What makes a really strong and sturdy building? A solid foundation. If the frame supporting the building is not engineered properly, then the building will never function well.
This shabbos is a unique shabbos, called shabbos shuva, that takes place during the Days of Awe in between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur. On shabbos shuva, we read a special haftorah from the book of Hoshea. The opening line begins with the prophet Hoshea telling Bnei Yisroel to repent for their sins, “Shuva Yisroel ad Hashem Elokecha,” “Return Israel until Hashem your G-d” (14:2).
Siftei Chaim, a recent commentator, brings up an interesting point on the wording of this passuk, verse. G-d gave to our forefather Yaakov an additional name, Yisroel. The different names signify Yaakov’s different levels of spirituality. He would be called Yaakov when on a regular level and Yisroel when on a higher, more complete spiritual level. Likewise, the Jews are often times called by these names, representing their spirituality level too. Therefore, the fact that the Jews are addressed as Yisroel in this passuk, signifies that they are on a high level at this moment. Yet if this is the case, then this passuk is a complete contradiction. Why are the Jews called by “Yisroel”, a name that represents them on a high level, when they are really on a low level since they are told to repent, which clearly means they have sinned? By Hoshea addressing the Jews with a name representing their higher level, he is setting an end goal for their repentance. Essentially saying: Repent Bnei Yisroel and return ALL the way to highest level of spirituality and closeness with G-d.
Why is it so important though to mention their end goal? Isn’t it kind of common sense that by telling them to repent it means they are going to work to attain a higher level? Take a look at this scenario: A man wants to build a house, so he gets a hammer, nails, wood and starts to build. He puts extra care to make sure that each nail is placed in properly. Yet after working so hard, to his disappointment, he only ends up with a pile of wood nailed together. What did he do wrong? He put so much effort in! However, no matter how hard he works, he will only continue to get more wood nailed together. The man will never reach a house because he lacks to build the initial foundation to hold the house all together. It’s the same reason why the Jews are called by the name Yisroel. They needed to know their end goal of reaching the highest level of spirituality before actually repenting or else they could get caught in trivial aspects of repentance forgetting the purpose.
Currently, during the Days of Awe, we are reflecting on the past and working on becoming better people. While refining our actions, taking on more stringencies, and repenting for what we have done wrong, it is so easy to get caught up on making sure one little detail is right that we lose our direction and forget where we are heading. So take a moment and ask yourself: What is my goal? What is the building that I am trying to build? Then make your foundation and construct this building step by step.
Good Shabbos!
Daniella Engel
REBO 2016/17
NorCal Chapter