For thousands of years, Jews read passages from this week's Haftarah and waited. On Shabbat morning, after reading from the Torah, they again read these stirring passages from the Prophet Jeremiah .
Jerusalem is in the midst of the Babylonian siege. These are the last days before the destruction of the city. The Prophet Jeremiah, who had been thrown into prison, is commanded by G-d to do something that makes no sense: to buy a field in the nearby city of Anatot.
Jeremiah responds by drawing up a bill of sale, gathering witnesses, and executing the real estate transaction, despite the horribly dark realization that the nation is going into exile. And then, in that very moment of impending doom, Jeremiah makes an astonishing statement: "Houses and vineyards shall again be purchased in this land." (Jeremiah 32:15)
Two thousand years have passed and you are invited to check the prices of real estate in Jerusalem, to look at the cranes and new buildings going up in its neighborhoods, to walk in its beautiful alleyways -- and to discover that Jeremiah was right. Houses and fields and vineyards are being purchased in this land.
This chapter in our history gave hope to those reading about it for generations. It is an expression of the incredible potential of our people, both collectively and individually, that is now coming to fruition. Just as in the past, positive developments that today seem to make no sense can occur all of a sudden. And just as this prophecy of Jeremiah has been fulfilled, others will be fulfilled as well. It's possible. Ultimately, it's actually essential, although we cannot see at the moment how the future will unfold, as G-d says to Jeremiah a few verses later: "Behold, I am the Lord, the G-d of all flesh. Is anything concealed from Me?" (Jeremiah 32:27)
May we continue to see prophecies fulfilled. Shavuah Tov
1 comment:
Not the one you read. I'm in chu"l.
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