Welcome to Embrace Shabbat.
This week we celebrate Shabbat Nachamu, whose name is taken from the special haftarah from Yeshayahu that speaks of comforting the Jewish people from their suffering. The concept of a “Shabbat of Comfort” is curious considering that nothing truly has changed from before Tisha B’av. Unfortunately, the Bet HaMikdash has not yet been built and Mashiach has not arrived, so how are the Jewish people comforted on this Shabbat?
The haftorah begins נַחֲמ֥וּ נַחֲמ֖וּ עַמִּ֑י יֹאמַ֖ר אֱלֵֹקיכֶֽם, “be comforted, be comforted My nation, your G-d will say”. In discussing why the passuk refers to the future, rather than to the past, Yalkut Shimoni comments that this consolation, provided to the generation of Yeshayahu, referred to all generations, both present and future. Every single year, Hashem provides comfort to the generation through a heavenly emanation announcing נַחֲמ֥וּ!
While the Yalkut Shemoni establishes that G-d provides comfort for the suffering of each individual generation, he still does not explain what changes that comforts the Jewish people. What takes place on Tisha B’av that yields some solace to the terrible predicament of galut?
Gemara Yoma (נד) famously teaches that when the Jewish people were oleh regel by the holidays, the kohanim would roll up the parochet and show them the keruvim embracing one another. They would announce, “ראו חבתכם לפני המקום”, see how beloved you are before G-d, like the love of a dear couple in a loving embrace.
Gemara Bava Batra (צט) that teaches that the faces of the keruvim miraculously changed directions in reflection of the Jewish people’s relationship with Hashem. When the keruvim faced each other, it represented that the Jewish people were doing the will of Hashem. When they turned away from one another, the Jewish people were not following in His ways. Over the generations, as the Jewish people increasingly “turned their backs” on G-d, their relationship with G-d deteriorated, as represented by the Keruvim.
This phenomenon seems to contradict another comment by the Gemara: בשעה שנכנסו נכרים להיכל ראו כרובים המעורין זה בזה”, when the invading armies broke into the Kodesh HaKodashim, they found the keruvim embracing one another. How could the keruvim hug at the seemingly lowest point in the history of the Jewish people?
The Ri”megash answers that Hashem made a miracle to show the Babylonians how much love He had for the Jewish people. The rest of the world could not discern this rift between Hashem and the Jewish people; He kept His anger hidden from the public eye. Surprisingly, the nations did not pick up on the message conveyed through the keruvim. Megillat Eicha says, “כָּֽל־מְכַבְּדֶ֤יהָ הִזִּיל֙וּהָ֙ כִּי־רָא֣וּ עֶרְוָתָ֔הּ”, those that once admired her, disgraced her because they had seen her ervah, the hugging act. The nations focused on the fact that the Jewish people had a figure of a boy and girl hugging in the Holy of Holies. Nevertheless, Hashem still performed the open miracle to display to the goyim, and perhaps the Jewish people as well, that He still loves us.
In his commentary on Eicha, the Chidah offers an alternative, deeper explanation. He says that at the time of the churban, there was a ייחוד בזיווג עליון, there was a tremendous connection between G-d and the Jewish people. This sudden improvement in their relationship served as a preparatory stage to strengthen the Jewish people to survive the exile.
That is why Tisha B’av is called a mo’ed, despite the fact that it’s observance completely contrasts our typical concept of a holiday. A holiday commemorates the connection between G-d and the Jewish people. Pesach celebrates the connection of Yetziat Mitzrayim and Shavuot, the connection of Matan Torah. Seemingly, Tisha B’av has no connection- just distancing.
On Tisha B’av, G-d hugged the Jewish people to give them strength to last in Galut. While He was forced to send them away, He still conveyed His love for them. Every year, G-d’s loving embrace repeats itself. Though we sit on the floor, mourning the destruction, our neshamot perceive G-d’s love peeking through the grief.
A father approached the Steipler for advice on how to deal with his son who was going off the derech. This son was about to leave Eretz Yisrael and embark on a world tour, and the man did not know the message he should express at his departure. The Steipler responded, “You should drive him to the airport, and give him a hug and kiss before he leaves. He will remember that and eventually he will come back.
Every year on Tisha B’av, G-d sends us off with a hug and a kiss. That is the nechama that are bolstered with during our mourning. However, it is impossible to just skip to the comfort. One must relive the churban and to fully appreciate the embrace from HaKadosh Baruch Hu.
May we capitalize on this feeling of closeness and carry it into the period of the Yamim Noraim. We are changing gears from the three haftarot of punishment to the שבעה דנחמתא, the seven haftarot of comfort that lead to Rosh Hashana. May we use the comfort to strengthen ourselves before the start of the new year and correct our sins, so that we can return to HaKadosh Baruch Hu by Shabbat Shuva.
Have a Shabbat Shalom.