Gedalya ben Achikam in Yirmiyahu chapters 40-43. See also Yoma 9b, concerning the difference between the sins of the people during "bayit rishon" and "bayit sheni".