There’s the Louisiana Purchase, and then there’s Jeremiah’s Purchase in the Haftorah reading for Behar. True, these purchases took place many generations apart, were half-way across the world from each other, and while the Lousiana Purchase was thousands of miles and millions of acres, and Jeremiah’s was just a small single plot of land… here’s what they have in common: They both represent future hopes and dreams, and faith, optimism and opportunity.
Here’s the synposis of the Haftorah (from Jeremiah 32) on Chabad.org:
This week’s haftorah discusses the purchase of a field by Jeremiah, echoing one of the themes of this week’s Torah portion–the purchase and redemption of real estate.
Jeremiah was confined in King Zedekiah‘s royal compound for having prophesied the destruction of Jerusalem and the exile of the Jewish people. There, G‑d revealed Himself to the prophet and informs him that he will be approached by his cousin Hanamel with an offer to purchase his ancestral lands. G-d instructs Jeremiah to accept this offer. Indeed, Hanamel arrived in the compound with the offer, and Jeremiah accepted. Money was transferred and a document of purchase was penned in the presence of witnesses. The prophet then gavs the deed to his disciple Baruch son of Neriah for safekeeping, and instructed him to store it in an earthenware vessel where it will remain for many years. Jeremiah then conveys G‑d’s message, the symbolism inherent in this transaction: “So says the L-rd of Hosts, the G‑d of Israel: ‘Houses and fields and vineyards shall be purchased again in this land.'” Thus conveying a message of hope even on the eve of destruction and exile. Yes the Jews would be exiled, but they would also eventually be returned to their land.
This Haftorah is mostly about purchasing a piece of property. In fact, this passage is an important biblical source in Talmudic legal texts about sale of land, deeds and documents. But beneath and beyond the legalese and the property at stake there’s a far more important message here. Israel was at the brink of national calamity, and Jeremiah knew it. The enemy was at her gates. Jeremiah himself was the prophet of the impending destruction. Israel seemed to be lost. G-d’s instructions to buy property now, is a tangible and physical sign of hope. Yes, the market will rebound! There will come a time that this land will have value agan. Do not despair of it future!
Think of Israelis who purchased apartments in Jerusalem in the 50’s and 60’s, when Israel was a fledgling country, struggling to survive. Today, a mere half-century later, Jerusalem is one the hottest real-estate properties commanding high prices. In fact, now and then young Israelis take to the streets protesting the lack of affordable housing.
Buying when the market is down (as Jeremiah did) is more than a symbol of hope, it is a tangible investment that demonstrates hope, commitement and belief in the future.