בס"ד
The Haftarah (Ashkenaz) for parshas Kedoshim (Leviticus 19:1 - 21:4) is Amos 9:7 - 15. It is commonly known by its first words הֲלוֹא כִבְנֵי כֻשִׁיִּים, literally are you not like the children of Cush. Cush is a Biblical expression for black Africa and here it compares black slaves, who often served their entire lives, to the children of Israel, who serve the Holy one blessed be He for their entire lives. Amos was active about 100 years after Elijah the prophet. He was from the southern Kingdom of Judah but preached in the northern Kingdom of Israel.
The haftarah opens with a statement of G-d’s power saying just like He brought the Philistines from Crete and the Arameans from what is today Iraq, so too He brought Israel out of Egypt. Amos then says in the name of G-d that He will destroy the current regime but will not totally destroy the people of Israel. Rather the nation will go into exile. There they will be purified like grain is sifted in a sieve. In ancient times wheat kernels were separated by having a bull trample the cut plants. Consequently the kernels were mixed with stones that had to be sifted out. The prophet compares the sinners of Israel to pebbles and condemns them to be killed in war especially if they said that disaster would not approach them.
The Talmud reckons being hard as a rock as an aspect of evil. Generally being tender is considered good and being harsh is considered bad. Specific sins are not mentioned here. Common complaints are rejection of the five books of Moses and the words of the prophets of the day. Other sins boil down to violations of the Ten Commandments.
Those that learn the lessons of the exile will be returned to the land of Israel. Israel will be the leader of the nations. The dynasty of King David will be restored in full glory. The nation will be rebuilt and prosperous and the people will never again be uprooted.
לע"נ האמא מלכה בת חיים ז"ל נלב"ע טז ניסן תשנ"ח
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