“Find Your Vision,” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings

July 17, 2026 | 3 Av 5786

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection as we move toward Shabbat. You can also listen to it as a podcast.

We are now in a dark week in the Jewish calendar because of the spiritual melancholy we commemorate on Tisha B’Av for the destruction of the ancient Temple in Jerusalem and other momentous but sad and devastating occasions of the Jewish people.

Just as we open a new book of the Torah for this week’s portion to delve into Deuteronomy, the prophetic reading for this week reminds us how quickly national stability can crumble because of selfishness, misleading promises, and self righteous indignation. As Ecclesiastes noted, there is nothing new under the sun. Contemporary stories have similar ancient roots.

The Biblical book of Isaiah begins with the word, Hazon, which means prophecy or vision. (Isaiah 1:1) He saw clearly the problem of a people and nation that turned their backs on doing what is right. As Proverbs correctly states: For lack of vision, people lose restraint. (29:18) Isaiah yearned for the people’s connection to a larger vision of integrity and righteousness.

He foresaw the pending disaster of destruction.

Next week, we will begin the ascent of seven weeks toward Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur in our own journey toward returning to our best selves. It is a call to resist our baseless behaviors toward the release of that which is good and just.

The name of this Shabbat is Shabbat Hazon. It expresses a longing and hope that vision can lift people out of despair. It takes effort and work to repair the damage waged by sinfulness and wrongdoing. The prophet wanted us to consider the consequences of unfettered greed in order to turn back to God and set in motion our own turning. This is our story for the potential of inspiration, of leadership, and of moral character.

The holidays will be here before we know it. They will be waiting for us.

Shabbat Shalom! שבת שלום

Let me know what you think. Connect with me here.

Rabbi Elaine Zecher