B"H

Monday, Menachem Av 11, 5778 / July 23, 2018

The fast of Tisha B’Av is behind us. From now until Rosh Hashana, we have seven weeks of comfort. This Shabbat we read Va’etchanan. One of the highlights of the Parsha is the Ten Commandments, which are found in this Parsha for the second time in the Torah.

Another highlight in this Parsha is the prayer of “Shema Yisrael” - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd Our G-d the L-rd is One.”  The Shema is recited three times daily - in the morning and evening prayers and again before bedtime.  Reciting the Shema affirms our belief in G-d and proclaims our love for Him.

Being that it’s the first Shabbat of the seven weeks of comfort, this Shabbat is called, “Shabbat Nachmu” – “Shabbat of comfort.”

The Haftorah for this Shabbat, which we read after the Torah reading, begins with the words, “Nachmu, Nachmu.” In this Haftorah the prophet Isaiah tell the Jewish people, “Find comfort, find comfort my people.” It is one of seven prophecies of comfort we will be reading every Shabbat for the next seven weeks, until Rosh Hashana (Yes, Rosh Hashana is in seven weeks!).

The prophecies of comfort are especially comforting as they come after the Three Week period preceding the destruction of the Temples, in which we read prophecies of reprimand and reckoning.

Q.  Why are there three weeks of reprimand and seven of comfort?

A.Our sages tell us that G-d’s measure for kindness is much greater than His measure of punishment. Thus, there are only three weeks of reprimand and seven weeks of comfort.

Q.  Why is the word “Nachmu” repeated (“find comfort, find comfort”)?  

A.  The comfort is for the two Temples which were destroyed on Tisha B’Av. 

In this prophecy, Isaiah, who lived before the destruction of the First Temple, prophesized that G-d will never forsake His people and will in the end bring them back from all exiles and rebuild the Temple.

Q.   The Ten Commandments are found in the book of Exodus, why were they repeated here again?

A.   The entire Fifth Book of the Torah is called, “Mishne Torah” “Repeat of the Torah.”  Moshe takes leave of the Jewish people before his passing, as they are about to enter into the Promised Land. He reviews the Ten Commandments and many of the other commandments.  He reminds them to adhere to all the commandments, so that they may live in peace in the Holy Land.

HAVE A VERY GOOD, HAPPY, HEALTHY AND SUCCESSFUL DAY