Parshas Vaeschanan (Nachamu) 5786
- Torah Tavlin
- Jul 22
- 1 min read
נחמו נחמו עמי יאמר אלקיכם ... (ישעי' מ-א)
In the aftermath of the Churban, the “Prophet of Consolation” - Yeshaya HaNavi was tasked with consoling the Jewish people. Interestingly, Chazal say that many Jews refused to be comforted and did not accept the prophet’s soothing words. Although it is easy to understand how the nation fell into despair, why weren’t the people soothed by the words of the Navi, who had himself prophesied on the destruction which had clearly come true? Surely his words of consolation would come true as well.
R’ Shimon Schwab zt”l (Mayan Bais Hashoevah) explains that after the Holocaust, many survivors walked around in a crazed anger, directed at themselves. They couldn’t understand why they were chosen to survive while “better” ones, more “worthy” members of their family, did not live through. However, once a survivor was able to understand that he was “left over” in order to serve a unique purpose in Hashem’s master plan, he was able to “come to terms” with his terrible losses and begin his life anew.
The same concept may be applied regarding the survivors of the Churban. While the Navi tried hard to explain to them that they were “left over” for an invaluable reason, the Jewish people were not ready to listen and so they refused to be consoled. This lesson applies to all aspects of life where the first step to moving forward past grief is to come to terms with the past. Then, and only then, will a person’s eyes be opened to see the light at the end of the tunnel.