There are no coincidences in Jewish history.
The haftarah for parshat Ki Tavo,: taken from Isaiah 60, is one of the most uplifting visions in the Bible. “Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you” (Isaiah 60:1). After the somber warnings and rebuke in the Torah reading, Isaiah offers a breathtaking panorama of redemption: Jerusalem restored, nations streaming toward it, and the Jewish people dwelling in peace.
But amid these verses of light stands a striking declaration: “Violence (chamas) shall no longer be heard in your land, neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; but you shall call your walls Salvation and your gates Praise” (Isaiah 60:18).
The meaning of Hamas in Hebrew
The Hebrew word “chamas” is not just a generic term. It is the very word that today designates Hamas, the terror organization responsible for spilling so much Jewish blood. That the prophet Isaiah used this precise term is nothing short of providential. He foretold a future in which chamas – violence, robbery, cruelty – will vanish from Israel’s borders. Could there be a more direct commentary on our current struggle?
Earlier this week, Israel launched a daring attack against the Hamas leadership ensconced in Qatar, a haven for terror masterminds who thought they could orchestrate murder from the comfort of luxury hotels. By targeting them, Israel sent a clear message: There is no sanctuary for those who embody chamas. This was not just a military maneuver. It was a step toward the realization of Isaiah’s vision, a glimpse of the day when violence will be silenced and Jerusalem’s gates will resound only with praise.
For too long, Hamas has wreaked lethal havoc, such as suicide bombings, rocket barrages, kidnappings, the barbarity of Oct. 7. Its very name signals what the terrorist group stands for: unrepentant violence and cruelty. God promised that such chamas would one day disappear. Israel’s actions bring us closer to that promise.
The prophet does not stop at the removal of evil. He points to renewal: “Your people shall all be righteous; they shall inherit the land forever” (Isaiah 60:21). The defeat of chamas is not the end of the story. It is the precondition for Israel’s flourishing. Once violence is uprooted, walls can be called “Salvation” and gates “Praise,” and cities will be filled with thanksgiving rather than sirens.
This has been the eternal pattern of Jewish history: destruction of evil followed by rebirth of hope. Every tunnel dismantled, every rocket launcher destroyed, every terror mastermind eliminated is not just a tactical success. It is a fulfillment of the prophetic mandate to cleanse the land of chamas. And every new school built, every new family home established in Judea, Samaria, or the Galilee is part of the radiant future Isaiah foresaw.
The world, of course, condemns Israel when it takes such steps. Yet Isaiah’s words cut through the noise: Redemption demands confrontation. Peace cannot be purchased by appeasing terror. It comes only when chamas is uprooted. The Jewish people, restored to their land by divine promise, are charged with the task of ensuring that violence will no longer be heard within our borders.
As we gather this Shabbat to read the haftarah of “Ki Tavo,” we will hear Isaiah’s words with fresh urgency. The clash with Hamas is not merely a contemporary conflict – it is part of a divine drama stretching across millennia. In striking at Hamas, Israel is not only defending its citizens. It is advancing the prophetic vision of a land where violence is silenced, justice prevails, and Jerusalem shines with God’s glory. May it happen soon.