Devorim
Accounting and Tragedy
From the Haftorah Series

The Shabbos before Tisha B’Av is called Parshas Chazon because of the first word of this Haftorah, “chazon” or “vision.” In unflinching detail, the prophet Isaiah describes the destruction the Jews will endure for their sins. Comparing the rebellion of the Jews to a woman who has defiled herself with prostitution, Isaiah delivers the most indicting rebuke in all of Tanach. Yet in spite of its harshness, this Haftorah still contains the ray of hope that repentance is always possible.