Is the Earthquake Alluded to in This Week's Haftarah, and What is the Heavenly Message for Us?

The earthquake in Turkey shook us all, and the pressing question is whether there's a signal from above for us? Is there a higher message we are supposed to discern from this severe natural disaster, or is it a completely random event?

The answer lies in the Talmud: "No calamity comes to the world except for Israel, as it is written, 'I have cut off nations; their towers are in ruins; I have made their streets deserted... I said, Surely you will fear me, you will accept correction' (Zephaniah 3:6-7)." The Talmud reveals that every severe event in the world happens for us, the people of Israel. Our Sages interpret the verses from the prophet Zephaniah, explaining that Hashem brings destruction to the cities of the nations to awaken fear among the Jewish people towards Him, thus averting destruction in our own land.

The harsh events in the world come to make us look inward at the Divine message for us. They aim to awaken and remind us of the Creator's existence and the purpose of our existence, prompting us to improve our ways.

Is the Earthquake Mentioned in the Haftarah?

In this week's Haftarah for Parashat Yitro, taken from the Book of Isaiah, a vision is described, featuring an earthquake in a house: "The doorposts shook at the sound of the call, and the house filled with smoke" (Isaiah 6:4). What exactly happens there, and what is Hashem's message to the prophet in this vision? Hashem shows the prophet a house shaking and filling with smoke, illustrating it as a metaphor for this world and particularly the Assembly of Israel, filled with smoke from Hashem's wrath against them.
Initially, the temple's thresholds and gates shake [=the columns supporting the structure tremble], symbolizing the gatekeepers, those standing at the nation's helm (the prophets of the time), as the blame for the people's poor spiritual state lies primarily on their shoulders because they failed to properly reprimand and admonish Israel.

Here is the language of Malbim, a commentator on the Scriptures, in his interpretation of this vision: "The doorposts shook: In his vision, he saw that from the sound outside the house, the doorposts trembled and the whole house began to fill with smoke. He was shown in this vision that this house, a metaphor for the lower world in general and the Assembly of Israel in particular, is filled with smoke from Hashem's wrath, as it is said, 'Smoke rose from His nostrils.' He was also shown that initially, the temple's doorposts and gates were shaken, a metaphor for the prophets compared to gatekeepers, as it is said, 'I appointed you a watchman over the house of Israel,' as the primary blame lies on them for not reproving and admonishing Israel."

The prophet then laments his sin for failing to reproach the people and fulfill his mission properly, and the people's refusal to heed admonitions and mend their ways.

How to Draw the Distant Closer

Subsequently, Hashem instructs the prophet on how to admonish the people and bring the distant closer, as the people currently refuse to heed the words of Hashem's messengers.

So how do you effectively reach out according to the Haftarah?

1. Don't let them feel your goal is to bring them back to religion. Once they understand that's your intention, they will outright refuse to listen to what you have to say.

2. Don't start with proofs or conceptual, logical explanations. The initial stage of outreach is through sensory introduction - seeing and hearing, like the complexity and wonders of creation. Only later can more complex ideas be introduced through intellect and understanding.

3. After presenting evidence of the Creator's existence or knowledge that implies a higher hand in creation, avoid the punchline "See, there's a Creator to the world? Now repent." Let them reach that conclusion on their own.

4. Don't come with a preachy, condescending, or didactic approach. Phrases like "You must understand and know that..." aren't effective. Instead, speak at eye level, say something like "Let me tell you something amazing..."

5. Should you change the approach at some point? No. This should be the approach, and this is the way to get them to hear what you have to say.

Here is the language of Malbim on these verses in the prophet, which guides the prophet on how to speak to the people: "At that time, Israel's heart retreated from accepting any wisdom and discipline, and they refused to listen to the prophet at all. Hashem advised him that when he comes to speak to them, he should simply say 'listen, listen or see, see,' not urging them to understand or know, because if he mentions in his words any wisdom or understanding, they will refuse to listen and see.

"If you ask 'What will I gain if they see or hear but don't understand and know? By seeing with their eyes and hearing with their ears, they will ultimately take these things to heart and understand as well, even if that was not the intention, and they will repent and find healing for their soul's ailment.

"And he explained why he commands not to tell them to understand and know: because by the people's hardened hearts against all wisdom, this is the reason their ears have grown heavy and their eyes have closed, and even if they hear that there is wisdom in your words, they would close their ears from hearing and block their eyes from seeing. But by telling them simply 'listen, listen' without saying 'understand and know,' they may see with their eyes, and their hearts will comprehend, etc.
And what he arranged in his words - seeing-hearing-understanding, as we first recognize the Creator through sensory observation of His many creations and deeds, then through tradition passed down from generation to generation, and finally through the proofs of intellect and wisdom, as mentioned later: 'Do you not know, do you not hear, has it not been told to you from the beginning.' Hence he ordered, 'lest they see, hear, understand.' Initially, he flipped them to 'listen, listen or at least see, see,' which is the beginning of understanding."

The prophet asks Hashem how long will he continue acting like that, trying to influence the people when they refuse to understand and recognize the truth? Hashem's answer - until the cities and homes are desolate.

Here is Malbim's wording: "And he said 'how long, Hashem,' shall I continue with them saying they should listen yet not understand, shall they always be rebellious and stray?
And Hashem answered, 'prophesy until their cities be desolate – he answered him.' Yes, continue prophesying, and they will not understand, until their cities are ruined, and everything mentioned here is fulfilled until 'as terebinths and oaks,' then a holy seed will remain, and they will hear, understand, and know.
If they be desolate - at first the cities will be destroyed, and then individual houses will remain, and afterward, the houses too will be desolate without inhabitants, and still, there will be shepherds and their flocks, and then the land in general will lay waste... and it says 'until they are like a terebinth and an oak' that only a remnant will remain, and they will hear the words of prophecy. And he clarified the reason because the remnant will be a holy seed. For the remnant that remains will be a holy seed of righteous ones in the generation of Hezekiah, who returned to Hashem with all their heart.

So What is the Message for Us?

The shocking earthquake contains a higher message for us - to straighten our ways, strengthen, and repent. And yes, for all those in positions of influence over the distant public - do not relent from admonishing the people and trying to bring them back to righteousness.

Why do earthquakes occur, and is this natural phenomenon related to the prophecies of the End of Days? Rabbi Zamir Cohen responds:

Also read:

'Your sins are purged, and your wrongdoing atoned for': Discover the Haftarah of Parashat Yitro