We gain comfort when we realize His presence never left us
A name encompasses the essence of an entity or person.
Shabbos Nachamu, named for the first words of the haftarah, “Nachamu, nachamu, ami,” is a Shabbos during which we’re offered comfort after the intense three-week period of mourning.
The question is obvious. Nothing’s really changed. The Beis Hamikdash is still not built, and we’re still in exile. What comfort is there?
Rav Eliyahu Schlesinger, in his sefer Eileh Heim Moadai, suggests the nechamah stems from the message in the beginning of parshas Va’eschanan. Moshe Rabbeinu davens 515 tefillos as he pleads to be allowed to enter Eretz Yisrael. Hashem has to tell him to stop praying, because one more tefillah and indeed, He would’ve nullified the decree. This provides us with the paradigm of tefillah in any time of challenge and difficulty, and assures us that Hashem is close, and responsive when we call out to Him.
Create a free account to keep reading.
