Comfot, Comfort. Its On the Way!

This week’s Parsha is called V’Eschanan. In the Parsha, Moshe (Moses) tells the Jewish people how he begged G-d to allow him to enter the Holy Land. G-d refuses instead asking Moshe to ascend a mountain from where he will be granted a view of the land.

Moshe continues his “repetition” of what the Torah has taught up until this point. He describes the Exodus from Egypt and the Giving of the Torah. Moshe calls them unprecedented historical events in human history. Moshe said the following: "Has there ever occurred this great thing, or has the likes of it ever been heard? Did ever a people hear the voice of G-d speaking out of the midst of the fire... and live? ... You were shown, to know, that the L-rd is G-d... there is none else beside Him."

Mosh goes on to predict that in future generations the people will turn away from G-d, worship idols, and be exiled from their land and scattered amongst the nations but will ultimately, re-seek G-d and His commandments.

Our Parshah also includes a repetition of the Ten Commandments, and the verses of the Shema which declare the fundamentals of the Jewish faith: the unity of G-d ("Hear O Israel: the L-rd our G-d, the L-rd is one"); the mitzvot to love G-d, study His Torah, and bind "these words" as tefillin on our arms and heads, and inscribe them in the mezuzot affixed on the doorposts of our homes.

This Shabbat is called “Shabbat Nachamu” – the Shabbat of comfort. The name of the Shabbat comes from the haftarah in which it states “Nachamu nachamu ami-Comfort, comfort My people, says your G-d” (Isaiah 40:1). This is the first of seven “Haftarat of Consolotaion” that follow Tisha B’Av, the Ninth of Av.

The Jewish people have been compared throughout history to the cycle of the moon (which can also be an explanation as to why we operate according to the lunar calendar). We have grown and diminished. We have been at full glow, and we have been utterly invisible. On the 15^th of every month, the moon is full. We are taught that this day is special as it continues to teach that we need to be at our fullest level of joy and happiness.

The fifteenth of Av has an even greater display of joy, as it follows the deep sorrow and mourning of the ninth of Av. The light and joy which follows darkness have an added, unique power. Hence, the Haftarah directly after the ninth, and immediately preceding the fifteenth is “double certain” that consolation will follow, as it states twice, “comfort, comfort my people!”

The Lubavitcher Rebbe taught us that even if we are still at a point of descent into darkness this idea can still help us. The darkness and desolation are not a cause for despair: on the contrary, they point to the greater joy which will follow. The Rebbe stressed that the greater the darkness is, the greater the light and joy that follow will be.

Recognizing this allows us to always find comfort and consolation, even at the darkest moments as individuals, in our lives and as a people, in our history.

Immediately following our darkest day, we are promptly told that comfort will follow. Twice! We should all take a moment to remember this in our lives at during our difficult moments. We must remember that any dark situation MUST mean that light is coming! Dark is dark… and we can’t fight dark with a weapon. The only way to fight darkness is by adding light!

One small candle in the biggest of rooms will still provide light! One small mitzvah – good deed – in what can seem to be a dark world will also provide light.

Let’s do our part to add the light and joy of Torah and Mitzvot to the world!

Shabbat Shalom from Brooklyn, NY