הטו אזנכם ולכו אלי שמעו ותחי נפשכם ... (ישעי' נה-ג)
This week’s Haftorah is the third of the "שבעה דנחמתא" in which Yeshaya Hanavi prophecies about Hashem’s promise to restore Yerushalayim and the Bais HaMikdash to its full glory. The Navi implores the nation that Hashem wants them to, “Incline your ear and come to Me [Hashem].” But in Sefer Vayikrah (26:14) where Hashem uses similar language to get Klal Yisroel closer to Him, the Torah uses an entirely different tone: “And if you will fail to hearken to Me ...” Why are they different?
Rabbeinu Chayim ibn Attar, Ohr Hachayim Hakadosh zt”l says that the very notion that obedience to Hashem and His mitzvos is optional, is in itself flawed. It’s not “if” a Jew fails to listen to Hashem then, and only then, will he face consequences. Rather, a Jew must obey Hashem. Period.
In Vayikrah the prefacing of the conditional word “if” before Hashem’s statement is due to idea that Klal Yisroel was steeped in sin. They were slipping deeper and deeper into sin and no amount of pleading and cajoling would help. At such a time, a heavenly threat is warranted, and such a threat can be recognized by the prefacing of the word “if.”
However, in the Haftorah, Klal Yisroel had already been punished for their sins – the Bais HaMikdash was destroyed and Yerushalayim had already been razed to the ground. At such a point, threats are no longer warranted, and Yeshaya Hanavi therefore uses much kinder and gentler language to convey Hashem’s message.
While tragic, some of the most opportune times for Klal Yisroel to get closer to Hashem is in the aftermath of a tragedy – and there is no greater tragedy than the Churban.