It's Time To Come Back Home | Rabbi Elchonon Jacobovitz

Every Friday night, us hidden, we do the strangest thing. We get all dressed for Shabas. We go to shul and the very first words we hear the sing is. For 40 years, I struggled with you guys. And you guys, you're a bunch of no good nicks. I practically swore in my anger that you'll never come to my Is that a way to go into Shabas? Isn't Shabas all about coming to Hashem's? What's going on here? Uriz Zora was once traveling with a driver named Tiki driving to give a lecture in Tel Aiv. On the way, Ruri's phone rings and on the other end of the line is a father who's completely distraught. He can barely get his words out and he starts pouring his heart out to Raburi. He says, "I listen, I have this son. He tells him about this son of his who he's been struggling with for years. The kid's not domining properly. He's not learning properly. He's not acting properly. And finally, one night after struggling yet again, the kid just picked up and ran away from home. And he tells Urik, "Ever since that moment, I haven't had a single minute of peace. All I can think about all day, every day, all night, every night is my dear son. And now I'm not thinking anymore about whether he's learning, whether he's davening, whether he's wearing tits. I'm just thinking where is he? Is he safe? Is he cozy? Does he have what to eat? Does he have where to sleep? How's he doing? Other I miss him so terribly. I don't know what to do. And as the father's going on and on and on, suddenly the car swerves off the road and grinds to a halt. Sviki, the driver, reaches over, grabs the phone from her brewery's hand, picks it up, and says, "Aba, Tati, I'm coming back home. I love you, too. I miss you, too. I just had no idea how much you loved me, how much you missed me." Shabas is that phone call. We start out by saying how before we got to Shabas we were struggling with the said I don't even know if you deserve my but then when Shabas actually comes the says come my beloved son I'm not asking you what you did this week I'm not asking you for your report card I'm just asking one thing please come home. I want every single one of you right here with me. And that says the is why the actually gave us Shabas before Hari. And it's the same reason why a child has to experience a shabas before his bris. It's like the presence says the zaskar that a s sends to his kala after the engagement before the wedding just when she starts worrying. Does he really want me? Does he really care about me? Maybe now that he knows some of my faults, he's not really that interested. And just then, the presents arrive. The note arrives, and she's overcome with relief. Wow, he really does want me. That says the Saskar. That's Shabas. It's Hashem telling us, "It's fine. Just come back. Come back home. Have a hot meal. Enjoy yourself. I just want you here with me." And we answer, "Okay, Tati. No more running away. Okay, Tati. This time, we're here to stay.