The name of this Shabbos is based on the words of this week’s haftara, Chazon Yeshayahu. The simple translation of the word chazon is a vision of prophesy. However, there is really a deeper message that directs us to look at this Shabbos with different eyes. Last Tuesday night in our class on hachanah for Shabbos, I mentioned an incredible insight from Rav Akiva Meir Hakohen from Lukeva zt”l. The Rebbe explains, based on a pasuk in Parshas Ki Sisa and chassidic thought, that the 21 days of the Three Weeks are so powerful that the weekdays equal the days of Shabbos of the rest of the year, and the Shabbosos are even higher than the Shabbosos of the year. This leads us to Shabbos Chazon, which, in some way, is the highest Shabbos of the year. This seems perplexing. After all, it seems to be the saddest and darkest Shabbos of the year. Where is this powerful light that seems to be hiding in this Shabbos?
I want to suggest that the answer lies in the word chazon. Chazon doesn’t just mean the simple ability to see. Chazon is seeing deep beyond the surface. It’s seeing the light behind the darkness. It’s interesting to note that Rav Nachman zt”l in Siman 282 writes that the chazzan in a shul is someone who sees all the nekudos tovos of each Jew and creates a niggun from all the nekudos.
When we know that Hashem loves us more than we can ever imagine or properly understand, it’s possible to see that every ounce of darkness is an opportunity for powerful light, and if it’s intense darkness, behind it lies intense light. This is what Shabbos Chazon is about. The Zohar says that the more a person cries and calls out to Hashem about the churban of the Bais Hamikdash, the more he will merit the light of the Bais Hamikdash.
Last week, we lost a powerful source of light. R’ Yehuda Taib z”l was a light from which anyone who came in contact with it felt an incredible energy. Yehuda was able to see the light in the person and hence was able to ignore any externalities. The more time passes, the more I’m finding out how many neshamos Yehuda inspired and brought closer to Hashem. This week, I found videos that I had made on the topics of shalom bayis and taharas hamishpacha, and it was Yehuda who encouraged me to make them. He said that couples need chizuk and inspiration and practical guidance, and I obviously could not say no. Because of Yehuda, many people grew and are still growing. I personally owe much gratitude to Yehuda and to Hashem for sending me such a special talmid.
May we be zoche to techiyas hamesim this week, so we can again see R’ Yehuda with his golden, shining smile.
RABBI DANIEL COREN
SEMICHAS CHAVER SHIUR
in R’ Coren’s office every Wednesday at 9:00 PM
Hachana L'Shabbos Shiur
in 20 Upstairs every Tuesday at 9:45 PM
