The Journey of Return
During Aseret Yemei Teshuva, we read two Haftarot. On Tzom Gedaliah, Yeshayahu declares, דִּרְשׁ֥וּ ה' בְּהִמָּצְא֑ו, seek Hashem when He is close. On Shabbat Shuva, Hoshea calls, שׁ֚וּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל עַ֖ד ה' אֱלֹקֶ֑יךָ, return, O Israel, to Hashem your G-d. Both prophets lived during the same period, addressing overlapping audiences. So, why do they both stress repentance, and what unique insights do they offer for our Yemei Ratzon?
Understanding the backgrounds of Yeshayahu and Hoshea illuminates their distinct messages. Yeshayahu, from shevet Yehuda and a royal relative, had access to leadership. His message is one of sweeping transformation, יַעֲזֹ֤ב רָשָׁע֙ דַּרְכּ֔וֹ, let the wicked forsake his ways. With the king's power, immediate change was possible. Yeshayahu speaks in terms of grand, natural metaphors, where mountains sing and trees clap. His teshuvah is fast and forceful.
In contrast, Hoshea, from the shevet of Reuven, spoke to the common people. He recognized that for the average person, change is gradual, with frustrations along the way. His message encourages a slow, steady process — from שׁ֚וּבָה יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל to וְשׁ֖וּבוּ אֶל־ה. Ibn Ezra comments that teshuvah happens at a slow pace, "מעט מעט" — little by little. The soft imagery of dew and slowly unfurling flowers mirrors this idea of patient, sustained growth.
Yeshayahu and Hoshea advocate teshuvah but their methods differ. As we hear these messages during this season of introspection and growth, we should feel encouraged that there is more than one path to teshuvah. To paraphrase Robert Frost, there are two paths before me and I have chosen the one that speaks to my nature and this has made all the difference.
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