Shabbat Mevarchim Chodesh Menachem Av – Parashat Matot–Masei
Shabbat Mevarchim Menachem Av falls during the period of Bein HaMetzarim—the “Three Weeks” between the 17th of Tammuz and Tisha B’Av.
These are days of mourning for the destruction of the Beit HaMikdash, yet according to the teachings of Rabbeinu Nachman zt”l, they are also days of hope.
Precisely where darkness seems greatest, the brightest light is hidden.
Rabbeinu Nachman’s timeless refrain is:
אֵין שׁוּם יֵאוּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל
“There is absolutely no such thing as despair in the world.”
(Likkutei Moharan II:78)
These words are the key to understanding the month of Menachem Av.
Even before we experience consolation, HaShem already gives the month the name “Menachem”—the Comforter.
Matot – The Holiness of the Spoken Word
The parashah opens:
אִישׁ כִּי יִדֹּר נֶדֶר לַה’… לֹא יַחֵל דְּבָרוֹ
“If a man makes a vow to HaShem… he shall not profane his word.”
(Bamidbar 30:3)
The first mitzvah of the parashah concerns not sacrifices or the Temple, but speech.
Rabbeinu Nachman teaches that speech is the greatest gift granted to mankind.
With words, a person can build worlds—or destroy them.
He writes:
עיקר כלי זיינו של משיח הוא התפילה
“The primary weapon of Mashiach is prayer.”
(Likkutei Moharan I:2)
Prayer consists of words.
Therefore every redemption begins with the sanctification of our speech.
During Bein HaMetzarim, we remember that our Sages identified baseless hatred (sinat chinam) and the sins of the tongue as the primary causes of the destruction of the Second Temple (see Gittin 55b–56a; Yoma 9b).
The response is not merely silence, but holy speech—words of Torah, prayer, and kindness.
Bein HaMetzarim – The Hidden Hope
The prophet Yirmiyahu laments:
כָּל רֹדְפֶיהָ הִשִּׂיגוּהָ בֵּין הַמְּצָרִים.
“All her pursuers overtook her between the narrow straits.”
(Eichah 1:3)
Kabbalah teaches that the greatest light is concealed within the greatest constriction.
Rabbeinu teaches:
אם אתה מאמין שיכולים לקלקל, תאמין שיכולים לתקן
“If you believe that destruction is possible, then believe that restoration is also possible.”
(Sichot HaRan 112)
This is the message of Bein HaMetzarim:
Destruction is not the end of the story.
HaShem is already preparing the consolation.
Masei – The Forty-Two Journeys of Our Lives
The parashah begins:
אֵלֶּה מַסְעֵי בְנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל.
“These are the journeys of the Children of Israel.”
(Bamidbar 33:1)
Reb Noson zt”l explains that the forty-two journeys are not merely the history of the Jewish people.
Every Jew has his or her own forty-two journeys—times of faith and times of confusion, moments of joy and moments of pain.
He teaches, in essence:
Every path—even those that seem like detours—ultimately brings a person closer to HaShem.
(Likkutei Halachot, Hilchot Birkot HaShachar)
Especially during Bein HaMetzarim, it can sometimes feel as though we are drifting farther away from HaShem.
Yet Rabbeinu Nachman teaches:
כי הירידה היא תכלית העלייה.
“Every descent ultimately serves the ascent.”
This principle runs throughout Likkutei Moharan and is explained repeatedly by Reb Noson.
Menachem Av – Consolation Begins Now
Why is this month called Menachem Av?
Our Sages teach:
משנכנס אב ממעטין בשמחה.
“When the month of Av begins, we decrease our joy.”
(Ta’anit 26b)
Yet Chassidic teaching explains that our outward joy diminishes in order to make room for a deeper joy—the joy of drawing closer to HaShem.
Rabbeinu Nachman said:
מצוה גדולה להיות בשמחה תמיד.
“It is a great mitzvah to be joyful always.”
(Likkutei Moharan II:24)
This joy does not mean ignoring grief.
It means knowing, even in the midst of mourning, that HaShem has never abandoned us.
Shabbat Mevarchim – Blessing the New Month
Shabbat Mevarchim reminds us that we bless the coming month.
Even before Menachem Av begins, we pronounce words of blessing.
This teaches us that:
Speech creates reality.
That is why Parashat Matot begins with the sanctity of speech.
That is why Parashat Masei concludes with the entry into Eretz Yisrael.
And that is why redemption begins with our words.
Conclusion
As we hear this week’s parashah and bless the month of Menachem Av, the month of consolation, let us carry with us three enduring messages:
- Guard your words, for speech possesses holiness.
- Never lose hope, for אֵין שׁוּם יֵאוּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל—there is absolutely no despair in the world.
- Trust every stage of your journey, for HaShem guides every step of our lives.
May we soon witness the fulfillment of the prophet’s words:
נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי יֹאמַר אֱלֹקֵיכֶם.
“Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God.
(Yeshayahu 40:1)
אמן כן יהי רצון
