The Cyrus Declaration

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Historical and Prophetic Setting
Rabbi Menachem Leibtag
After the seventy years of the Babylonian exile come to an end with the Cyrus declaration, a small number of Jews decide to return to Eretz Yisrael while the majority of Jews choose to stay in Babylon and Persia. The story of the Megillat Esther in Shushan takes place after Cyrus's declaration with those Jews who did not return.
Destruction to Restoration - Chart and Explanation
Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss
"Houses and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in this land" (Jer. 32:15)

The chart below displays the story of Am Yisrael during the last 300 years of the Biblical era. It depicts the dramatic story of the transition between the destruction of the kingdoms of Israel and Yehuda and the Temple to the return to Zion and the building of the second Temple. The optimistic conclusion of the Tanakh reflects the prophetic perception of the revival and rebuilding of Am Yisrael in its land.
Answers for Self Study Questions
"Houses and fields and vineyards shall yet again be bought in this land" (Jer. 32:15)
Rabbi Dr. Yehoshua Reiss
Please see the attached answers for the self study questions for Tisha B'Av.

The chart below displays the story of Am Yisrael during the last 300 years of the Biblical era. It depicts the dramatic story of the transition between the destruction of the kingdoms of Israel and Yehuda and the Temple to the return to Zion and the building of the second Temple. The optimistic conclusion of the Tanakh reflects the prophetic perception of the revival and rebuilding of Am Yisrael in its land.
Yeshayahu 44- 45 - Matan Al HaPerek
Rabbi David Sabato
In these two chapters, God is revealed as the God of the entire world and all of its inhabitants: in the center of Chapter 44 (9-20), there is a long, mocking depiction of idol worshippers and craftsmen of idols wherein their futility is illustrated.

At the climax of Chapter 45, which deals with the prophecy about Koresh (Cyrus), God turns to the multitude of nations to abandon their idols and to instead serve God in unity.
The Vision of the Future Temple
Part 1 - The Temple with God’s Glory in Its Midst
Dr. Tova Ganzel
The final nine chapters of Sefer Yechezkel set forth a vision of the future Temple. These chapters are rich in detail about the dimensions of the building, the various sacrifices, land inheritances, and more.

It is not coincidental that Yechezkel’s prophecy about the future Temple comes now, a point when the nation has become accustomed to the reality of life in exile, without an active Jewish center in the land. In their new reality, the exiles are left uncertain about their future and their status.

The detailed but opaque description of the future Beit HaMikdash carries a dual – and indeed self-contradictory – message: on one hand, the Mikdash is presented as something concrete and real; on the other, it cannot actually be built, at least not at this stage.

The prophet describes the return of God’s glory to the Temple, creating an exalting sense of God’s complete presence, followed by a harsh description of the sins that led to the destruction of the Mikdash and the departure of God’s presence. The sudden fall from such lofty exaltation to such depths seems to reflect the fact that one of the conditions for the return of God’s glory to the Temple is that “the house of Israel will no more profane My holy Name”.
Background of Shivat Tzion
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Yirmiyahu predicted that within just seventy years the Babylonian Empire would be humbled and the Jews restored to their homeland. However, Yirmiyahu alluded to multiple counts of seventy, underscoring the utter opacity of the prophet’s prediction.

Cyrus was the king who finally fulfilled Yirmiyahu’s prophecy – at least the first count of seventy. Still, the mystery shrouding the end of the seventy years heightens the dramatic irony in the opening of Ezra. The people who had been expelled to Babylonia had not fully anticipated the destruction, preferring to believe the conveniently optimistic message of the false prophets. Those who did arrive were traumatized and had little meaningful hope of redemption. While Yirmiyahu had predicted that the Temple would be rebuilt in relatively short order, it wasn’t entirely clear when exactly it would be rebuilt, by whom and how. There was no meaningful plan in place for a return to Zion. The Jews were just becoming comfortable in their new surroundings as they received news of Cyrus’ proclamation. And so when Cyrus did issue his proclamation, relatively few heeded the call. Those who did return were reproached by Chagai and Zekharia for their apathy, and required constant goading and emphatic leadership to finally complete the Temple.

It is against this backdrop of unanticipated trauma, unmitigated disaster, renewed comfort and prophetic uncertainty that the period of Shivat Tzion was ushered in. These challenges, and the overall sense of ambivalence, continued to plague the returnees.
Introduction to Ezra-Nehemya
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
As opposed to the conclusion of Sefer Melakhim, Divrei Ha-Yamim sees hope for the future of the Judean Commonwealth. The city can and will be rebuilt and the Davidic line will be restored. In this sense, Ezra-Nehemya represents the fulfillment of Divrei Ha-Yamim’s optimistic vision for the future, and is properly viewed as not only a continuation but even a culmination of that work.

There can be no question that the dominant personality the first chapter of Ezra is Cyrus himself. Jewish leadership is all but absent. As opposed to the prophets, who were spurned time and again by their Jewish audience, Cyrus’ message is well received. Whereas Yirmiyahu failed miserably in his attempts to goad the people to follow his commands, Cyrus succeeded spectacularly.

