Yeshaya 66
This week’s haftorah, read in conjunction with Shabbos Rosh Chodesh,
reveals to us a secret dimension of this significant date. In fact, as
we will discover, Rosh Chodesh possesses the potential of assuming a
greater personality than ever seen before. Its heightened effect will be
so powerful that it will be likened to the impact of one of our three
Yomim Tovim.
The prophet opens the haftorah with a fiery message regarding the
privilege of sacrifice in the Bais Hamikdash. Yeshaya declares in the
name of Hashem, “The heavens are My throne and the earth is My foot
stool. What home can you build for Me and what is an appropriate site
for My Divine Presence?” The Radak explains that Hashem was rejecting
the notion of His requiring an earthly abode wherein to reside. Even the
span of the universe barely serves as a throne where upon Hashem rests,
how much more so our small Bais Hamikdash. But the purpose of His
earthly abode is in order for us to experience His Divine presence. And
it is in this uplifting environment that we offer sacrifices to Hashem
and commit ourselves to fulfilling His will.
Yeshaya continues and expresses Hashem’s view of the Jewish people’s
sacrifices at that time. Hashem says, “One who slaughters the ox is
likened to smiting a man; he who sacrifices the sheep is akin to
slashing a dog’s neck; a meal offering is like swine’s blood…..(66:3)
The Radak explains Hashem’s disturbance and informs us of the attitude
of those times. The people would heavily engage in sin and then appear
in the Bais Hamikdash to offer their sacrificial atonement. However,
this uplifting experience was short-lived and they would return home and
revert to their sinful ways. Hashem responded and rejected their
sacrifices because the main facet of the sacrifice was missing, the
resolve to elevate oneself. From Hashem’s perspective, a sacrifice
without an accompanying commitment was nothing more than an act of
slashing a useful animal.
The prophet continues and notes the stark contrast between the above
mentioned and the humble and low spirited people. Hashem says, “But to
this I gaze, to the humble and low spirited and to the one who trembles
over My word.” (66:2) These humble people do not need the experience of
the Bais Hamikdash. They sense the Divine Presence wherever they are and
respond with proper reverence and humility. Unlike the first group who
limits Hashem’s presence to the walls of the Bais Hamikdash, the second
views the earth as Hashem’s footstool and reacts accordingly. In fact
weare told earlier by Yeshaya that they are actually an abode for His
presence as is stated, “So says Hashem, “I rest in the exalted and
sanctified spheres and amongst the downtrodden and low spirited
ones.'”(57: 15)
In a certain sense we resemble the first group when relating to our
Rosh Chodesh experience. Rosh Chodesh is a unique holiday because its
entire festivity consists of a special Rosh Chodesh sacrifice. There are
no specific acts of Mitzva related to Rosh Chodesh and there is no
halachic restriction from productive activity. However, the first day of
the month provides the opportunity for introspect. After our serious
contemplation over the previous month’s achievements we welcome the
opportunity of a fresh start. We offer a sacrifice in atonement for the
past and prepare ourselves for the challenges of the new month.
Unfortunately this new opportunity is met with trepidation and is always
accompanied by mixed feelings of joy and remorse. Because each Rosh
Chodesh we realize how far we have strayed during the previous month and
we look towards the next month to be an improvement over the past.
This is the limited status of our present Rosh Chodesh. However, as
we will soon learn, a greater dimension of Rosh Chodesh was intended to
be and will eventually become a reality. The Tur in Orach Chaim (417)
quotes the Pirkei D’R’Eliezer which reveals that Rosh Chodesh was
actually intended to be a full scale Yom Tov. The Tur quotes his brother
R’ Yehuda who explains that the three Yomim Tovim correspond to our
three patriarchs and that the twelve days of Rosh Chodesh were intended
to correspond to the twelve tribes. This link reveals that each Rosh
Chodesh truly has a unique aspect to itself and that one of the Biblical
tribes’ remarkable qualities is available to us each month. However, as
the Tur explains, due to an unfortunate error of the Jewish people this
opportunity has been, to a large degree, withheld from us.
But in the era of Mashiach this error will be rectified and the
experience of Rosh Chodesh will actually reach its intended capacity.
Yeshaya reflects upon this and says at the close of our haftorah, “And
it will be that from month to month. . . . all will come and prostrate
themselves before Hashem.” (66: 23) The Psikta Rabbsi (1:3) explains
that in the days of Mashiach we will have the privilege of uniting with
Hashem every Rosh Chodesh. All Jewish people will come to the Bais
Hamikdash each month and experience His Divine Presence. During the
illustrious era of Mashiach sin will no longer exist and Rosh Chodesh
will be viewed exclusively as an opportunity for elevation. Each month
will provide us its respective quality and opportunity which we will
celebrate through the Rosh Chodesh festivities. The sacrifice of Rosh
Chodesh will reflect our great joy over being with Hashem and will no
longer contain any aspect of remorse or sin. In those days, the
experience of His Divine Presence in the Bais Hamikdash will be
perpetuated throughout the month and the entire period will become one
uplifting experience.
This, according to the Maharit Algazi is the meaning of our Mussaf
section wherein we state, “When they would offer sacrifices of favor and
goats as sin offerings …. May you establish a new altar in Zion …. and
we will offer goats with favor.” With these words we are acknowledging
the fact that the goats which had previously served as sin offerings
will now become expressions of elevation. Without the need to reflect
upon our shortcomings of the previous month, Rosh Chodesh will be
greeted with total happiness, and we will welcome with great joy the
uplifting spiritual opportunity of each respective month.
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