This beautiful quote by @powerofspeech defines the name given to this Shabbat. Usually the Haftarah that is read each Shabbat reflects the topic of the Torah reading, but this week the Haftarah is from the prophet Isaiah and it talks about comfort. “Shabbat Nachamu” (Shabbat of consolation) always comes after Tisha B’Av. The next seven weeks until Roshashana all the Haftarahs have a common theme. The Jews are promised that they will return to their homeland.
The Haftarah for Va’etchanan opens with Isaiah comforting the Jewish people by speaking of their bright future “Console,Console my people says your G-d”. The ingathering of the exiles will be a revelation of H”S power (40:9).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe points out that this idea can help us in times of darkness and uncertainty. The darkness and desolation are not a cause for despair. On the contrary. The greater the darkness, the greater the light and joy that will follow. Recognizing this truth can help us find joy even in the hardest times. This teaching applies to our own and unique exile and to the Jewish people as a whole.
May we all be comforted knowing that whatever we are going through is a seed for a brighter future to come.
Shabbat Shalom
Live a little higher
