As I was reading through the verses of the rebuke at the end of parshas Ki Savo, I was struck by the irony of that after we hear this very disturbing rebuke -- with all it's gory details -- on Shabbos morning, we will then be treated to the sixth of the seven haftaros of consolation/condolence. Shouldn't someone have realized this could happen and planned for it?
Oh... wait because of the way Chazal set up the Torah readings and haftaros, this will always happen. That means that... this is supposed to happen?! Why?
Hmm... upon further reflection, perhaps I do see the logic. Let me 'splain.
Imagine a man in his late 30s; 38-ish, just for argument's sake. He's married, has three children (g 12, g 10, b 5), progressing nicely in his career as a software engineer at a major technical company; Motorola (before the internet happened...), for argument's sake. He has bronchitis, that just keeps hanging on. On third exam in as many weeks, the doctor decides to start from scratch; and on physical exam of abdomen stops short and says, "What's that? How long have you had that?!" Fast forward a couple of weeks. "That" turns out to be cancer; pure germ cell seminoma, stage IV.
This man's world has just been destroyed. "Cancer? Me? I'm not even 40... I have young kids... Stage IV?" How can there be any good news after that devastating information. Then the doctor says the most amazing thing: Don't worry! If you have to have cancer, this is the best kind -- it's curable; actually curable. Then comes the oncologist: Yes, it is curable. You should know though, the treatment is harsh, very harsh. But at the end, you will be cured; not in remission, cured. After hearing the words, "it's curable", I -- errr... I mean, our hypothetical guy can really take any news about the treatment. After all, the treatment is only a few (albeit, quite rough) months, but at the end... cured! Good as new.
Actually, even better than new! In that time of horrifying realization of his situation -- stage IV cancer! -- and the ensuing months of suffering to get cured, he has has plenty of time for contemplation about his life. There is very little self-deception left. Scraping that away is painful, but oh so worthwhile.
The destruction of the Beis HaMikdash -- may it be rebuilt soon and in our lifetime -- was a stage IV cancer wake up call to Klal Yisrael. We were young, vibrant, and headed on a course of continued success -- we thought. The prophets told us differently, but we didn't listen. Now the terrible diagnosis and loss of hope. Then those very same prophets said, "No! It's curable! It's terrible and devastating, and the cure is harsh; but you are going to live! You are going to be better than before!"
The rebuke in the Torah is not punishment; quite the opposite: it's the (albeit, very harsh) cure. And the consolation of the prophets remind us again and and again that we will survive and thrive. May the Beis HaMikdash be rebuilt as a permanent and everlasting structure soon and in our days!
Oh... wait because of the way Chazal set up the Torah readings and haftaros, this will always happen. That means that... this is supposed to happen?! Why?
Hmm... upon further reflection, perhaps I do see the logic. Let me 'splain.
Imagine a man in his late 30s; 38-ish, just for argument's sake. He's married, has three children (g 12, g 10, b 5), progressing nicely in his career as a software engineer at a major technical company; Motorola (before the internet happened...), for argument's sake. He has bronchitis, that just keeps hanging on. On third exam in as many weeks, the doctor decides to start from scratch; and on physical exam of abdomen stops short and says, "What's that? How long have you had that?!" Fast forward a couple of weeks. "That" turns out to be cancer; pure germ cell seminoma, stage IV.
This man's world has just been destroyed. "Cancer? Me? I'm not even 40... I have young kids... Stage IV?" How can there be any good news after that devastating information. Then the doctor says the most amazing thing: Don't worry! If you have to have cancer, this is the best kind -- it's curable; actually curable. Then comes the oncologist: Yes, it is curable. You should know though, the treatment is harsh, very harsh. But at the end, you will be cured; not in remission, cured. After hearing the words, "it's curable", I -- errr... I mean, our hypothetical guy can really take any news about the treatment. After all, the treatment is only a few (albeit, quite rough) months, but at the end... cured! Good as new.
Actually, even better than new! In that time of horrifying realization of his situation -- stage IV cancer! -- and the ensuing months of suffering to get cured, he has has plenty of time for contemplation about his life. There is very little self-deception left. Scraping that away is painful, but oh so worthwhile.
The destruction of the Beis HaMikdash -- may it be rebuilt soon and in our lifetime -- was a stage IV cancer wake up call to Klal Yisrael. We were young, vibrant, and headed on a course of continued success -- we thought. The prophets told us differently, but we didn't listen. Now the terrible diagnosis and loss of hope. Then those very same prophets said, "No! It's curable! It's terrible and devastating, and the cure is harsh; but you are going to live! You are going to be better than before!"
The rebuke in the Torah is not punishment; quite the opposite: it's the (albeit, very harsh) cure. And the consolation of the prophets remind us again and and again that we will survive and thrive. May the Beis HaMikdash be rebuilt as a permanent and everlasting structure soon and in our days!
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