A Special Vision

BH

This Shabbat, the one immediately preceeding Tish’ah B’Av (9th of Av)* is titled Shabbat Chazon – A Shabbat of Vision. The word, and title, come from the first verse of the Haftarah; “The vision of Isaiah the son of Amoz, which he saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem” .

The haftorah is the third of a series of three "haftarot of affliction." These three haftarot are read during the “Three Weeks” period** between the fasts of 17 Tammuz and the upcoming 9 Av.

Isaiah speaks to the Jewish people regarding a G-dly vision he experienced, chastising the residents of Judah and Jerusalem for having rebelled against G d, criticizing them for repeating their errors and not abandoning their sinful ways. He uses pretty harsh terminology to relay his message. He compares the Jewish leaders to the rulers of the evil Sodom and Gomorrah.

Isaiah then changes tone, calmly encouraging the people to repent and to perform acts of goodness and kindness towards the needy, orphans and widows. The haftorah concludes with a promise that G d will eventually reestablish Israel's judges and leaders, when "Zion shall be redeemed through justice and her penitents through righteousness."

The first verse of the haftarah speaks of a vision. What does it mean to be visionary? What does it mean to have a vision for your life and pursuits?

At its face value, it means to develop goals and objectives; it means taking future potential into consideration and aiming for a specific goal. It is the realization that there “is more to it” than what we see now. "Now" is the reality; but “vision” can alter the way it is perceived. Vision brings excitement and focus.

The problem is that with the time, dreaming becomes more difficult for the realistic person. Disappointments will catch up to you and take its due toll. That raises the question; At what point do we realize that our “focus” and “goals” are really just dreams?

Answer: Never!

A brighter future is always to remain our priority! Of course, we must take realism and actuality into consideration, but none of that discounts a better tomorrow! Consider this: Our Holy Temple, along with our entire Jewish Commonwealth, was destroyed by the Romans almost two thousand years ago.

It's been rough ever since, and we're fully aware of our reality. Every year, on the fast of Tisha B'Av, the 9th of Av, we mournfully remember the destruction and recognize the pain we are currently in. Yet, the Shabbat right before is called "Shabbat of Vision," referencing the “vision of Isaiah" regarding the destruction of the Holy Temple.

Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, an eighteenth century Chassidic master, taught us that the title "Shabbat of Vision" actually refers to the literal vision of the future that G-d gives on the Shabbat before our day of mourning. We are shown a vision of a rebuilt Temple, a reconstituted People and better world.

We are better prepared to mourn, knowing our hope – our Vision – never dies. The “Shabbat of Vision” assures that our recognition of "now" doesn't beat our hope for the future. Of course, you know well that I can’t see this Divinely-granted vision with my own physical eyes; but if G d's showing it to me, it must be resonating somewhere in my soul.

So this Shabbat, I'll prepare to tackle reality on Tisha B'Av by first searching myself to find G d's vision of a beautiful future.

Will you join me?

*Tish’ah B’Av – the 9th of Av is a fast day and day of mourning for the destruction of the Holy Temple and the exile of Israel. We abstain from eating, drinking, bathing, the wearing of leather shoes and marital relations. The fast is observed from sundown on the 8th of Av until nightfall of the 9th. It is customary to sit on the floor, or low rising seat until miday of the 9th. We refrain from Torah Study unless it references laws of mourning or the destruction of the Temple. Teffilin are worn in the afternoon as opposed to the morning like usual. For more information regarding Tish’ah B’Av, please visit, www.chabad.org/697770

**The “Three Weeks” period marks a time of mourning over the destruction of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem. It is observed from the fast of the Seventeeth of Tammuz until the fast of the Ninth of Av. To learn more about this period, please visit, www.chabad.org/144558