On Passover of 1992 our brothers and sisters uprooted themselves from Syria. They left their homes, businesses and synagogues in search of a new life of freedom in America.

Upon their arrival at Kennedy Airport, they were greeted with brotherly love. Special choirs gathered to sing special songs for them. Compassionate people made provisions for them and their families. I remember Joseph D. Beyda A"H, orchestrated rentals of hotels to house them until they were able to reestablish themselves.

On Rosh Hashanah of that year, they conducted services in the gymnasium of the SCC. I walked over to watch them. To my amazement, their mannerisms, dressing and praying were similar to ours. Watching them conduct services led me to realize they may have lost their houses but their homes were dwelling inside their souls. Hard work, dedication to their families, and religious observance, assisted them to rebuild their homes.
“Blessed are you, who build's Jerusalem.”

In the 14th blessing of the Amidah, we ask G-d to reestablish his home in Jerusalem. During the temple era, Hashem's glory resided over the temple and around Jerusalem. Imagine the beauty of Jerusalem at the time of the Temple! Imagine feeling the divine presence! Due to baseless hatred, the glory of Jerusalem was burned to the ground, dispersing us around the globe for the past 2,000 years. We lost our home of Jerusalem. In this prayer, we beseech Hashem to reestablish His glory like in the days of King David.

Home is a place of peace, comfort and security. Spending quality time with our loved ones establishes permanent roots within our souls.

A most effective way to build a home is to enforce our religious traditions. Peace and loving kindness invite Hashem's glory into our homes. In exile, a most effective way to bring G-d's presence home, is through the building of institutions and synagogues. We must imitate our ancestors in the desert. They built a mini temple (Mishkan) to invite G-d's presence among them.

Two years ago on Tisha B'av, over 1,000 families had to leave Gaza to start their lives over again. Disturbance of their normal routines caused disharmony among families. Where will they live? How will their children adapt to new friends? What new schools will they attend? How would they establish new synagogues? Life's challenges often compromise the normal routine of a sweet, harmonious home. Tragedies and broken families often change sweet homes into bitter homes. Continuance of faith, religious observance and tradition is a most effective way to invite sweetness into one’s home.

Unconditional love for our neighbors is a magic potion to bring G-d home. Inviting guests into our homes demonstrates loving kindness to our neighbors and friends.

In our time of exile, Hashem is with us. He is dwelling within our hearts and souls. He is involved in our daily activities. Let's hope and pray that with loving kindness and compassion we can merge our physical homes and spiritual homes and return to home sweet home with the rebuilding of Jerusalem in our time. Amen.

Written by: Norman D. Levy