RABBI DANIEL & RACHEL KRAUS

THERE’S NO PLACE LIKE HOME

BY RABBI DANIEL AND RACHEL KRAUS

There are many words that have dominated the COVID-19 era, buzz words that will forever be associated with this time: unprecedented, pivot, Zoom, ‘you’re on mute,’ masks, social distance, and countless others.

In this era of return, return to Shul, supermarkets, in-person events, Shabbat meals, playdates and gettogethers, we are in fact returning forward. Teshuva, which characterizes the Yamim Noraim, is often translated and described as repentance, but the word itself is composed of the base word “SHAV,” meaning return. The concept of Teshuva is about returning, returning to self, returning to each other and returning to Hakadosh Baruch Hu. We are returning to and restoring relationships, our priorities, our promises and our commitments. And with that return, we forge ahead, marching onward, and - in essence - returning forward.

In the 44th chapter in the book of Yeshayahu, the prophet speaks with words of comfort, consolation and encouragement, addressing feelings of fears and isolation: ָךֶּ֑רְזְעַי ןֶטֶבִּמ ךְָרֶצֹיְו ךֶָשֹׂע ה-ָו-ה-ְי רַמָא־הֹכּ ׃וֹב יִתְּרַחָבּ ןוּרֻשׁיִו בֹקֲעַי יִדְּבַע אָריִתּ־לַא

“Thus said God, your Maker, Your Creator who has helped you since birth: Fear not, my servant Jacob, Jeshurun whom I have chosen,”

Hakadosh Baruch Hu speaks in a loving, endearing, personalized tone. ‘I have been with you since your birth, you, Jeshurun, are Mine, you whom I have chosen.’ If we feel alone, God is there; if we feel isolated, God is present; if we feel fear, it is God who has chosen us, Jeshurun. Hakadosh Baruch Hu nourishes the soil, hydrates the parched, pouring sustenance which irrigates our thirsty spirits.

There is a call to Jeshurun, who are thirsty, thirsty for closeness, blessing and belonging. And our Jeshurun, Kehilath Jeshurun, is calling to you, to quench your thirst within the walls of our Shul, to hydrate in the presence of each other and soak in the power of each other. And in this season of return, in this season of teshuva, we return forward, with renewed energy and hydrated spirits.

And the Navi Yeshayahu continues:

הָ֑שָׁבַּי־לַע םיִלְזֹנְו אֵמָצ־לַע םִיַמ־קָצֶּא יִכּ ׃ךָיֶאָצֱאֶצ־לַע יִתָכְרִבוּ ךֶָעְרַז־לַע יִחוּר קֹצֶּא

“Even as I pour water on thirsty soil, and rain upon dry ground, so will I pour My spirit on your offspring, My blessing upon your posterity.” Welcome back, welcome home.

Rachel & Daniel Kraus

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