Almighty Comfort

InspirationParsha

Aug 7

Have you experienced loss? Has a part of you been taken out never to be returned?

You're not alone. The prayer of comfort we offer in the Shiva home begins with a reference to G-d as Hamakom - The Place. We use that term because a place inside of us opens up when we experience loss. It is only Hamakom - The Ultimate Place - Hashem Himself who can fill that space.

This Shabbos is called Nachamu - the Shabbos of Comfort after Tisha B'Av commemorated on Sunday of this week. The profit says that Hashem ensures that He will bring us comfort.

That ultimate comfort will be experienced in the messianic era. But until then how do we navigate the pain and the loss, the big opening inside?

The answer is to find Hashem within yourself. Lean into yourself, into your feelings, into your experience of loss when it flares up. Don't judge it when it hurts, don't judge yourself for feeling ok when it doesn't. Be ok with crying, be ok with laughing.

It's the judgement and the shutting down of the feelings that moves us away from Hashem. It is in the surrendering to the experience and all that comes with it, that we get to experience the Divine.

I'm sorry for your loss, I'm sorry for my loss, I'm sorry for our collective pain, I wish it was otherwise. I choose to find Hashem in the most painful of spaces, not looking for answers, but surrendering to His presence.

May we all be comforted, Good Shabbos!

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Almighty Comfort

Have you experienced loss? Has a part of you been taken out never to be returned? You're not alone. The prayer of comfort we offer in the Shiva home begins with a reference to G-d as Hamakom - The Place.

The Resilient Jew

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Say what you're gonna say Do what you're gonna do

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Rose Colored Glasses

Have you ever gone through a challenging time in your life (who hasn’t!?) I have. A common refrain I hear—whether in my own head or in someone else's voice—is that someone else has it a lot worse than you.

It reminded me of the saying in Hayom Yom: in material matters, look toward those who have less than you; and in spiritual matters, look toward those who are on a higher spiritual plane.

Rabbi Eliyahu Schusterman

Almighty Comfort

Light Shabbat Candles in Atlanta at 8:25 pm

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