Empty me

The Shabbat of the Ten Days is called Shabbat Shuva, the Shabbat of Return. It's name is derived from it's Haftorah, from Hosea 14:2 which opens with the words "Return O Israel to your G*D". This Shabbat is considered a favorable time to repair past failings and missed opportunities of the past and to positively influence the coming year. It is said that during this portal in time we are empowered to influence every Shabbat of our year.

We read in Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and brave. Do not be afraid or feel insecure before them, because G*D is the One Who is going with you and He will not fail you or forsake you." Most commentary says that "them" refers to our enemies, but what if it means our weaknesses, and our failings. We aren't going into the battle alone beloved, put your faith and hope in G*d, He will prevail. As usual as Yom Kipper draws closer I feel a sense of urgency, the prophet Isaiah spoke these words in 55:6, "Seek G*D when He is to be found, call on Him when He is near". Our souls long to connect to its Source. With so much to be done before Shabbat I will leave you with the words of a song that has been running through my head for days. Sorry I don't know the author.


I know how I can stray
And how fast my heart can change
Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
L*rd empty me of me
So I can be
Filled with you

everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
Compared to you
everything is a lesser thing
Compared to you
So I surrender all

Empty me
Of the selfishness inside
Every vain ambition
And the poison of my pride
And any foolish thing my heart holds to
L*rd empty me of me
so I can be
filled with you

Shabbat Shalom
Elisheva