This week’s haftarah begins with the words (Yeshayah 40:1): אלקיכם יאמר עמי נחמו נחמו, "Comfort, comfort My people – says your G-d." Rashi writes that from this pasuk until the end of sefer Yeshayah, there are words of consolation to the Jewish people, promising them a good future.
The Midrash (Yalkut Shimoni Yeshayah 445) states that the Yidden asked Yeshayahu whether his comforting words of prophecy are only to the Yidden of his generation who experienced the churban or do they also apply to the future generations. Yeshayahu replied, "I console all generations. It doesn't state אלקיכם אמר, 'Hashem said' [in the past tense]. Rather, the pasuk states יאמר אלקיכם, 'Says your G-d,' now. Hashem comforts the Jewish nation in every generation and promises them a better future."
Therefore, Minhag Tov writes, "You should be happy and welcome Shabbos Nachamu with joy and a happy heart. You will be comforted with many condolences. Hashem will console us with the redemption of Yerushalayim."
Also, the Mahari'l states that on Shabbos Nachamu, הגואל בנחמת ויבטחו העם כל ישמחו, "The entire nation shall be happy and trust in the condolences of the redeemer." This should be our attitude on Shabbos Nachamu. We should be happy because we believe that good days are arriving.
שועיב בן (a student of the Rashba) writes, מצוה טוב כיום לעשותו, "It's a mitzvah to celebrate this Shabbos as though it were a yom tov."
The Ritva writes, סעודה לעשות נהגו זה ומפני באב תשעה שאחר בשבת, "Therefore, there's a custom to make a seudah on the Shabbos after Tisha b'Av (Shabbos Nachamu)." (We don't know exactly what this means because we anyway have a seudah on this Shabbos. Perhaps it means we should have a larger meal on Shabbos Nachamu. But one thing is sure: it is a time for joy and to trust Hashem's salvation.)
On Shabbos Nachamu we are also consoled on a personal, individual level. Everyone has their own needs and hopes for their personal geulah. For some, it is parnassah; for others, they await salvation for health, and there are endless other examples. This Shabbos, Hashem consoles us and tells us to trust in the better days of the future.
