Vaetchanan 5772 - English

By Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky
B'nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica.

The Haftarot of Comfort

You will recall that during the last three Shabbatot we read three special haftarot (the portion from the book of Prophets), called the “three of calamity” (Tlata depuranuta).  These readings were chosen by our sages for their being appropriate for the three-week period of semi-mourning, which starts on the 17th of Tammuz and en don the 9th of Av, when we recall the destruction of the Temples of Jerusalem, among other misfortunes.

So, after the Tisha b’Av fast, a new seven-week period begins, during which a prophecy from the prophet Isaiah is read on each Shabbat.  This haftarot cycle is called Shiva D’Nechemta, “seven of consolation”, precisely because they try to bring comfort to the people of Israel, overwhelmed with sorrows.

This coming Shabbat, immediately after Tisha b’Av, is called Shabbat Nachamu, because the special haftarah we read begins with the words Nachamu, nachamu ami, “Be comforted, be comforted My people.”

It is interesting to notice that as of the reading of Bereshit and up to the 17th of Tammuz, all the haftarot were chosen by our sages for their relationship with the parashah of the corresponding week.  However, these twelve parashiot that follow have no relationship whatsoever with the parashah, but relate instead to the calendar:  three of calamity, seven of consolation, and two of repentance (Tur Orach Chaim 428).

Now that we start reading the seven haftarot of comfort, we may wonder why these texts were chosen and what principle ruled their order.  When reading them, we will notice that they are masterly readings from the final part of Isaiah, which poetically transmit the feeling of consolation, in a unique and sublime way.  Although as we just said, these haftarot are not related with the weekly parashah, there are still those who try to discover some kind of link (see, for example, Yehuda Shvaib, Bein haftarah laparashah, ed. Ruben, Jerusalem, 2000, pages 199-202). 

On the ordering principle, the Tossafists (Megillah 31) explain that the texts were chosen in order to highlight that comfort must be given gradually.  Another possible explanation (found in the Abudraham) creatively reconstructs an imaginary dialogue between God and the people of Israel, taken from the first verse of each one of the seven haftarot.  For example, first God says to the prophets, “Be comforted, be comforted My people…”, and the people answer, “But Zion said, ‘The Lord has forsaken me…” (thus begins the second haftarah), as if they were complaining, seeing that God Himself did not come forth to console them.

Beyond these interesting technical features, perhaps we can learn some lessons from the manner in which these parashiot were selected and their corresponding periods.  First, we learn that after mourning there is always comfort; after destruction, renewal; after misfortunes, the smile of life.  As human beings, we are destined to experience periods of sorrow and joy, of death and rebirth.  The Jewish calendar teaches us that after the storm, the sun always comes out; we just have to be patient and live wisely: life always gives us moments of happiness.

Another important lesson comes from the fact that while there are only three haftarot of calamity, there are seven haftarot of consolation.  Whereas misfortunes can befall in just a little while, the healing of the physical or spiritual injuries caused by such a misfortune usually takes a longer time.  It is important to grant ourselves the time required to correctly “elaborate the mourning”, so we can continue forward in the path of life.

With my best wishes for nachama, comfort, for all.

Shabat Shalom,

Rabbi Rami Pavolotzky

B´nei Israel Congregation, Costa Rica