The Haftorah of Parshas Vayeshev the נביא עמוס rebukes klal Yisrael for a lengthy list of sins and warns that harsh punishment is on its way. The connection to the parsha is mechiras yosef that is mentioned in the first pasuk
Amos outlines the ways that the wealthy in Israel oppress the poor. The Jews had been guilty of the three cardinal sins: idolatry, forbidden relationships and murde, but the primary sin of which they were guilty was that of corruption and injustice: “They have sold for silver those whose cause was just, and the needy for a pair of sandals…you who trample the heads of the poor into the dust of the ground” (2:6-7).
The Radak, explains the three offenses
mentioned here to be the three cardinal sins – idolatry, incest and murder. Hashem explains that the most cardinal sins do not receive an immediate response from Above. For these Hashem is somewhat patient and allows the offender the opportunity to repent and correct his outrageous behavior. But the injustice shown to the poor evokes Hashem’s immediate response. Rabbeinu Bachya explains the basis for this and reminds us that the poor place their total trust in Hashem. Their financial resources do not command any respect or assistance from others which forces them to place their total trust in Hashem. Therefore, Hashem pledges to come immediately to their defense and responds harshly to any injustice done to them.
I appreciate these Haftorah explanations and they enhance my Shabbos. Thank you for posting it!
ReplyDeleteIt's a scary hafrorah when you learn about how the rich manipulated the poor with restricting the wheat market forcing the poor to pay more. Are we doing the same today with our business practices?
ReplyDeleteOr the haftorah talks about selling people who defaulted on their loans as slaves, a practice against the Torah which only allowed this if someone stole, are we living in a time where people who default get their businesses and lives taken away to a point that they can bo longer live or survive?
Or restricting housing and other goods so the poor have to pay more?
I'm happy to live an ir hatorah . Lakewood ir hakodesh where gashmiyus is secondary and respect is earned not by your wallet but by your yiras shomayim
ReplyDeleteSarcasm alert
DeleteVery well put
ReplyDeleteWe ARE in a closely similar situation now. Differences? Semantics.
The rampant and blatant corruption in Lakewood government and taxing the poor while they help themselves with salary raises or helping the rich get richer off the backs of the poor
DeleteWhat would the prophet say if he would audit
Builders purposely don't flood the market to keep prices high
ReplyDeleteIf parents can't pay tuition do they deserve having their kod kicked out of school humiliated and scarred for life
This year more than any other we should not begin learning Amos from Perek 2 but rather from Perek 1. Perek 1 seems to be unfolding right in front of our eyes: the fall of Damesek, the fall of Azza, the fall of Tyre (Lebanon), the fall of Teman. Then make sure to learn the end of the Haftorah - that the answer to everything can be found in the words of our Nevi'im.
ReplyDeleteThey go hand in hand
Delete& We [i.e donor crowd who claim credit when things go well] blew such opportunities before