Adapted from: A Daily Dose of Perek Shirah by Rabbi David Sutton

רְצִפִי אוֹמֵר: נַחֲמוּ נַחֲמוּ עַמִּי, יֹאמַר אֱלֹקיכֶם

The penguin says: Comfort, comfort my people, says your G-d. (Yeshayah 40:1)

The flightless aquatic bird called a retzifi, the penguin, is characterized by its willingness to remain in a frigid climate throughout the winter rather than migrating to warmer climates like most other birds. The sefer Kenaf Renanim explains that these birds survive the harsh winter by staying close to each other, gathering in close clusters, nuzzling under each other’s wings to fend off the wind. Their name hints at this characteristic, since it shares a root with ratzuf — connection.

Every bird’s song is a reflection of the natural instinct Hashem invested in it, and the penguin is no exception. Living as it does in one of the world’s least hospitable habitats, it teaches us the proper way to live in the inhospitable environment of galus. And that is to accept that wherever Hashem has placed us, no matter how challenging, this is where we need to be. This is the venue in which we can accomplish the purpose for which He sent us into the world. The penguin doesn’t complain that Hashem chose the South Pole as its home. He knows this is the environment a penguin requires.

Furthermore, the penguin teaches us that by staying close to each other and sharing our warmth, we can survive that which we could not survive on our own. The penguin sings, Nachamu nachamu ami, yomar elokeichem, Comfort, comfort My people, says Your God, because when we learn the ways of the penguin, accepting our challenges and supporting each other, we will merit redemption.

The sefer Kenaf Renanim draws another lesson from the pasuk’s words, yomar elokeichem, which includes the Name of Hashem that represents His attribute of strict judgment. This tells us that even when we are subject to this attribute, with the cold wind blowing in our face, we can find within ourselves the strength Hashem has given us to accept it.

Mabit adds an inspiring insight on the repetition in the words, Comfort, comfort, my people. Normally, he says, people seek comfort when something terrible happens, Rachmanah litzlan (Heaven forfend). However, in Bereishis 6:6, the word usually used to mean “comfort” is used instead to mean, “And Hashem reconsidered” {vayinachem Hashem]. This was in the context of Hashem’s decision to destroy mankind with a flood.

Rashi explains that the true essence of the word “comfort” is indeed “to change one’s mind.” That is because when a person is comforted, he looks at a situation differently. As we might say, he “reframes” the situation in a way that eases his pain. The source of pain has not disappeared; if someone has lost a loved one, that person is still gone. However, the mourner, over the course of time, with the support of those around him, finds a way to accept his loss.

For the Jewish people, the first mention of comfort in the penguin’s song addresses the pain of galus. We can find a certain degree of comfort in accepting that Hashem has a plan, that our suffering is bringing us necessary growth, strength and rectification that will ultimately allow us to merit the Geulah. However, the tribulations of galus do not disappear at this level of comfort. That waits until the second comfort, which is when the Geulah is achieved. Then, not only will our troubles disappear, but also, we will understand how they paved the path to redemption.

A final insight comes from the words, G-d will say. The future tense conveys that Hashem will provide this double layer of comfort in the future. For now, we can only have the first degree of comfort.

The penguin tells us to hold on and be patient. Although we are buffeted by icy winds, our suffering isn’t wasted. Hashem promises that one day, He will comfort us completely, so that our troubles will turn into triumphs and all our questions will evaporate.

Practical Take-Away

The penguin gives us supremely useful advice on how to deal with difficulties. When you face a challenge that you can’t fly away from, remind yourself that you can seek support from others, and trust Hashem to give you what you need to endure. 

Watch our Inside ArtScroll interview: Rabbi David Sutton – A Daily Dose of Perek Shirah