B"H

Friday, Menachem Av 10, 5786 / July 24, 2026

This Shabbat, which is the first Shabbat after the fast of the 9th of Av (Tisha B'Av), we read the second Parsha of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), Parshat Va'etchanan. 

This Shabbat is called, "Shabbat Nachmu" ("Shabbat of comfort").  It is because the Haftorah of this week begins with the words "Nachmu Nachmu Ami" ("Find comfort, find comfort, my people"). It is a prophecy of double comfort for the Jewish people which is recited on the Shabbat after Tisha B’Av. 

There are seven weeks from Tisha B'Av until Rosh Hashana. This period is called, "Shiva D'nechemta" - "Seven weeks of comfort."  These seven Haftorahs are prophesies of comfort and hope for the Jewish people.

In this week's Parsha we find the "Sh'ema" - "Hear O' Israel the L-rd is Our G-d the L-rd is one.  And you shall love the L-rd your G-d with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might ("B'chol M'odecha")."  The Sh'ema prayer is recited three times daily. In it we affirm our strong belief in G-d and our great love for Him.

According to our sages, the words "B'chol M'odecha" ("with all your might") also means that even if G-d acts with us in a measure that may not seem good, we must love Him just the same. Our sages explain that although we may not see the good in certain situations, it is only because we have limited vision.  From G-d's perspective there is a reason for everything.  In the end, whatever G-d does is for the good.

Rabbi Moshe ben Nachman (Nachmanides) was a great sage, scholar, Kabbalist and physician.  Once he visited one of his students who was very sick.  Rabbi Moshe realized that his student's days were numbered.

He said to his student, "I have many questions as to the sufferings of our people.  I want you to go before the heavenly court and ask them where is justice?  Why are these terrible things happening to our people?  Then you must come and reveal to me the answers to these questions." 

Rabbi Moshe wrote down the questions and instructed that the paper be placed in the coffin, which they did when the student passed away. A while later, as Rabbi Moshe was studying, his student appeared before him.  "Did you ask the questions from the heavenly court?  Did you bring me the answer to the questions?" Rabbi Moshe inquired from his student.

"My dear teacher, when my soul went up to heaven, I went to ask the questions so that I can bring you the answers. However, when I entered the heavenly court, I suddenly realized that in the heavenly spheres there were no questions...  Up there everything looked just perfect…!"

SHABBAT SHALOM & MAY WE MERIT THE COMING OF MOSHIACH NOW

Montreal candle lighting time: 8:13 / Shabbat ends: 9:24