Zion Redeemed - Devarim 5785

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“Zion shall be redeemed through justice and her penitent through Tzedakah (translated as  righteousness or charity).” (Isaiah 1:27.)  These are the closing words of the Haftorah that we read this week, on “Shabbat Chazon.”  This is the name given to the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, the day of the destruction of both Holy Temples.  It is named Shabbat Chazon  referring to the first word of the Haftorah, “Chazon Yeshayahu,” Isaiah’s prophetic vision of the destruction of the Holy Temple.  


The verse can be translated on a basic level.  The prophet is saying that after the destruction and the terrible tragedy and suffering of the exile, eventually (v. 24, 26) “I will avenge Myself of My foes... And I will restore your judges as at first and your counselors as in the beginning; afterwards you shall be called City of Righteousness, Faithful City.”  Then Isaiah adds that Zion, referring to the Holy Temple in Jerusalem, and its penitents (or another translation: its captives) will be redeemed from its sins and the darkness of exile through justice and Tzedakah.


There is a deeper, mystical interpretation.  Zion refers to the essence of our soul, known as “Yechida” - one with Hashem.  Our Neshama is rooted in the essence of Hashem, and descends through the many worlds until it is clothed in a body.  The purpose is to elevate and cleanse the physical body, and the world around us, through the spirit of our soul.  But meanwhile, the soul is “in exile” in a very unspiritual body and world.  Our constant experience is the physical, and it takes a lot of hard work, study and contemplation to recognize the soul and the spirit that is not seen with the naked eye.


This exile in which the soul, the part of Hashem, finds itself often overwhelms us, and instead of transforming the world and the body we get overwhelmed by it.  This can be on many levels, but even the most spiritual person is still limited by the physical restraints of the body.  


The prophet is teaching us how to return from exile, how to have the essence of our soul, the part of Hashem, express itself in our lives.  Rather than trying to meditate all day and try to get involved in all kinds of mystical movements that claim to connect us to our soul, the answer is straightforward:  It’s through justice and charity.  Justice, in this context, refers to the study of Torah, which teaches us how to live a just life, and charity is literally to give charity to the poor and to support Torah learning and teaching and Jewish life.


The ultimate connection to Hashem comes from following His commandments.  The Mishna says “the reward of a Mitzvah is a Mitzvah.” (Avot 4:2)  Chassidus explains this based on the root of the word Mitzvah, related to “Tzavta” which means connection.  The reward of a Mitzvah is connection to Hashem.  Mystical pursuits are fine, but the ultimate purpose of creation is for us to make the physical world a home for Hashem, and that is accomplished by observing a Mitzvah - a practical, straightforward physical act like Tzedakah.  Torah study is a Mitzvah that is considered equal to all the Mitzvot, because it is only through Torah study that we know how to observe the Mitzvot.  (There are more reasons but they are beyond the scope of this writing.)


So we have two explanations for the verse “Zion shall be redeemed...”  The way to express the essence of our souls, our personal “Zion,” is through Torah study and Tzedakah, and the way to achieve the redemption of the world is also by observing the Mitzvah of Tzedakah and Torah study.  Both are interrelated:  The more we express our essential soul, the more we affect the world and bring closer the redemption.


It is therefore appropriate, and we are strongly encouraged by the Torah, to increase our Torah study and Tzedakah during this mourning period of the first days of Av.  This means, simply stated, that each of us should spend more time studying Torah, ideally with special emphasis on the laws of building the Temple, for example here, and giving additional charity, either directly to the poor or to a Jewish charitable organization.


May our efforts to increase the light of Torah and righteousness and goodness in the world brng closer the coming redemption, when the Holy Temple will be rebuilt, and the day of Tisha B’Av will be transformed to a day of great joy as we all celebrate the fully rebuilt city Zion and Jerusalem.


For information about the observances of Tisha B’Av, please see here.  For a wonderful experience of Torah learning that will make a real, lasting difference in your life, I encourage you to attend the Marin Summer Yeshiva, led by some of the greatest Torah leaders of our time.

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