Parshas Va’Eschanan – How Supplication Can Be Comforting

Yesterday was Tisha B’av, tomorrow is Shabbas Nachamu, and today is the short space in between where we can contemplate that dynamic. This is the closest those two days ever come together, and that offers us a profound opportunity to contemplate the real possibility of transitioning from gulus to geula. For many of us, as much as we intellectually do yearn for Moshiach and a new era, there is a stumbling block in fully accepting the concept. Partially this is because of our natural tendency to feel safe in the space in which we are living, and partially this is because we have trouble truly believing in redemption. 

The parsha read on Shabbas Nachamu is always Va’eschanan. It is the second parsha in Sefer Dvarim, the sefer that was written on the precipice of great change. This parsha starts with Moshe’s personal tragedy – with the one time in which his beseeching Hashem was rebuffed. But in this, there is much that we can learn about the importance of wanting to move forward. Moshe tells the people of how strongly he pleaded with Hashem to encourage them to go forward. He was their safety in the wilderness, but he was ending, and the next era was already being prepared for them. That Shabbas Nachamu’s parsha contains this rich depth of yearning is an excellent reminder that even if we have just observed another day of desolation, even if Hashem has not granted us redemption yet, we should still be driven to ask and ask and ask again.

The word redemption means “the action of regaining or gaining possession of something” or “the action of saving or being saved from sin, error, or evil.” It has both a both physical and a metaphysical meaning, and this is essential to the Jewish idea of redemption, of Moshiach. On a physical level, we will return to the Promised Land. On a metaphysical level, we will once more be ready, as a people, to be on the spiritual level of avdei Hashem. And while most of us in the 21^st century can now understand the possibility of the physical return, the state of the world, the state of the Jewish people in particular, makes us worry that we will never earn redemption – and this, too, is answered in Parshas Va’eschanan.

Moshe recaps the giving of the Torah at Har Sinai and the great and glorious purpose of the Torah just before he plunges into the sure and certain declaration that future generations will stray and be punished and return. And then he recites the Aseret Hadibros, the Ten Commandments - the same and yet different. This is a powerful reminder to us of the very real possibility of spiritual redemption. Bnei Yisrael messed up bad, and Hashem gave them another chance. Hashem wants Bnei Yisrael to succeed. Hashem wants to bring about an era in which He can remove the Hester Panim, the hiddenness He bears to mankind. He gives us opportunities upon opportunities.

Tradition tells us that the reason that Hashem tells Moshe, “Do not continue to speak to Me further about this matter” (Devarim 3:26) is because if Moshe had asked one more time, Hashem would have relented. This is what is important about Parshas Va’eschanan.

How often in the Torah did Moshe implore Hashem on behalf of Bnei Yisrael. Hashem wants to forgive. Hashem wants to push us to the next era. Bnei Yisrael gathered around a golden calf, seemingly the ultimate spiritual fail, and Hashem still gave them another chance, a new set of commandments, because Hashem is aware of the glorious potential within us. Nachamu, be comforted, because while  redemption has not come yet, it will.

There is a powerful message in the timing of Parshas Va’eschanan. Don’t give up on imploring Hashem until He tells you not to say another word (should we ever be on such a level!) and be comforted. Hashem wants to hear our pleas, and Hashem wants to give us another chance. Believing this whole heartedly, we can go from desolation to comfort in an instance. May that time come speedily in our days.

Wishing you all a beautiful Shabbas.