Welcome back to Torah Thoughts from Adas Israel, the Jewish Congregation of Northern Iowa and based in Mason City. This Shabbat is special because it comes on the heels of Tisha B' Av the 9th Day of the Hebrew Month of Av. It is a day that ends the "Three Weeks" of mourning for a host of tragedy that befell the Jewish People...from the return of the spies to the liquidation of the Warsaw Ghetto. (For a more complete list see last week's post.) Observant Jews spent Thursday in prayer and reflection...it is also a fast day.
Now, we are on the other side.
The Shabbat after Tisha B’Av is called Shabbat Nachamu, meaning the Shabbat of consolation. It is named after the first words of the haftarah (a reading from the scriptures that is read in the synagogue after the weekly Torah portion). This week’s haftarah comes from Isaiah 40, and begins, “Comfort, comfort my people.”
This Shabbat brings comfort and relief. Shabbat Nachamu is no ordinary Shabbat. There is a long tradition of treating it almost like a holiday. The sages say that the food we eat on this Shabbat should be extra special, like that of a chag – festival. This is the first of seven Shabbats of consolation, but the only one that has this special elevated status.
Perhaps fittingly, this week’s Torah portion contains what may very well be the most famous and important verse in Judaism known as the Shema:
Hear, O Israel; The L-rd is our G-d, The L-rd is the One and Only. (Deut. 6:4)
This verse is the centerpiece of the morning and evening prayer services, and encapsulates the monotheistic essence of Judaism. Indeed, this succinct statement has become so central to the Jewish people and is also the climax of the final prayer of Yom Kippur. This prayer is the first taught to children, recited every night before one goes to sleep and is also traditionally the last words of a Jew as he prepares to leave this earth. This is because it is the very affirmation of our understanding of the essence of the Almighty and how everything in creation is ultimately connected in His singularity. The very structure of this verse is burned into the Jewish psyche from a young age.
And, is it no wonder that this central verse comes immediately following the Ten Commandments? It is another reminder that the commandments (all 613 of them) are central to the life of a Jew.
Moses then expounds on the Shema, affirming the unity of G-d; whom all should love and transmit His commandments to the next generation. A man should wear tefillin upon the arm and head. All Jews should put a mezuzah (the scroll is the essential part) upon each doorpost of their home (except the bathroom).
Moses then relays the Almighty's command not to intermarry, "for they will lead your children away from Me" (Deut. 7:3-4).
It is an astounding Torah Portion. Should you wish to read the entire piece it is Deut. 3:23 - 7:11.
Our Midrash
Hang on kids...it looks like our Midrash is back...although virtually. In the coming days you'll be give a LINK so that you can join us via your computer or telephone. We are scheduling our Midrash for the 15th of August at 10AM. It has been too very long. You'll also be able to pick it up on our Facebook Page.
Thank you for reading and Shabbat Shalom!