Kuntres Shabbos Chazon, 5748

(Sefer HaMaamarim Meluket II, p. 317ff)

By the Grace of G‑d

Shabbos Parshas Devarim, Shabbos Chazon

Erev Tishah beAv, 5741

“Zion shall be redeemed through justice and her captives [This translation of the Hebrew ve'shaveha is based on Likkutei Torah, Devarim 1c.] through tzedakah.” Yeshayahu I:27 — The conclusion of the Haftorah of Shabbos Chazon.

In his discourse of this title delivered in the year 5674,3 the Rebbe (Rashab) asks the following question: The meaning of Zion in this verse is not {specifically} the city of Zion,4 but rather the Jewish people {as a whole5}. Why, then, does the verse use the term Zion? He also notes the verse’s use of the term “captives” [and asks]: who are these captives?

{We may say, that the latter question (who are these captives?), also depends on the interpretation that Zion refers to the Jewish people. For there are those who explain6 that “Zion” refers to the city of Zion, while “her captives” refers to the Jewish people. According to the explanation (in the discourse) that Zion refers to the Jewish people, the question arises: what differentiates between the two categories of “Zion” and “her captives”?}