Probing the Prophets” for the Discussion of Not Follow

BY RABBI NACHMAN (NEIL) WINKLER PROBING Faculty, OU Israel Centerl THE PROPHETS his Shabbat is the middle day of “Pu- a repetition of last week’s reading, I have rim Meshulash” – the “triple” Purim, chosen to discuss the haftarah that the ma- Twhich is observed in Yerushalayim jority of the Jewish world will be reading this and other cities that were walled in the time Shabbat, the haftarah of Parashat Tetzaveh, of Yehoshua. As a result, Yerushalmim and from the 43rd perek of Sefer Yechezkel. For other residents of walled cities, celebrate this the Yerushalmim and other walled-city res- Shabbat by keeping certain Purim practices idents, I direct you to last week’s article in that those living outside of walled cities do “Probing the Prophets” for the discussion of not follow. Here in Yerushlayim, for exam- that haftarah. ple, we add the Al HaNissim prayer to the The final chapters of Sefer Yechezkel Amidah (and Birkat HaMazon) and we read are dedicated to a description of the final a special Maftir – the reading which most Bet HaMikdash, an indestructible one that other Jewish communities read on their Pu- would be built during the Messianic Era. rim, i.e., the story of Israel’s battle against One would imagine that these chapters are the attacking army of Amalek. As a result optimistic ones with the promise of our of our reading a special Maftir, we also read future redemption and, as we read in this a special haftarah, one that connects to week’s haftarah, the description of both the Maftir. That haftarah relates the story the structure of the Bet HaMikdash and the of Israel’s war against Amalek during the practices that would be followed therein. time of King Shaul, and, yes, that is the very But the optimism we might feel would same selection that we all read last week be tempered somewhat had we studied on Shabbat Zachor. As a result of the fact the opening prakim of the sefer, in which that the haftarah reading in these cities is Yechezkel sees the vision of how Hashem’s Purim is a happy day To be celebrated in a meaningful way As by the laws of Purim you abide For the poor and needy you’ll be sure to provide Send your contributions to the Clara Hammer Chicken Fund פורים שמח! P.O.B.18602 Jerusalem 91185 (02)5810256 Donate via PayPal at Chickenladyofjerusalem.com 24 TORAH TIDBITS / TETZAVEH 5781 Shechina, His divine presence, was exiting the reading, Yechezkel is told to teach the the Holy Temple, thereby preparing it people all of the details “v’yishm’ru et kol for its destruction. The navi proceeds, to tzurato v’et kol chukotav v’asu otam”, so condemn Israel for her sinfulness, which that they remember the entire form (of the caused G-d’s departure from His Mikdash, Bet HaMikdash) and all its laws-and will and warns the people of the consequences follow them. The Rav differentiates between of their misdeeds. “chukotav”, its laws, that it, its physical Nonetheless, throughout his book, measurements and “tzurato”, its form, its Yechezkel shares Hashem’s comforting architecture. Rav Soloveitchik explains message with the nation that, although that the Bet HaMikdash had to meet two He has abandoned His sanctuary, He will criteria: it had to include “chukotav”, the never abandon His people; in fact, he precise mathematical measurements of the reassures them that He remains with them Temple and its utensils as well as “tzurato”, even in their exile and would return with its structure. As important as it was for the them to their land. It is at this point that Holy Temple to contain the precise utensils these final prakim go on to describe what to fulfill the laws and practices therein, it will be when they are brought back to Eretz also had to be an inspiring and impressive Yisrael. Hence our haftarah. structure. It had to contain a certain But, the truth is, not many of us pay close mysterious, ethereal quality that would attention to the details of the haftarah. Let’s attract and inspire the Jewish people. face it: It’s not very exciting. And, for many, With these few words the Rav left us with it’s not very interesting. And unless you are an important message: in teaching Torah, an architect, or a contractor or in some way in spreading “yiddishkeit”, one cannot rely connected to the construction business, solely upon “chukotav”, the detailed laws the haftarah is not too easy to understand. and practices - as essential as they are. But Actually, many might say that it is “boring”. we must include the “tzurato”, the impres- And that is why we need the brilliance of sive structure, the magnificent beauty our Rav Soloveitchik. Torah, our Tzadikim and our Nation. As the haftarah begins, we read how Only then can people appreciate the Hashem tells the prophet that he must entirety of our Mikdash – our holy people. describe the future Temple to Israel so Rabbi Winkler's popular Jewish History that they would be ashamed of having lectures can be viewed by visiting the OU sinned (and having caused G-d to leave the Israel Video archive: https://www.ouisrael. Mikdash). And, in the very second pasuk of org/video-library/ Mazal Tov! Meira and Shloimy Frankel on their 16th anniversary Love, Ema and Aba OU ISRAEL CENTER 25.

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