Alef Kaballah
Dimensions of Redemption
2 August 2022
Shabbat Chazon
Ninth Av
This discourse was taught by the Lubavitcher Rebbe on the Shabbat before 9th Av (the fast commemorating the destruction of both Temples) in 1984, called Shabbat Chazon, the Shabbat of the Vision.
It is called this because the Haftorah begins with the words 'Vision of Isaiah', from the beginning of the Book of Isaiah. The prophet goes on to castigate the Jewish people for their unfaithfulness to G-d. This will lead to destruction. Then finally he speaks of the ultimate redemption, and the Haftorah ends with the line 'Zion will be redeemed through Justice, and its captives [will be redeemed] through charity. (Is. 1:27)'.
The discourse explains that this teaching is always relevant, not only just before 9th Av. 'Zion' means the innermost Divine Soul, and 'its captives' means the body of the person and his or her thoughts, speech and action. While the soul is always pure, sometimes the person's situation makes it inactive. And the desires of the body can lead it into very unwholesome situations. But this can be repaired through 'Justice', meaning Torah study, and Charity, meaning all practical commandments. The Torah particularly helps the soul and the charity and other Mitzvot helps the body.