Thursday, February 16, 2017

The Privilege Of Coming To Shul


"ואני ברב חסדך אבוא ביתך אשתחוה אל היכל קדשך ביראתך"
[תהילים ה, ח]

As for me — וַאֲנִי , through Your great kindness — בְּרֹב חַסְדְּךָ – to me, I hope to be able to stand firm before You and enter the courtyard of Your house — אָבוֹא בֵיתֶךָ , the Mikdash, in prayer. There I will prostrate myself — אֶשְׁתַּחֲוֶה – toward Your Holy Sanctuary — אֶל הֵיכַל קָדְשְׁךָ – where the aron is kept. I will do this in awe of You — בְּיִרְאָתֶךָ – and not to ennoble myself before people. [nafshi.org]

We have to remember that it is the greatest chesed that we have the privilege of coming to shul. We are not doing Hashem a favor but rather are doing ourselves the greatest favor. It is ברב חסד - with abundant kindness that we can come to His house. 

It is Hashem's will that the revelation of His glory come though us and we fulfill that mandate by coming to shul with great awe and trepidation.