Question:
Shovavim (the period between Parshas Shemos and Parshas Mishpatim).
Answer:
The name Shovavim comes from the passuk in Yirmiah (3:22): shuvu banim shovavim erpa m'shuvoseichem, "return my wayward (shovavim) sons, I will heal your waywardness." Now this seems a bit depressing—the whole period of time is named after a possuk talking about being off the right way, and the word shovavim itself literally means "wayward"? (It is an acronym of these parshiyos, Shemos Vaeira Bo Beshalach Yisro Mishpatim).
Answer: This word shovavim comes from the word shav, "return". In other words, being "off" and being "on" is referred to with the exact same word, shav, "return." To put things simply: A yid wants connection, and our job is just to provide the right type of connection, meaning connection with Hashem and His Torah, in place of connection to the yeitzer hara (evil inclination) and all of his garbage. And how can we do this practically? By bringing out Torah in a positive and exciting way (sam chayim)!
