Weekly Message 07.24.2026 Parashat Va'etchanan
- jccwestpasco
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
Parashat Va'etchanan Deuteronomy 3:23 - 7:11
HafTorah Isaiah 40:1-26
Nachamu, Nachamu Ani! נַחֲמוּ עַ !חֲמוּמִּי Take Comfort My People!
Dear friends,
After observing the sobering commemoration of Tisha B'Av and reading the Haftorahs of Rebuke over the past three weeks, it is now time to celebrate Shabbat Nachamu, the Sabbath of Consolation which launches the seven-week period between now and Rosh Hashanah when we transition from a mood of deep sadness and regret for past transgressions and begin a period of uplifting and working towards future redemption, thereby heeding the lessons learned with our reading of the Book of Lamentations (Eicha) on Tisha B'Av. Thanks to all who participated in that reading in shul and on Zoom yesterday!
And in addition, this week we will mark the joyous holiday of Tu B'Av (the 15th day of Av on July 28/29). This marks the beginning of the grape harvest in Israel. In ancient days, the Talmud proscribed that the daughters of Israel dress in white and dance in the vineyards. Young single men would then follow in hopes of finding a bride. Today, Tu B'Av is celebrated as the Jewish Valentine's Day, a day of love and celebration!
This Shabbat, we will continue our Torah readings from the Book of Deuteronomy (3:23-4:40) where Moses, having been disappointed and rebuffed for the final time in his plea to be allowed to enter the Promised Land with his people, still remains loyal to Hashem and to the Mitzvot so that they can be worthy to occupy and enjoy the land that they are about to receive.
And our Haftorah is the first of the seven Haftorahs of comfort and consolation leading up to the High Holy Days which will soon be upon us. In it, the Prophet Isaiah (40:1-26) uplifts his readers and ensures us that we can expect a bright future if we follow Hashem's mitzvot. Many passages have become a part of our prayer services on weekdays and Shabbat.
"Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and declare to her That her term of service is over,
That her iniquity is expiated; For she has received at Hashem's hand double for all her sins"(verse 2)
Grass withers, flowers fade, but the word of Hashem is always fulfilled" (verse 8
We learn from Isaiah's words that we can have faith because we have been given the tools and the land to make our lives better together with the lives of all who surround us. We only need to use these tools for good! To quote the words of Sidney Greenberg from the Tisha B'Av prayerbook which we read yesterday on page 58. Tisha_B_Av_Service_Book_rotated.pdf
"Where there is hatred, may we bring love.
Where there is pain, may we bring healing.
Where there is darkness, may we bring light.
Where there is despair, may we bring hope.
Where there is discord, may we bring peace.
Let us make this a better world and begin with us!
So please join me on this Shabbat Nachamu as we take comfort and pray and study together as a community. Services begin at 7 pm this evening and at 9:30 am tomorrow (Saturday) in-person and virtually, on Zoom.
Shabbat Shalom!
Ron Becker,
Spiritual Leader
___________________________________________________________________________
ZOOM LINK FRI & SAT
JCC is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
Topic: Zoom Meeting Shabbat Service Fri & Sat
Time: Fri 7:00 pm, Sat 9:30 am
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting chat link
Meeting ID: 497 903 0958
Passcode: 5QdVaA
---
Join by SIP
Join instructions
Comments