In this week's Navi class, we concluded Sefer Yeshayahu and began the study of Sefer Yirmiyahu. We also discussed the different reigns of the kings Yirmiyahu prophesied in.
I would like to begin with a brief description of Yirmiyahu. Yirmiyahu, a Kohen, was from Anatot. He is implied to have been a lad at the time he was given Nevuah to by Hashem. However, Yirmiyahu is a bit of a contrast from other Neviim. He seems to have been destined to be a Navi, for Hashem tells him that he was sanctified before he was born. During his first interaction with Hashem, he is insecure of his capabilities, but is assured that Hashem will guide him, thus bestowing confidence in him.
Yirmiyahu experiences two visions throughout this interaction. The first begins with the image of an almond stick. The almond staff is the first to blossom in the spring, and is interpreted as Hashem hastening to bring his word to Yirmiyahu.
The second vision is rather destructive. An open pot facing north is depicted. This is interpreted as the destruction approaching and occurring from the north.
Yirmiyahu is then given a detailed mission; to speak Hashem's verdict upon the evil ways of the people, who had brought sacrifices to other gods, left Hashem, and bowed down to the work of their hands
(which can be attributed to the people believing they were the source of their own success or idol worship). Yirmiyahu is told not to fear the people, even when they attempt to attack him, for Hashem will be present with him, and they will not prevail. However, once everything is uprooted and destroyed, there will be a time of comfort, of rebuilding.
This message provides a clear understanding of the moral standings of the people: complete and utter corruption. What kind of mentality do the people have, attacking a prophet, someone who is trying to help the people, even if destruction is involved? This marks the time where the people must experience destruction, for they are totally off the correct path.
Yirmiyahu prophesied from the thirteenth year of Yoshayahu until the destruction. A brief timeline of events leading up to this tragic time is: Yoshayahu strived to bring the people closer to Hashem, instituting a religious revival. However, it was forced and didn't endure, for the people were not committed. This is another reminder that it was the actions of the people, not Hashem's, that brought about the punishment. Then, the exile gradually began. During the time of Yoshayahu, there was still a warning, do Teshuva and prevent punishment. However, the focus switched in the time of the other kings. The message was now simple: there will be destruction.
We then concluded Sefer Melachim Bet with the destruction of the Beit Hamikdash and the start of a terrible exile.
In class, we were each given a Perek to study. I was given Perek Bet. Although I will present on Monday, I want to provide a message that really struck me as I studied the Perek. Hashem did not wish for the destruction to happen! The people were given numerous opportunities to turn to Hashem! All they needed to do is turn to Hashem! However, this was not the intention of the people.
Could the destruction have been averted? Of course! However, when someone begins to have immense success, they can become haughty and lose sight of who they really are. Identity is always wavering. We are always asked who we are, what we represent, what we stand for. The people had such skewed values; they could not even answer these questions. They did not understand who they were, what they were meant to be. Bnei Yisrael could have been a light onto the nations. They could have lead a Torah lifestyle. However, they failed to recognize their true identity, and left Hashem.
Jewish identity is a raised issue in our modern world. Some people are unaware if they are Jewish or not, while others intermarry and raise their children with beliefs and ideology of other religions. When attending a Jewish school like ours, and exposed to an environment where we interact with people who share the same faith as us, it is much simpler to maintain our identity. However, there is communication with the outer world. We are not only in our little bubble. We encounter situations where our identity seems to be on the verge of disappearing. When approaching these situations, we must remember who we are and what we believe in, something the people of Yehudah seemed to disregard and neglect.
I agree with Noga about everything except for her final point. I don't think that it was a loss of identity that caused the people to turn away from G-d. Identity is a touchy subject for a lot of people. In class, the formal reason we learned for the destruction was that the people neglected G-d and the Torah. I personally don't think that this means that the people lost their identity. As a human being, my identity is made up of the things others know me as and my experiences, to put it briefly. A basic human identity should contain aspects of G-d's original intention for human behavior: morality. Nobody's perfect, so no one will be entirely moral. People are so interesting because they are so dimensional. For the people of Yirmiyahu's time, it was their actions and their neglect for morality that led them astray from G-d. Although it might seem that I'm saying what you said in different words, I think that it is important to make the distinction between personal identity and action. One shapes you as a person and the other can change you. The people of the time were bad. That's all. They contained less moral inclinations than almost anyone else in history, excluding a few evil nations here and there. If they had started out good and turned bad, we would have a very different story.
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