In the prophetic period’s twilight, it is no longer a Jewish prophet who leads the Jews. Now, it is a gentile monarch (Cyrus), a Jewish scholar (Ezra), and a Jewish statesman (Nehemya). Cyrus’ dominance in Ezra-Nehemya’s opening chapter points to a wider motif of Shivat Tzion: the abatement of prophecy is marked by new forms of leadership and new modes for the Jewish people to connect with God.
An Imperfect Inauguration
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Having resettled in their homes, the Jews are ready to turn to the task of rebuilding the Temple. In the seventh month they construct the altar, and in the second month following the first wave of aliya, the Levites are appointed to oversee the process of the reconstruction of the Temple. The foundation is laid and a great inaugural celebration is held in which the elderly people cry remembering the first Mikdash.

However, there are several signs that not all is well. The Altar was built without the Temple. Only a small group participated in the building of the Altar. Fear of the local population existed in the background of all of this activity. Only limited sacrifices were offered. The building of the first Mikdash was a grand and independent project. This project was a small one under Persian rule.

The message of the chapter’s narrative is two-fold. Even joyous occasions may be marked with elements of sadness. Human reality is complex and chapter three shines a spotlight on the tensions inherent to the human condition. Second, the fact that a celebratory moment is imperfect is no reason to avoid rejoicing altogether. An imperfect altar dedication is still cause for joy.
Confronting Anti-Semitism
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Ezra-Nehemya is sub-divided into three major sections: Each of the three major segments evinces a similar organizational structure: (a) aliya, (b) a confrontation with antisemitism, (c) support of the Temple/Jerusalem, and (d) working toward ensuring the everyday functioning of society.

On a local level, chapters 4-6 of Ezra neatly break down in similar fashion. The three chapters sub-divide into three sections. All three segments consist of the enemies’ efforts to stall the construction, a response from the Jews or king, and a resolution.

The author of Ezra-Nehemya implies that although the events of Shivat Tzion transpired over the course of nearly a century, featuring varied monarchs, Jewish leaders, and gentile antagonists, fundamentally the story is the same. The major motifs in Shivat Tzion are recurring: the challenge of abandoning comfortable diaspora communities and returning to Judea; the need for proactivity in combating antisemitism and rebuilding; and the importance of confronting the social rifts in our community. By presenting the stories of Shivat Tzion in chronologically interwoven, structurally repetitious fashion, our author suggests that these challenges are universal to the era of Shivat Tzion, and possibly all eras as well.
Zekharya: Spiritual Visionary
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
Haggai and Zekharya, while radically different – Haggai is straightforward and political, Zekharya quasi-mystical and spiritual – can in fact be seen as two sides of the same coin. Similar to Haggai, Zekharya’s message says that while things may appear grim at present, in the long run they will turn around dramatically. However, while Haggai calls for the Jews to roll up their sleeves and begin the work. Zekharya cries for repentance, suggesting that the rebuilding of Jerusalem will materialize regardless. Throughout Zekharya, the Jews’ role is to strive in matters of spirituality, and God will take care of the rest.

Jerusalem will be so expansive that it will not be able to contain its population with walls. The expansive nature of the city is, of course, in sharp contrast to the meager numbers that plagued the community of returnees.

God commands the Jews of Babylonia that the exile has ended, and they must now return to the holy city of Jerusalem. Eventually, the other nations will join the Jews in worshipping God in Jerusalem.
The Pessah Sacrifice
Rabbi Tzvi Sinensky
The Jews restart the construction of the Beit HaMikdash, but are met with opposition by the locals, who turn to Darius to complain. However, Darius locates Cyrus’ letter, and support the Jews’ right to continue building. The Mikdash is finally completed more than four years later, during the month of Adar, during the sixth year of Darius’ reign. The Jews celebrate the dedication by offering hundreds of sacrifices and appointing the Kohanim and Leviim. Shortly afterwards, after purifying themselves, they offer the Pessah sacrifice on the 14^th of Nissan.

The remarkable resemblances between this Pessah sacrifice and Hizkiyahu’s, as described in Divrei HaYamim, indicates the religious potential of even the most sinful and uneducated of communities. The Jews of Hizkiyahu’s time were largely recalcitrant, to the point that many refused to participate in the sacrifice and celebration. At the time of Ezra, the Jews were similarly unobservant. Yet both communities were swayed, even transformed, under the influence of extraordinary events and historic leadership. Our narratives are testaments to the deep religious recesses of the Jews’ soul, and the capacity of inspired leaders to spark that passion.
Ezra & Nehemia Celebrate Jerusalem's Jubilee
Tanach Study
Shani Taragin | Hour and 12 minutes
Through an exploration Sefer Nehemia—textual analysis as well as its context and chronological setting, we can understand the challenges of the time and the religious message it carries with it through Shivat Tzion and the rebuilding of Jerusalem.

Courtesy of www.tanachstudy.com