by Ben Z.
This Shabbos is known as “Nachamu” the Shabbos of Comfort, coming after the 3 Weeks, the 9 Days and Tisha B’Av. The Haftorah opens with the words, “Nachamu Nachamu Ami…” which means: be doubly comforted, my people…
This Shabbos is my last as a student/resident in Albany. I’ve been here 5 years and spent 8 days a week and 25 hours a day at Shabbos House. It’s been an incredible five years, and Shabbos House, Mendel and Raizy, and the wonderful community here have been a tremendous comfort for me, and continue to be a comfort for me as I transition to “the real world”.
And the second verse of the Haftorah is also very relevant. It says, “Speak to the heart of Jerusalem…” and indeed, Shabbos House spoke to my heart, in a deep, meaningful and memorable way.