This week’s haftorah begins by relating how Hashem caused Yaakov’s family to multiply while in Eretz Yisroel. That relates thematically to the parsha, Parshas Shemos, which tells of how Hashem caused Bnei Yisroel to proliferate while they were slaves in Mitzrayim. Additionally, in the parsha, Bnei Yisroel were beginning to feel the pain of exile at the hands of the Egyptians, while further on in the haftorah, the nation is described as being pursued and oppressed. These troubling times are recorded by Yeshayahu HaNavi, who prophesied during some of the lowest spiritual eras in the history of Klal Yisroel.

Throughout the haftorah, the navi exhorts the people several times to recognize that their sinful actions will bring about their downfall. In the midst of this rebuke, however, Yeshayahu suddenly adds the following pasuk, which is well known but rather puzzling, as it seems to be totally out of place:

וְהָיָה בַּיּוֹם הַהוּא יִתָּקַע בְּשׁוֹפָר גָּדוֹל וּבָאוּ הָאֹבְדִים בְּאֶרֶץ אַשּׁוּר וְהַנִּדָּחִים בְּאֶרֶץ מִצְרָיִם וְהִשְׁתַּחֲווּ לַה’ בְּהַר הַקֹּדֶשׁ בִּירוּשָׁלָ‍ִם

And it will come to pass that on that day, a great shofar will be sounded; and those who are lost in the land of Ashur and those cast away in the land of Mitzrayim will come, and they will worship Hashem on the holy mountain in Yerushalayim. (Yeshayahu 27:13)

One would think that when the navi is describing spiritual pitfalls, exile and oppression, it wouldn’t be appropriate to speak of the future Redemption. However, in reality, this is the perfect place for this pasuk.
How many times have we found ourselves in a tough spot? Maybe it was a health crisis ח”ו, or workplace issues, or some financial problems, or maybe it was just an old fashioned “bad day.” Today, looking back on those periods in our lives, we are able to see how it all worked out. We are also able to imagine what it might have been like if we had only known when and how those situations would end.

If only we could have known that the storm was about to clear and that the salvation was just around the corner… that the feelings of emptiness and despair that accompanied those turbulent times would all but fade away in the blink of an eye – how much easier it would have been to deal with that respective problem. Health was restored, the dispute was resolved, the bills were paid, and all it took was a little music to turn that bad day into good.

The navi, in his attempt to win over the nation, was making it abundantly clear that the Ribono Shel Olam always takes pity on His people and mercifully prepares the refuah before the makkah. By making this known to Klal Yisroel, this famous pasuk effectively acts as a beacon of light at the end of the dark tunnel of exile. No matter how long and how dark this galus is, Hashem will never forsake us, and He will eventually gather us in and bring us back to Him with the coming of Moshiach.

Uva’u Haovdim (or “Uba’uh Haovdim” – as it was originally titled) is probably one of R’ Shlomo Carlebach’s most noted niggunim. Whether you are familiar with the rhythmically repetitious first and second parts or not, there is one thing that I can say with confidence: there is hardly a Jew in the world who does not know the hopeful high part – bi’Yerushalayim, bi’Yerushalayim / bi’Yerushalayim, bi’Yerushalayim!

This celebrated song was first recorded at a live performance that took place at the Lane Sound Cube in New York City on October 22nd, 1974. It was then released on an EP as a single along with his now equally well-known “Mimkomcha” (as in the one that is often used for V’shomru). And while this tune was recorded and re-recorded many times by Carlebach and many others over the years, I wanted to feature the original recording in today’s post in order to reintroduce ourselves to the melody as it was sung BEFORE it turned into the popular crowd-pleaser we now know it to be.

A glimmer of light, a flicker of hope – Yeshayahu HaNavi gives us something to hold onto, something to look forward to, as we navigate the darkness of galus. And with this memorable tune, R’ Shlomo reminds us that no matter where we might find ourselves, we will always have a reason to sing.

Wishing every one of you a very promising Shabbos!