Dear Congregation Beth Ohr,
Oh, Ovadiah. The prophet whose entire known recorded body of work spans just 21 verses.
Our member Howie Belgrod will chant this selection, called the Book of Ovadiah, as the Haftarah portion this Shabbat. The main reason we read Ovadiah's prophecy as the Haftarah for the week's Torah portion VaYishlakh is because of the parallel theme of the brothers Jacob and Esau. The Torah portion details the brothers' dramatic reunion; the Haftarah speaks to a later biblical time of tensions between the Israelites and the Edomites, descended respectively from Jacob and Esau. Ovadiah rails against the Edomites for not having helped their Israelite brothers during their time of need, and promises utter destruction to the Edomites in retaliation.
I have no idea if Ovadiah proclaimed his prophecy to the Edomites themselves, or if he kept his words for the Israelites, but either way, it's difficult reading. There's a lot of doom and gloom, fire and brimstone. He doesn't have much that's nice to say to the Edomites.
One phrase of Ovadiah's stuck out to me as I was prepare this week's weekday Torah reading:
וּבְהַ֥ר צִיּ֛וֹן תִּהְיֶ֥ה פְלֵיטָ֖ה וְהָ֣יָה קֹ֑דֶשׁ
On the Mount of Zion a remnant [of Israelites] will survive; it shall be holy.
(Ovadiah 1:17)
This phrase reminded me of Jacob's reasoning in our Torah portion, where he decides to separate his family and assets into two separate camps, thinking,
“If Esau comes to the one camp and attacks it, the other camp may yet escape.”
(Genesis 32:9)
The word "escape" in Hebrew in this context is לִפְלֵיטָֽה, the same root as פְלֵיטָ֖ה in the Haftarah, translated here as "a remnant."
There are so many people today fleeing destruction, hoping to be that lucky remnant that escapes and survives. Perhaps you saw the news about the slave market in Libya, including an emotional interview with a Nigerian man who was captured by Libyan slave traders. We hear about the continuing persecution faced by the Rohingya in Myanmar. Syrians flee terror in their own country, as do Colombians caught in ongoing armed conflict. There are so many problems in so many regions that it's impossible to keep track of them all.
As you listen to this week's song, a setting of Ovadiah's promise that a holy remnant will survive, I urge you to think about how lucky we are, each of us, to be living in a place where we enjoy basic human rights and freedoms. What can we do to ensure that all people have the same access and opportunities that we do?
CLICK HERE to listen to UvHar Tsiyon
Composed by Cantor Sarah Myerson
Text from Ovadiah 1:17
Recorded by Ilya Shneyveys (guitar, bass uke, percussion) and Cantor Sarah Myerson (voice, bass clarinet)
Wishing you a Shabbat Shalom; an isle of peace in the midst of so much chaos and confusion,
Cantor Sarah Myerson
