This week on Footsteps of the Messiah we will cover the haftarah and it's relation to the season. We are in the homestretch of a few things this week, the week of July 23-29, 2023. This portion is usually if not always read the same week that Tisha B'av occurs. So why do I say the homestretch? Well the three weeks of negativity or also called Bein HaMetzarim end on Thursday, Av 9. On Shabbos we begin the SEVEN WEEKS OR HAFTAROT OF CONSOLATION also called SHIVA D'NECHEMTA in Aramaic. From this point, this Shabbat until the end of the year, in particular 5783, we read this plus 6 more haftarot of peace restoration and affirmation, comforting words to Am Israel all from the prophet Isaiah...by the way if you count it up, Isaiah is the premier PROPHET OF THE HAFTARAH portions throughout the year! We seem to see more haftarot portions from him than any other Prophet. All this and more on this week's episode! Please write us at FootstepsOfTheMessiah@gmail.com with ideas, questions or comments. G-d bless you! Shalom!