14 Aug SHABBOS NACHAMU: PARSHAS V’ESCHANAN

Shabbos Nachamu
An ancient sefer
(written by an Italian
gadol) called Sefer
Minhag Tov, writes,
“It is a good custom not
to take a haircut before
erev Shabbos Nachamu,
and when erev Shabbos
Nachamu arrives, one is
obligated to take a
haircut, and he should
be happy and welcome
the Shabbos with joy
and with a good heart.
He will be consoled with many condolences,
and Hashem will console us with the
redemption of Yerushalayim.”
Similarly, the Mahari’l states that on
Shabbos Nachamu the entire nation shall be
happy and trust in the condolences of the
redemption.”
The Mishnah (Taanis 26:) states “The
Jewish nation never had such good yomim
tovim as the fifteenth of Av.” The Ritvah
writes ,“Therefore there’s a custom to
conduct a festive meal on Shabbos after
Tisha b’Av.” Student of the Rashba, write
it’s a mitzvah to celebrate this Shabbos as

though it were a yom tov.
The Chasam Sofer (Masay) teaches in the
name of the Yerushalmi that Av is a month
comprising two months. Av is until Tisha
b’Av, and after Tisha b’Av a new month
begins, called Menachem.
Several times, in the Chasam Sofer’s
teshuvos, he writes the date “the month
Menachem.”
The words בחדשו חדש imply that there is a
month that begins in the middle of the
month. The Chasam Sofer says that this is
Menachem, which starts in the middle of Av.
Hashem is with Us
This Shabbos is called נחמו שבת , the
Shabbos of condolence, because of the
haftarah that begins, עמי נחמו נחמו ,” Be
consoled, my nation.”
But how can we be consoled? We lost the
Beis HaMikdash and were banished into
galus.
The answer is remember that Hashem is
our G-d. We are in galus, but Hashem is
with us, and that realization is a cause of
great joy.6
In Shir HaShirim (4:8) it states Hashem
says to the Jewish nation, “You will go with

Me to galus…”
Rashi writes, “And when you return from
this exile, I will return with you. And also,
in galus, I am with you, through all your
tzaros.”
Our condolence is that Hashem is always
with us.
It states (Yeshayah “I, and only I, am the
one who consoles you.” The double אנכי is
our condolence.
Because at the revelation of matan Torah,
Hashem said Also, regarding the darkest
moments of galus it states הסתר – אנכי אנכי
אסתיר”) I will hide …”). represents the peak
of revelation and the אנכי depths of galus.
good during that means אנכי אנכי – הוא מנחמכם
times when Hashem reveals His kindness to
us, and even during times of concealment
and galus, it is the same Hashem who is
with us. And this awareness consoles us.
Hashem is always close to the Jewish
nation, as it states Which great nation has a
“G-d close to them like Hashem our G-d.”
The Midrash (Devarim Rabba 2) elaborates:
A ship arrived at an unknown island, and
the gentiles on board sent the only Yid on
board to the island to buy food and
provisions. The Yid asked them, “Why are

you sending me? I am a stranger to this
island, just like you.”
They told him, “You are not alone.
Wherever you go, Hashem is with you.
A fire once broke out in the home of Reb
Shmuel Minkes zt’l (a student of the Baal
HaTanya zt’l), and Reb Shmuel was seen
outside dancing. People feared that he lost
his mind due to the financial loss. Why else
would he be dancing at this time?

He explained to them, “If I were a non-
Jew, my G-d would be burned in the fire

together with my wealth. But I’m a Yid, and
my G-d still exists. That’s why I’m so
happy.”