The Haftorah for Tisha Be'Av- Afternoon

The Haftora is read from the book of Yeshayahu (Isaiah) 55:6-56:8

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The Prophet Isaiah

The Origins of the Fast of Tishah Be’av: Tishah Be’av is the day on which we commemorate all of the evils, and hardships which we have had to endure. Most notably, it commemorates the destruction of both temples.

The connection between the Torah and the Haftorah: This Haftorah is read during Mincha on the following 5 fast days. 1) *10th of Tevet, 2) Ta’anis Esther, 3) *17 of Tammuz, 4) *Tishah Be’av 5) Tzom Gedalia.

* These fast days commemorate the Destruction of the Holy Temple. The purpose of these fast days is to inspire us to repent. The Haftorah was chosen for its opening sentence,”Let the wicked man leave his evil way and the sinful one his evil thought.”

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The Destruction of the Temple on the 9th of Av

The Summary of the Haftorah: 55:6-7 All the Jewish sinners are urged to do Teshuva. 55:8-9 Hashem’s kindness is abundant. 55:10-11 Hashem’s decrees come true. 55:12-13 Joy at the future redemption. 56:1-2 Prerequisites for the redemption to take place 56:3-5 Comfort and advice to the childless and the convert. A Jewish person must give Tzedaka on a Fast day. 56:6-8 All the righteous will serve in the future Bait Hamikdash.

Isaiah’s Biography: The name Isaiah means “Salvation of G-d”. Isaiah wrote his own book, which is 66 chapters long. His father was a prophet named Amoz, and he was from a royal family who had access to the Bait Hamikdash. He was born in the year 765 B.C.E. (8th century) about 2760 years ago. Isaiah was twenty-five when he received his first vision. He was also considered to be the greatest of all prophets after Moses. Three other prophets lived in Isaiah’s time; Hosea, Amos, and Michah. Isaiah was born circumcised, and lived through the reigns of four different kings; Uzziah, Yotham, Ahaz, Hezkiah. Isaiah lived 120 years, and he had two children with his only wife. He claimed to have seen the throne of G-d, and he predicted Israel’s demise. Isaiah was killed by Menaseh, the King of Judah. Isaiah was hiding from Menashe, the King of Judah, in a tree, but as Menashe was passing by the tree, he spotted Isaiah's tsitsit hanging out of the tree. Menashe then cut clean through the tree, and killed Isaiah. Since Isaiah spoke lashon ha'ra about the nation of Israel, as a midah ki-neged midah when he was killed, he was cut through the mouth.

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Famous Phrases: lo mahshevotai mahshevotachem, velo darkaykhem derachai. Hashem says: “My thoughts are not similar to your thoughts, neither are your ways similar to my ways” Thus, seek the lord while he may be found. Isaiah 55:8 Hashem’s thought process is different from ours. Just as we cannot understand Hashem’s existence, we also cannot understand Hashem’s thoughts and ways.

Timeline: Isaiah prophesized about 2600 years ago

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Map: Isaiah prophecised in Jerusalem

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Further Readings:

Written by: Reuben Gavriel Ben Nissim Ebrahimoff 5764-2004

E-mail: Haftorahman@Haftorahman.com