Pleading for Comfort

Parashat vaEtḥanan is always read on Shabbat Naḥamu, the Shabbat following Tisha b'Av. The name derives from the opening words of the haftara: Naḥamu Naḥamu ami "comfort ye, comfort ye, My people" [Isaiah 40:1]

There is a substantive connection between the beginning of Parashat vaEtḥanan and Naḥamu. The parasha opens with Moses pleading with God to be allowed to cross the River Jordan and enter western Eretz Yisrael. As our Sages noted, Moses did not desire to enter the Land to eat of its fruit, but rather to be able to fulfill those mitzvot which apply only in the Land. Malbim rephrases the words of our Sages: Moses wished to enter the Land because it is ripe for the highest level of sanctity and there Moses would be able to achieve a higher level of spiritual perfection.

The sin of the spies was the People's failure to appreciate the unique Divine providence over the Land. Ten of the twelve spies presented a negative report, concluding that the Israelites could not capture the Land. Only Caleb and Joshua submitted a report concluding that the Children of Israel will be able to enter and capture the Land with God’s help. On the face of it, the People were right to accept the majority report, especially since it was an overwhelming majority. However, accepting the majority report constituted rejection of God's promise to bring the Children of Israel into the Land. Therefore, accepting the majority report indeed constituted a grave sin.

Tisha b'Av became the darkest date in Jewish history because it was the day on which the Children of Israel rejected the Land in its spiritual aspect. Moses' desire to enter the Land, motivated as it was by a full appreciation of its spiritual advantage, represents compensation for the sin of the spies and rectification of that sin.

If we collectively apply the lesson of Moses and learn to understand and appreciate the spiritual uniqueness of the Land, we will be doing our part to achieve the comfort which Isaiah prophesied. VaEtḥanan is the repentance which leads to Naḥamu.