Isaiah 49:14 - 51:3
This week's haftorah is the second of a series of seven "haftorot of Consolation." These seven haftarot commence on the Shabbat following Tisha b'Av and continue until Rosh Hashanah.
The exiled Jewish people express their concern that G‑d has abandoned them. G‑d reassures them that it is not so, comparing His love and mercy for His people to that of a mother for her children,
and even greater than that, too.
The prophet Isaiah then touchingly describes the ingathering of the exiles which will occur
with the Messiah's arrival and returning to the initial subject matter of this haftorah, that of the Jewish people's complaint of being abandoned by G-d,
he reminds them of their rebellious behavior that brought about the exile and suffering.
He concludes with encouraging words, reminding us of what had happened to our
ancestors, Abraham and Sarah. Just as they were blessed with a child when they had all but given up hope, so too, G‑d will send
us the Messiah.
