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VA'ETHANAN 5782

08/12/2022 12:44:59 PM

Aug12

This week is Shabbat nahamu, the shabbat o f comfort.

This past Friday was Tu be'av, described by the mishnah as one of the happiest days of the year.

Last week, we began reading the book of Deuteronomy, the 5th Book of the Pentateuch.

In Hebrew, the book is called “Devarim”: “Words”. The word davar, or in the plural Devarim, appears frequently in this week’s parasha. According to the Concordane, 14 times.

Someone showed me many years ago beautiful anonymous poem about the power of a word. I believe it is most appropriate to our topic this week:

A careless word may kindle strife,

A cruel word may wreck a life,

A bitter word may hate instill,

A brutal word may smite and kill.

HOWEVER

A gracious word may smooth the way,

A joyous word may light the day,

A timely word may lesson stress,

A loving word may heal and bless!

So that is the way to nehama: good deeds and good words.

May we all have the strength to do good deeds, to say good words, words that are gracious, joyous, timely, and loving; and in that zekhus may am Yisrael see realized in our time the words of the prophet: a complete nehama: nahamu nahamuami “Comfort ye, comfort ye my people, thus says the Lord”.

Shabbat shalom

Thu, March 28 2024 18 Adar II 5784