The Kosher Bookworm: A lesson in the ultimate redemption

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The Kosher Bookworm

by Alan Jay Gerber

Issue of July 30, 2010/ 19 Av 5770

Beginning with Shabbos Chazon and until the Shabbos before Rosh Hashana every single haftorah comes from the Yeshayahu, the book of Isaiah. The haftorahs recited on Beraishis, Noach, Lech Lecha, Shemot, Yisro, Vayikrah, Yom Kippur morning, Shabbat Rosh Chodesh, the last day of Pesach, and every Ta'anit Tzibbur are drawn from the Book of Isaiah. The prophet Isaiah is among the most cited and quoted of all the later prophets.

Given the timing, the recent publication of the teachings of Rabbi Shimon Schwab, zt''l,  on the Book of Isaiah is quite germane and the subject of review for this week.

Titled, "Rav Schwab on Yeshayahu" [Artscroll, 2009] and edited by his son Moshe, this volume is an edited transcription of the famed shiurim given by the rabbi at his beloved shul, Kahal Adas Yeshurun, the premier location for the Hirschian ideology of Torah Im Derech Eretz in America .

The publication marks the first time that a very detailed tradition-bound commentary on Isaiah has appeared in English. Not only is this a commentary on the basic text, it elaborates further by lacing the commentary with appropriate citations from the midrash, as well as from the Talmud and from other books from the Bible. All this is fused into one organic narrative to give the text an expanded and almost contemporary sounding interpretation. Rav Schwab's technique makes for a better reading and understanding of an ancient text and further enhances its relevance to our people in this time of distress. Rabbi Moshe Schwab's editing serves to give his father's teachings a resonance of purpose that will help preserve its sacred message for generations to come.

Thanks to current events, Isaiah's prophecies have a greater relevance now than ever before; Isaiah's word point to the message of ultimate salvation that will be our destiny in the end of times.

Several examples will demonstrate the genius of Rav Schwab's method.

Chapter 51: 3, "For G-d has comforted Zion, He has comforted all of her ruins."

Rav Schwab states: "When G-d comforts Zion, and brings about the Geulah [salvation], it will not be a partial redemption, in which only a part of our problems will be solved. Rather, when the geulah comes, it will be final and complete, encompassing all of Israel's ruins; it will be total redemption."

Rav Schwab continues with the verse, "'And He has made her desert as Eden, and her dry lands as the Garden of G-d.' Arid lands in Israel which were formerly uninhabitable will bloom as once did the Garden of Eden."

"In addition to this simple meaning of our phrase, it also alludes to something more. With

the final Geulah, the historic process of the world will have achieved its purpose: that mankind return to Gan Eden. When man was created, G-d put him into Gan Eden, but was expelled from it because of his sin. However, the Geulah will signal the dawning of the era in which mankind, led by Israel, will have come full circle, and return to the status of Adam HaRishon while he was in Gan Eden. In this sense we can say that 'for G-d has comforted  Zion' means that when G-d comforts Zion at the time of the Geulah, the lost Gan Eden will be restored, but this time Zion will be the Gan Eden. After its sins are atoned for, and Israel finally finds its nechamah, the lost Gan Eden will be back on earth - and it will be in Zion."

The images created and interpreted by Rav Schwab expands upon the text and gives a whole new and more optimistic meaning and message to the reader. To us, this message of optimism gives the text a practical value post-Tisha B'Av.

This optimistic redemptive tone leads to the verse's conclusion, "Rejoicing and happiness will be found there." Rav Schwab concludes with a drash, "At the final geulah, sasson, outward rejoicing and simcha, a sense of inner happiness, will become permanent."

This eschatological sentiment expressed by Rav Schwab is both timely and prophetic.

A personal note

These prophetic words have a very special meaning to both Rabbi Moshe Schwab and myself. These words from the prophet Isaiah cited above are from the last verse of the haftorah from Parshat Eikev, which is both our mutual Bar Mitzvah haftorah.

May the recitation of this passage once again this year help instill within all of us the hope for that final redemption as foreseen by the prophet, and give us the strength and fortitude to face our adversaries with both courage and confidence.