CHANGING PERSPECTIVE
This week we will read the fifth Haftorah of the prophet Yeshayahu consoling his people over their impending galus. They were told of all kinds of horrible punishments that were awaiting them in galus. From the Tochacha of the Torah and from the prophecies of Yishayhu and Yirmiyahu we knew that a very unpleasant journey lay ahead of us.
In response to that anticipated journey, Yeshayahu gives us a consolation that will tide us over until the coming of Moshiach.
These words were meant for the people of his time as well as the entire nation that would follow the exile, including us today. We are not so far away from the most recent churban of World War II and we know how absolutely devastating that churban was. The words of Yeshayahu were also meant to give us consolation for that most recent tragedy. When contemplating the Holocaust it almost seems irreverent to accept any type of consolation. However, Yeshayahu did offer it so let us attempt to glean some insight from his consolation.
Before we make this attempt it is important to appreciate that the word ‘nechama’, which means consolation, derives from ‘hinacheim’ which means to change one’s mind. The connection of those two words offer an insight into how one is able to become consoled.
Whenever a tragic event occurs which brings despair and anxiety to the subject there is always another perspective that could switch the reaction of the subject. So many survivors from the Holocaust turned their backs on G.D and nobody can judge them. And at the same time and the very same circumstances, there were many survivors who became so dedicated to HaShem through their survival. Much of Torah that was built in America after the War was built by the dedication of these survivors. How do we explain the dichotomy between the different reactions of their common experience?
The answer lies in their perspective. The former saw a G.D filled with vengeance who cared only for destruction. The latter saw HaShem filled with mercy and kindness Who cared enough to save him.
Perhaps we can find Yeshayahu’s shift in perspective through which we will be consoled. The prophet says to his people in the Name of HaShem; “in one short moment I distanced you and with tremendous mercy, I will gather in your exiles. With a small amount of anger, I removed My Presence from you for just a short moment and with eternal goodness that never ends I will have mercy upon you.”
Yeshayahu contrasts the degree of the anger and the duration of the anger to the degree and the duration of the subsequent redemption. The anger was small and very short-lived as opposed to the kindness which will be great and will endure to eternity.
The image of a nightmare comes to mind when reading the words of Yeshayahu. While the person is in the middle of his nightmare, it is very real. There is real pain, despair and anxiety during the dream. However, once he wakes up and realizes that it was only a dream he is relieved. Why? During the moments of the dream there was real pain, there was real despair and anguish. The answer is that once he awakes and realizes how it was only a passing moment there is no need to fret over it.
Once Eliyahu announces the arrival of Moshiach, a clarity will fill the world as to what was the purpose of the destruction of Europe. We will see the great salvation that came to us as a result of that destruction. However, we will still be left with the expensive price for which we paid for that salvation; the millions of our people and the thousands of communities that were destroyed. How can we ever accept consolation for that?
For this Yishayhu tells us how it was but a nightmare that lasted a short moment in the span of eternity. It was a prick in the context of everlasting joy.
May we soon experience the nechama about which Yishayhu will tell us this Shabbos.
Have a wonderful Shabbos.
Paysach Diskind