The Virtue of Purchasing a Jonah Haftarah

Moadim l'simcha,

1. Indeed, it is customary to make an effort to purchase the Jonah haftarah. Rabbi Avraham Palagi zt"l wrote about this in his book Zichron Avraham (Drush 7), and this is his language: We have a correct reason why people are eager to read this haftarah publicly with its blessings, as everyone rushes after it. This is because it contains two evils that incorporate all wickedness in the world and repentance alongside it, encouraging those who return to Hashem with complete repentance. Here, one can witness the extent of the damage from the sinner and the greatness of the merit of repentance, which is not found in any other haftarah like it. Therefore, they will run to read it in the congregation, to serve as a reminder before our eyes to return with complete repentance.

2. There is a special merit in purchasing a Jonah haftarah, as it strengthens one’s ability to repent; it is also a merit for wealth. Refer to the book of the king in his banquet, part 1 (page 78), where the Rebbe Maharash (of Lubavitch) stated that the Jonah haftarah grants strength for repentance and is also a merit for wealth. Furthermore, the late Rabbi Chaim of Ruzhin zt"l asked his brother-in-law, the Rebbe of Lubavitch zt"l, why so many strive to read the Jonah haftarah, to which he replied that there are many merits in it.

With blessings,

Hillel Meirs