As our minds and bodies recover from the fast of the Ninth of Av, our tradition turns its gaze toward the future. Beginning this Shabbat, Jews throughout the world will enjoy seven weeks of haftarot (leading all the way to Rosh Hashanah) from the prophet Isaiah designed to provide comfort and resolve in the face of catastrophe.
This Saturday, the first Shabbat featuring one of these comforting haftarot, is known as Shabbat Nachamu—the Shabbat of Comfort—taken from the first words of the haftarah, which states:
.נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֹֽהֵיכֶֽם
“‘Comfort, oh comfort My people,’ says your God.” (Isaiah 40:1)
The passage seeks to comfort the Jews exiled by the destruction of the first Temple by describing Divine might and promising redemption for those who place their faith in God. In a provocative verse, the prophet questions those Jews, mired in the misery of their exile, who have lost hope.
הֲל֤וֹא תֵֽדְעוּ֙ הֲל֣וֹא תִשְׁמָ֔עוּ הֲל֛וֹא הֻגַּ֥ד מֵרֹ֖אשׁ לָכֶ֑ם הֲלוֹא֙ הֲבִ֣ינוֹתֶ֔ם מוֹסְד֖וֹת הָאָֽרֶץ
“Do you not know? Have you not heard? Have you not been told from the beginning? Have you not learned how the earth came to be?” (Isaiah 40:21)
This incessant questioning on the part of the prophet may, at first, seem provocative, perhaps even judgmental, but it serves as a reminder to the exiled Jews of what’s possible. Often, when we suffer collective setbacks or tragedies, it can be difficult to remember what heights human beings can achieve. So, while our current domestic and international climate often encourages us to fret over the challenges of the day (including many issues of concern to us as Jews), our tradition reminds us that we can realize our dreams of a better world, so long as we have faith in ourselves and in a better tomorrow.
—Rabbi Josh Knobel