הֲשִׁיבֵנוּ יְהֹוָה אֵלֶיךָ וְנָשׁוּבָה
Hashiveinu, H’, veNashuvah

“Bring us back to you, H’, and we will return”

[Lamentations 5:21, Regular prayers, with special significance on the High Holidays]

Hashiveinu (“Bring us back”) is a call for input from beyond, asking for an affirmation, hoping for a sign, some kind of spiritual experience: Bring us back, awaken us, remind us, shine your light upon us, show us your face.

veNashuvah (“and we will return”) is the daily work, integrating the experience: returning, remaining awake, remembering, every day, every minute of every day.

We are rarely transformed by our spiritual experiences or insights. However powerful they may be, they are only signposts, ephemeral events; nevertheless, they can, and should, inform our being.

More “Prayerbook Musings”