Harry Potter and the 3 Weeks pt. 2

 

Not only can the periods when we had and did not have a Beit Hamikdash be compared to the periods without and with Voldemort, many similarities can be drawn between the actual events that took place as well as the characters who arose in those times. As the period of the first Beit Hamikdash was nearing the end, there were two prophets and leaders in Israel who had found themselves at a difference of opinion. These men were Yermiahu and Chananya, and their story is remarkably similar to that of Dumbledore and Fudge. The story begins in the end of the fourth book when Harry told Dumbledore that Voldemort had returned. Dumbledore, however, did not seem entirely surprised to hear this news. He then made a bold statement to the school that Voldemort was back, and he was basing this on more than the testimony of a 14-year-old boy. His brilliance and track record of being correct most of the time gained him the belief of those under his influence. This was up until Fudge came out and rejected the notion that the Dark Lord had indeed returned. There was an immediate shift in the dedication of the people from Dumbledore’s side to Fudge’s. What’s fascinating is that anyone who would open there eyes would see just how much sense Dumbledore was making. People were missing, people were dying, and there was an appearance of the dark mark not even one year prior. It should have been obvious that Voldemort was soon to return. I believe their denial was in two-fold. Firstly, it’s much easier to accept good news. Secondly, and more importantly, they were convinced that their interpretation was correct. Voldemort had died the night he attempted to kill Harry, and there is no magic that can bring people back to life.

Dumbledore, however, possessed a broader prospective. He was able to look at the same occurrence and more accurately understand it. He had a hunch that Voldemort had made horcruxes, he had a hunch as to how Harry stayed alive, and he had a hunch as to what happened to Voldemort if it wasn’t death. To a less keen eye, Voldemort was dead, and he wasn’t coming back. Dumbledore asked fudge to see reason and acknowledge the position he’s in. Acknowledging that Dumbledore was correct would affect his popularity, but would ultimately benefit the people on the whole. Fudge decided to maintain his resolve, and Dumbledore went his separate way (his exact words being “We have reached a parting of the ways.” Time eventually revealed that Dumbledore was correct, and Fudge lost all credibility as disaster struck.

Yirmiahu makes a bold statement as well that the Jews were going to be attacked and kicked out of Israel. Yirmiahu’s brilliance and track record may have eventually won over the people over whom he had influence, but there was another man, Chananya, who had a great deal of influence, and when he came out and rejected the notion that the Jews would be kicked out, there was an immediate shift in the dedication of the people. What’s fascinating is that anyone who would open their eyes would see just how much sense Yirmiahu was making. People were rebelling, people were violating the commandments of Hashem, and they didn’t warrant Hashem’s continual protection. It should have been obvious that the Jews were soon to be taken over. I believe their denial was in two-fold. Firstly, it’s much easier to accept good news. Secondly, and more importantly, they were convinced that their interpretation was correct. Chananya had a prophecy with relation to the Jews and their safety status, and without getting into the specifics of the prophecy or his interpretation, on the surface, Chanaya’s interpretation seems to be a logical one.

Yirmiahu, however, possessed a broader prospective. He was able to look at the same prophecy and more accurately understand it. He knew that the safety Chananya had understood was a misinterpretation. Yirmiahu approached Chananya and asked him to see reason and acknowledge the position he’s putting himself in. Chananya decided to maintiain his resolve, and, as it says in Yimiyahu 28, 11, the prophet Yirmiahu went his separate way. Time eventually revealed that Yirmiahu was correct, and Chananya lost all credibility as disaster struck.