This Shabbos is referred to as Shabbos Nachamu, the "Shabbos of Solace", based on the introductory words of the Haftorah, ‘Nachamu Nachamu Ami/Be Comforted, Be Comforted, My nation (Yeshaya 40:1).
A question which begs to be asked, following an intense day like Tisha B’av, is: what has changed over the past few days that we are ready for comfort? Are we not still in exile without the Bais HaMikdash?
Rav Avraham Schorr answers that from the beginning of the Parsha we can understand the consolation. The Parsha discusses Moshe’s utilizing prayer in an attempt to attain passage in to Eretz Yisrael/Israel. This teaches us a fundamental aspect of davening/prayer, that although we are still not at home, through prayer we can connect with Hashem and all that we have lost.
Although physically not much may have changed since before Tisha B’av, we have comfort in these difficult times knowing that we still have a deep connection with Hashem.
