“Awe Filled and Awful” Rabbi Elaine Zecher’s Shabbat Awakenings

November 28, 2025 | 8 Kislev 5786

Welcome to Shabbat Awakenings, a weekly reflection, as we make our way toward Shabbat. You can also listen to it as a podcast.

Awe filled and Awful may hold different meanings, but in Hebrew, they look and sound the same. Let me explain.

In this week’s Torah portion, Vayetzei, Jacob dreamt of a ladder ascending to heaven. God spoke to him, reminding him of the blessings of his father and grandfather. God told him, “Remember, I am with you. I will protect you wherever you go and bring you back…”

Jacob awoke from his sleep and said, “Surely GOD is present in this place, and I did not know it!”    וַיִּיקַ֣ץ יַעֲקֹב֮ מִשְּׁנָתוֹ֒ וַיֹּ֕אמֶר אָכֵן֙ יֵ֣שׁ יְהֹוָ֔ה בַּמָּק֖וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה וְאָנֹכִ֖י לֹ֥א יָדָֽעְתִּי׃

Shaken, he said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the abode of God, and that is the gateway to heaven.”

וַיִּירָא֙ וַיֹּאמַ֔ר מַה־נּוֹרָ֖א הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה אֵ֣ין זֶ֗ה כִּ֚י אִם־בֵּ֣ית אֱלֹהִ֔ים וְזֶ֖ה שַׁ֥עַר הַשָּׁמָֽיִם׃
(Genesis 28:16-17)

Jacob had fled from his brother whose blessing he had received from their father through specious methods by pretending to be his brother. Jacob escaped Esau’s wrath with his life. When he stopped for the night and dreamt that God had addressed him, he woke up shocked and moved by the moment. His declaration of “how awesome is this place” reflected a reaction of reverence, honor, and awe.
Ma norah hamakom hazeh!  מַה־נּוֹרָ֖א הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה

This expression inspired us years ago to adorn our beloved Wyner Museum with stories and reflections by our members of their awe filled regard for our place, our makom, our home of Temple Israel. Their faces and their stories encouraged us to consider how each of us could experience Temple Israel as awesome.

And then October 7th happened, and we transformed the museum to a place of reflection and hope for the return of the hostages with their faces on the wall.  Throughout the two years, our Cantor Stillman lovingly marked which ones had returned, which ones were murdered, and which ones still remained. The phrase, “how awesome is this place” may have seemed out of place, but the meaning of the word changed. Norah which had meant awe filled also means dreadful, fearful and awful.  How dreadful is this place we are in that all these souls have been take hostage. How dreadful the death and brutality we faced.

Now, with the hostages returned and a very fragile cease fire in place though 2 slain captives still remain, we engaged in a ritual with those in attendance after a Qabbalat Shabbat service in early November to return to the Biblical definition of “how awesome is this place” with vibrant scenes of Temple Israel’s vitality and positive testimonies from our members.

There is much in the world that can be dreadful and terribly awful. We also know that there is much awe filled experience we have and moments we can share as part of this vibrant congregation. Let us hold it as precious.

How awesome is this place! Ma norah hamakom hazeh!  מַה־נּוֹרָ֖א הַמָּק֣וֹם הַזֶּ֑ה

Shabbat Shalom!
!שבת שלום

I look forward to hearing your thoughts and impressions. Share with me what you think. Your email goes directly to me!

Rabbi Elaine Zecher