A Sweet Responsibility: Shabbat HaGadol 5785 – Haftorah Malachi

Shabbat HaGadol calls us to look ahead—to Pesach, to redemption, and to the kind of nation we are becoming. The Haftorah begins with a vision of spiritual renewal:

 וְעָרְבָה לַה' מִנְחַת יְהוּדָה וִירוּשָלָ‍ִם, Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem shall be pleasing to Hashem. (Malachi 3:4)

The word וְעָרְבָה, from the root ערב, holds within it a world of meaning—sweetness, interconnection, and responsibility. These three layers speak powerfully to the season of Pesach and to this moment in Jewish history.

Sweetness appears in Yirmiyahu’s description of redemption: ושנתי ערבה לי, My sleep was sweet to me. True redemption brings a sense of wholeness and peace. The root ערב also conveys the idea of blending—ta’arovet. As in a symphony, each instrument carries its own distinct sound. Yet it’s the harmony—the intentional mixture—that creates something beautiful and whole. So too with the Jewish people. Our lives are interwoven, our destinies bound together across generations and continents. The strength of our nation lies not in uniformity, but in unity—the sacred blending of individuals into a people with shared purpose.

From that connection flows responsibility. As Chazal teach:

כל ישראל ערבים זה בזה, all of Israel are responsible for one another. The word עֵרָבוֹן—meaning collateral or guarantee—shares the same root. Spiritually, we serve as each other’s guarantors. My mitzvah uplifts you; your pain obligates me. Our bond is not based on feeling—it’s built into the fabric of who we are.

Since October 7, we have lived this truth. We’ve seen extraordinary unity—Jews showing up for one another with prayer, support, and deep connection. This, too, is a mincha—a collective offering, born of sorrow and strength. As we prepare for Pesach, may our togetherness, our ערבות, be the sweetness that makes our offering pleasing to Hashem.