Rabbi's Parsha Shiur

“YOU CAN ALWAYS COME HOME AGAIN”

                 Once again, Rosh Hashanah will soon be upon us and we will find ourselves a year older. Throughout the year we may have been lost in the forest of everyday living, but during these upcoming “days of Awe,” we will make our way to the synagogue and attempt to draw closer to our father in heaven.

                 Since the horrific events of October 7th the Synagogue and everything it represents makes it clear the we have no one to rely upon but the Almighty.

                 Our Shul is the mikdash meh-at, the holy temple in microcosm, of our community. It beckons us to grace its walls with our presence and participation. It calls on us to come to its aid with Tzedakah to enable it to continue its holy work.

It is our house of worship where tefilot are offered and the living words of Torah are studies that has enabled us to survive as a people.

          The late Chaim Nachman Bialik in his famous poem—”The Fountain” expresses the same thought.  He writes,

Should you like to know the source from which your tortured brothers drew (Midst, the fear of Death) their comfort, courage, patience, trust—then—enter the synagogue and your heart shall guess the truth that you have touched the sacred ground of your great nations, house of life.

            If we study the history of the synagogue or bet midrash then we would understand in Bialik’s words that we have touched the sacred ground of our great nation’s house of life.

          On Rosh Hashanah, we will hear the sound of the Shofar. It will attempt to waken and exhort us to make room in our lives for G-d to enter.

Let us hearken to the clarion call of Shofar by truly resolving to commit ourselves to the principles of our synagogue and Torah.

            In the merit of our tefilot may the Ribono Shel Olam vanquish all our enemies and bring an end to the suffering of our brethren in Erezt Yisrael.

            May He bless all of us with a “gut gebencht yohr,” a year of life, blessings, prosperity, redemption and salvation.

                 Shana Tova!

                                  And see you in Shul!

Shabbat Shalom,

Rabbi Jonathan Horowitz