Chazon: Our G-dly vision

This week’s Torah portion is Devarim, the first in the fifth book of Moses, also known as Deuteronomy. Yet this Shabbat, the one preceding Tisha B’Av, is known by another name: “Shabbat Chazon.” Chazon means vision, and it’s the first word of this week’s haftorah.

The haftorah is a reading from one of the prophets, recited after the Torah reading. Its theme follows that of the Torah portion, or the time of year. This week’s is a prelude to Tisha B’Av, the saddest day on the Jewish calendar.

While many historical catastrophes happened on this day, the most famous are the destruction of the First and Second
Holy Temples in Jerusalem. The first, built by King Solomon, was destroyed by the Babylonians in 423 BCE (editor’s note: some scholars believe the date was 586 BCE), while the second, built under the direction of Ezra and Nechemia, was wrecked by the Romans in 69 CE.

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The Talmud tells us that the Holy Temples were destroyed because of our sins.

In the haftorah, the prophet Isaiah shares a G-dly vision he had, rebuking the Jewish people for their sins and iniquities. Isaiah then gently encourages the people to return to G-d, and ends with the promise that G-d will eventually reestablish Israel’s judges and leaders.

While the simple meaning of Chazon is somber, even negative, the famed Rabbi Levi Yitzchak of Berditchev, a key Chassidic leader in the 18th century, taught that the word has a deeper, positive meaning.

“A father once sewed an expensive garment for his dear son to wear. However, the boy was not careful with the garment, and in no time, it was in tatters. The father made a second one for his son, which he also ruined. Still, the father made a third garment. This one, however, he did not give to the boy. He put it away, and from time to time shows it to his son and tells him that when he behaves properly, he’ll give it to him to wear. This motivates the child to follow the upright path. And when the father is certain that the positive changes have become like second nature to the son, he’ll give him the garment. At this point, he’s no longer worried that his son will return to his deviations, because his betterment is now second nature.

“This is the idea of Shabbat Chazon, when G-d shows us the third Holy Temple.”

The Rebbe adds that although we don’t see this vision with our eyes, our souls see it, and it has a profound effect on each and every one of us. This vision inspires us to better ourselves, increasing our Torah study and performance of mitzvot.
The Rebbe also explains that Rabbi Levi Yitzchak’s choice of parable for the Holy Temple — a garment, rather than a house — is by design. This is because, while a house encompasses the dweller, it’s not tailored to fit someone specific. A garment, on the other hand, is made to fit the wearer.

The Temple was indeed a house — an all-encompassing edifice where many individuals encountered G-dliness, yet every person found it a tailor-made garment, accommodating his or her specific spiritual needs, giving him or her a personal and
intimate relationship with G-d.

Each year, on the Shabbat before Tisha B’Av, we are shown a vision of our world as a divine home — a place where all of G-d’s beings will experience His presence. But this is also a vision of a G-dly garment — the distinctly personal relationship with G-d, particularly suited to our individual character and aspirations, that we will each enjoy when the third divine Temple descends to earth.

Let’s tap into this day to make ourselves, and the entire world, worthy of the redemption, with the coming of Moshiach! PJC

Rabbi Yossi Feller is the rabbi of the Chabad Jewish Center of Cranberry. This column is a service of the Vaad Harabonim of Western Pennsylvania.