Haftorah of Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Av 5785

This year's calendar is unique as a year of when erev Pesach falls out on shabbos you have shabbos rosh chodesh Av. The next time isbin 20 years.

The Haftarah for Shabbos Rosh Chodesh Av,  the $64,000 question becomes, what happens when Rosh Chodesh Av falls out on Shabbos? Do we stick with the ‘T’lasa D’Poranusa’or the special Rosh Chodesh haftorah?

Minhag Lakewood Yeshiva Bais Medrash Govoha to read the Hatorah of מסעי which is  שמעו דבר ה' even on shabbos Rosh Chodesh

Ou Torah 

 Q. Because there is a convergence this Shabbos of Rosh Chodesh with the 2nd Shabbos of the Three Weeks, an interesting question presents itself. Which haftorah should be read? Should it be the haftorah of “Hashamayim Kisi” (Yeshaya 66) which is usually read when Rosh Chodesh falls on Shabbos? On the other hand, should we read “Shimu Dvar Hashem” (Yirmiya 2) which is generally read on the second Shabbos of the Three Weeks because it speaks of the failings of the Jewish community that led to the destruction of the first Bais Hamikdash? Which Haftorah should take precedence?

 A. In truth, both opinions are found in the Rishonim and are cited by the Rema in Shulchan Aruch (OC 425:1). Both customs are firmly entrenched in the tradition of different communities. For example the Magen Avrohom, (425:2) writes that the minhag in the city of Posen was to read “Hashamayim Kisi”, while Rav Yechezkal Landau (Dogul Meirivava) states that the minhag in Prague was to read “Shimu Dvar Hashem”. The Rema writes that those communities that do not have a minhag should read “Hashamayim Kisi” because this is the more dominant opinion of the Rishonim. The Aruch HaShulchan (425:5) rules this way as well.

 However, the Vilna Gaon (Beiur Hagra) disagrees. He proves that although Tosfos (Pesachim 40b) writes to read “Hashamayim Kisi”, this is actually a misprint. Many Rishonim cite this Tosfos as their source, and had they known it was a misprint, they too would have agreed to read “Shimu Dvar Hashem”. The Divrei Malkiel (3:27) writes that although in general we read “Hashamayim Kisi” on Rosh Chodesh since it mentions Rosh Chodesh, nonetheless “Shimu Dvar Hashem” is an appropriate alternative because it references Rosh Chodesh as well. Moreover, in this Haftora it is written “B’chadsha Yimtza’ena” (in that month you will be caught), which Chazal interpret to be referring to Chodesh Av, which is also an allusion to Rosh Chodesh.

 Rav Yosef Kairo in the Beis Yosef offers a third opinion. He recommends reading “Shimu Dvar Hashem” (the reading of the 3-weeks) and concluding with the first and last verses of “Hashamayim Kisi” for Rosh Chodesh. The Rema in his sefer Darchei Moshe praises this minhag, since it combines the best of both worlds. Still he writes it should not be followed in those communities where the custom is not to read the Haftorah from two separate volumes of Tanach. Each community should follow their minhag. 

 The Ezras Torah luach of Rav Eliyohu Henkin, which is followed by many American shuls, recommends reading “Shimu Dvar Hashem” unless a shul has the minhag of the Bais Yosef to combine both haftoros.

Shiur  om the topic by Torah anytime