This Shabbat, Sepharadim read a haftarah that describes God appointing Yirmeyahu as a prophet. It’s a good fit for Parashat Shemot, which is about God appointing Moshe as a prophet and a leader.

As you read the parashah and the haftarah, try to find pesukim that show these things happening:

This haftarah draws our attention to the similarities between Moshe and Yirmeyahu, who both eventually displayed courage to overcome their fears.

Ashkenazim read a different haftarah, from the prophet Yeshayahu. It opens with the word הַבָּאִים (ha-ba’im, those who arrive), and this reminds us of the first pasuk in Parashat Shemot, which contains that same word.

In our parashah, “ha-ba’im” refers to Benei Yisrael arriving in מִצְרַיִם (Mitzrayim, Egypt). In our haftarah, “ha-ba’im” refers to a more perfect world that will eventually arrive.

One big theme of Yeshayahu’s prophecy is that, in the future, God will again redeem the Jewish people:

Even though Benei Yisrael would eventually leave Mitzrayim in the days of the Torah, long before Yeshayahu lived, Yeshayahu talks about people who are still there and who still need redemption. Perhaps this teaches us that there are still people who might be lost or “stuck” in places like Mitzrayim.

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