Behar: A Prophetic Promise - Legacy of Our Land
The Haftorah opens to a dark period, Yerushalayim under siege by Bavel, and the future bleak. In the midst of this turmoil, the Navi Yirmiyahu finds himself imprisoned by King Zedekiah for prophesying the destruction of Jerusalem. It is in this setting of despair and hopelessness that Yirmiyahu receives a Divine instruction that seems utterly illogical: to buy a field in Anatot, a territory already under Babylonian control.
Yirmiyahu follows G-D’s command and purchases the field. Holding the contract in front of a group in the prison, he directs them by the command of Hashem to put the documents in an earthen jar to preserve the moment and the message of an unshakeable faith in the future redemption and the unbreakable connection between the Jewish people and their land. כִּ֣י כֹ֥ה אָמַ֛ר ה צְבָקוֹת אֱלֹקי יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל ע֣וֹד יִקָּנ֥וּ בָתִּ֛ים וְשָׂד֥וֹת וּכְרָמִ֖ים בָּאָ֥רֶץ הַזֹּֽאת׃ For thus said G-D of Hosts, the G-D of Israel: “Houses, fields, and vineyards shall again be purchased in this land.”
Despite fulfilling the Divine directive, Yirmiyahu struggles to understand the Divine message in the overwhelmingly gloomy time. In a profoundly intimate moment, he confronts Hashem to understand how Jewish history can speak of Divine love and goodness, while he is witness to profound pain and imminent destruction, the result of sin and denial of Hashem’s reign.
The Malbim offers a poignant interpretation of the concluding posuk of the Haftorah. He explains that Hashem is reminding Yirmiyahu—and through him, all of us—that human limitations do not apply to the Divine. The redemption and the future of the Jewish people and their land are not bound by the present reality. The Malbim emphasizes that Hashem's covenant with the Jewish people is eternal and unbreakable, transcending any temporal hardships.
The purchase of the field serves as a tangible expression of this sacred promise. It is a symbolic act that affirms faith in the continuity and resilience of the Jewish people, despite the current siege and impending exile. The act of buying the land is not just a statement of hope; it is a declaration of trust in G-D’s ultimate plan for redemption.
In our own lives, we often face moments that seem insurmountable, where the future appears grim and uncertain. The Haftarah reminds us that even in these moments, we must hold onto our faith and trust in G-D’s greater plan. The bond between the Jewish people and the Land of Israel is eternal, rooted in Hashem’s promise and purpose. Let us remember in these very challenging times that no matter how dire the circumstances, nothing is too difficult for Him. Our connection to the Land of Israel, and indeed to our own faith and heritage, is eternal and unbreakable.