• August 11th, 2023
  • Av 24th, 5783

VA'ETCHANAN

The Shabbat of Consolation

Presented By
Torah Contributor

Shabbat Nachamu

This week's portion of Va'etchanan is read on the Shabbat immediately after Tisha B'Av, and is referred to as Shabbat Nachamu or the Shabbat of Consolation. It takes this name from the Haftorah we read in the Book of Isaiah where it speaks of "comforting" the Jewish people following their suffering after the destruction of the Temple and other negative events - all occuring throughout history on Tisha B'av. We have an opportunity during this Shabbat to connect to and be consoled by the reading of the 10 Commandments and the Shema prayer, both of which are found in Va'etchanan. We can also connect this week to the energy of Tu B'av - the 15th of Av (Friday August 27th), considered a day of Love, similar to Valentine's Day. Tu B'av serves as a counter-balance and a high-point which celebrates love and unity and shows us how we can quickly convert the energy of negativity found during the three-week negative period culminating with Tisha B'av, into a period of Light and blessing.

The 10 Utterances / Commandments

Moses repeats the 10 Utterances or Commandments in their entirety in this week's portion. By connecting to the energy of the 10 Utterances, we can connect to the 10 Sephirot and the Tree of Life reality. It is important to understand how the 10 Utterances have very specific meaning in our lives today and are not merely a historical set of rules set forth in the Torah thousands of years ago. By understanding the scope of each utterance / commandment, we can put these rules into practice and achieve a life full of blessing and fulfillment. It sounds simple and it is.

1. I am the Lord your G-d - Maintain your trust and certainty in the Creator, Light, G-d - in the face of all things good and bad.

2. You shall have no other G-ds - Do not falsely worship fame, money, social standing and other things based on ego.

3. You shall not use G-d's name in vain - G-d's name has a Holy and powerful energy. Do not use it carelessly, but rather only for a good or spiritual purpose.

4. Remember the Sabbath day and sanctify it - Disconnect for one-day each week to recharge your batteries and re-establish a connection to the perfect and unified state of consciousness.

5. Honor your mother and father - You can never repay those that brought you into the world and provided you with an opportunity to achieve a sense of unity and purpose - you must appreciate them at the deepest level.

6. You shall not murder - This includes both the literal meaning of murder and also any type of character assassination through gossip and judgmental actions.

7. You shall not commit adultery - Do not violate the trust you have established with your wife, your husband, yourself - or anyone for that matter.

8. You shall not steal - Do not take that which is not yours. Simple enough, but it also implies that when you question what you have as not being enough, you disconnect from the positive sense of appreciation and gratitude.

9. You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor - Evil speech can severely hurt others and has a boomerang effect on our lives. Be careful what you say about others as you often do not see the entire picture, no matter how much your five senses tell you otherwise.

10. You shall not covet your neighbor's house, wife or belongings - The consciousness of coveting shows a lack of appreciation for what you have and implies you are not happy with your lot. This consciousness severs our connection to the Light and G-d.

Power of the Shema

The Shema prayer is recited in Va'etchanan and is one of the cornerstones of Jewish prayer, recited twice daily. It connects us to the concept of unity. Specifically, the first line of the Shema - "Hear, O Israel: the Lord our G-d, the Lord is one" - clearly sets forth that G-d is "One". One represents complete unity without division. By connecting to the energy of unity, we are better able recognize that we are all part of the same creation. The division we see between people and things is merely an illusion to allow us to exercise our free will to treat everyone with human dignity and respect - the same way we would like to be treated. When we achieve unity as an individual, a family, a company, a town, a State or a nation - we connect to the G-d-like consciousness of "one", and reveal our highest selves to ensure blessings, health and prosperity.