Daily Tanach Sunday 27th Tishreiy Sefer Yirmiyah Chapter 8: The Pain of Zion and Hashem’s Reproof

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Chapter 8: The Pain of Zion and Hashem’s Reproof

1.      Hashem’s Judgment and People’s Silence

  • Gathering in fortified cities: The people sit still and gather in silence due to their awareness of Hashem’s punishment for their sins.
  • Poisoned water as a sign: Hashem has given His people poisoned water to drink, symbolizing their transgressions against Him.

2.      Unfulfilled Hopes and Devastation

  • Longing for peace: Despite hoping for peace and healing, the people instead face terror and despair.
  • Invasion from Dan: The neighing of Dan’s horses shakes the land as invaders come to consume its produce, cities, and inhabitants.

3.      Serpents and Suffering

  • Serpents sent by Hashem: Hashem sends serpents (adders that cannot be charmed) to bite His people, representing their unavoidable suffering.
  • Grief and sickness: The prophet expresses overwhelming grief and a heart sickened by the people’s plight.

4.      The Cry of a Distant People

  • Questioning Zion’s state: Voices from afar question whether Hashem remains in Zion and why the people have provoked Him with idols and vanity.
  • Passing of time: The harvest is past, summer has ended, and salvation is absent, leaving the people in despair.

5.      The Wound of the Daughter of My People

  • Mourning for the wounded: The prophet is deeply wounded by the grief and dismay affecting the daughter of the people.
  • Lack of healing: The absence of a balm in Gilead or a physician to restore health reflects the hopelessness and anguish permeating the land.

6.      Unquenchable Tears

  • Grief over loss: The prophet wishes for an endless flow of tears to mourn day and night for those slain among the people.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.