This Shabbat we read the first of the three Haftarot of
affliction which are read between the 17th of Tamuz (the day that
the walls of
the First and Second Temples).
The Haftara from Yirmiyahu 1:1-19, 2:1-3 describes the
consequences that would be visited upon
sinfulness.
The famous verse (Yirmiyahu 1:14) “…Out of the north the
evil shall break forth upon the inhabitants of the land” is as relevant today
as it was in the days of Yirmiyahu.
The name of the northern country that will attack Israel is
not specified here or in Yirmiyahu 4:6 “Set up the standard toward Zion: seek
cover, stay not: for I will bring evil from the north and a great destruction”
or in Yirmiyahu 6:1 “O children of Binyamin, flee for safety out if the midst
of Yerushalayim and blow the shofar of Tekoa and set up a beacon in Bet
HaKerem: for evil appears out of the north and great destruction.”
The wording is ambiguous on purpose to foreshadow what will
happen in the future as well. In the days of Yirmiyahu the enemy was
Nevuchadnezar the king of Bavel (Babylonia) who destroyed the
Yet throughout the ages different enemies from different
countries came from the north to try to destroy us.
Today,
is preparing their weapons in the event that they will have to fight with ISIS
(Islamic State of Iraq and
ISIS has control of territory occupied by ten million people in
both countries are to the north of
In addition, it was reported that the president of
holiday of Qods Day,
should shout its hatred of
The prophecies of destruction continue to haunt us. However,
we must focus on the end of the Haftara, a positive statement from Yirmiyahu
2:2-3 “…I remember for your sake the kindness of your youth, the love of your
bridal days, your following Me in the wilderness, in a land not sown.
guilt, evil shall come upon them- the word of God.”
Just as the Jewish nation followed God into the desert, the
Jews again have trusted in God and against all odds have returned to the
in God we don’t have anything to fear.
