Tuesday, February 20, 2018

Moshe Mendlowitz "Nachamu" Composed by S.Y Rechnitz

After the war, Rav Mordechai Tzukerman, a great tzaddik who survived World War II, spent the next 60 years in Yerushalayim, out of the limelight and away from all fame, honor, and prestige.
Torah was his life. As such, Rav Mordechai’s recreational time with his children was limited to once a week — after Shalosh Seudos. Every week, as the sun was setting, Rav Mordechai would take a walk with his children around the neighborhood. They would walk, hand in hand, and he would point out the various buildings and construction sites in the area. Rav Mordechai’s children cherished the precious moments of their serene stroll with their father, and looked forward to this special time.

This routine repeated itself week after week, nearly every Shabbos of the year. But there were three Shabbosos of the year when Rav Mordechai would not take his special walk with his children — the Shabbosos of the Drei Vachen, the Three Weeks. During the weeks between the 17th day of Tammuz and Tishah B’Av, Rav Mordechai refrained from taking his very enjoyable walk. He explained to his children, “If the Shechinah is in pain, then we must try to feel Its pain, as well.” Disappointed, they waited each year until Shabbos Nachamu, the Shabbos after Tishah B’Av. Finally, on Shabbos Nachamu, Rav Mordechai would prepare special treats for their walk, while his children could hardly control their excitement. Once more, their father would take his children by their hands and walk around Givat Shaul after Shalosh Seudos.

This poignant story teaches us how we must look at our relationship with the Al-mighty. Throughout the year, we “walk” with our Father. He takes us lovingly by the hand and strolls with us. But there are times of the year when the Al-mighty acts in a manner of hester Panim, hidden Countenance. During these trying times, it is most difficult to feel His Hand. We sense that He is not walking with us.

But we know with unequivocal certainty that He is there with us. We may not feel it and we may not see it. But He’s there. And He knows that we are His children, and there is nothing that we would love more than for the whole world to see us walking with our Father...and have Him holding our hand.
Forever.

"נחמו נחמו עמי יאמר אלקיכם דברו על לב ירושלם וקראו אליה"
"'Comfort, comfort My people,' says your G-d.'Speak consolingly of Yerushalayim and call to her…'" (Yeshayah 40:1-2)

Composed by Shlomo Yehuda Rechitz. Sung by Moshe Mendlowitz

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