The Bible Says What? ‘God did not abandon Israel – Israel abandoned God’
Rabbi Aaron Goldstein takes a controversial topic from the Torah and offers a progressive response
“I will greatly rejoice in the Eternal One, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for God has clothed me with the garments of salvation, God has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels…” (Isaiah 61:10-11).
This is the perfect way to end what have been a series of seven Haftarot of consolation following Tisha B’Av, the Jewish fast day for lamentation and mourning. The majority of this passage was written while the leadership of the Israelites were in Babylonian exile.
It is probable that King Cyrus of Persia had defeated the Babylonians and already there were signs the exiles would be allowed to return to their land and their people. In this passage, God has provided fine clothing and the marital language of God’s relationship with Israel has resumed. But the final verbs are in the future tense, redemption or conquest of the land is still yet to come.
In accord with the Deuteronomic theology, there is the notion God will act, but only once the people act first. This theology worked to explain that God had not been defeated or disappeared when the Babylonians destroyed Jerusalem on earth. God had not abandoned Israel – Israel had abandoned God by not observing the mitzvot.
A meaningful return to the loving relationship and the land is assured by Israel returning to God and following God’s mitzvot.
Today, this passage – and other ones in our Torah – are the motivation for us to never stay completely still. They acknowledge moments of stagnation, of rest, even times when we slide backwards. Yet our orientation is forward, with hope.
- Aaron Goldstein is Senior Rabbi at The Ark Synagogue
Thank you for helping to make Jewish News the leading source of news and opinion for the UK Jewish community. Today we're asking for your invaluable help to continue putting our community first in everything we do.
For as little as £5 a month you can help sustain the vital work we do in celebrating and standing up for Jewish life in Britain.
Jewish News holds our community together and keeps us connected. Like a synagogue, it’s where people turn to feel part of something bigger. It also proudly shows the rest of Britain the vibrancy and rich culture of modern Jewish life.
You can make a quick and easy one-off or monthly contribution of £5, £10, £20 or any other sum you’re comfortable with.
100% of your donation will help us continue celebrating our community, in all its dynamic diversity...
Engaging
Being a community platform means so much more than producing a newspaper and website. One of our proudest roles is media partnering with our invaluable charities to amplify the outstanding work they do to help us all.
Celebrating
There’s no shortage of oys in the world but Jewish News takes every opportunity to celebrate the joys too, through projects like Night of Heroes, 40 Under 40 and other compelling countdowns that make the community kvell with pride.
Pioneering
In the first collaboration between media outlets from different faiths, Jewish News worked with British Muslim TV and Church Times to produce a list of young activists leading the way on interfaith understanding.
Campaigning
Royal Mail issued a stamp honouring Holocaust hero Sir Nicholas Winton after a Jewish News campaign attracted more than 100,000 backers. Jewish Newsalso produces special editions of the paper highlighting pressing issues including mental health and Holocaust remembrance.
Easy access
In an age when news is readily accessible, Jewish News provides high-quality content free online and offline, removing any financial barriers to connecting people.
Voice of our community to wider society
The Jewish News team regularly appears on TV, radio and on the pages of the national press to comment on stories about the Jewish community. Easy access to the paper on the streets of London also means Jewish News provides an invaluable window into the community for the country at large.
We hope you agree all this is worth preserving.
