Breslev Tsfat

Ratzo v'Shov: Running & Returning

A person needs to be an expert on how to go along the path of teshuva. According to Rebbe Nachman, this is called ratzo v'shov, running and returning.

A person can take something lofty upon himself. He runs headlong into it, thinking he is really getting close to God now... but his expectations extend far beyond his actual ability. When he fails to meet his own high expectations, he falls completely in frustration and despair, failing to even accomplish what is within his ability. This is the concept of ratzo, running.

When one comes crashing down from unrealistic expectations, a person is greatly weakened. This can happen even with normal expectations, when one sees that he has not reached them in the way he wanted. This is the meaning of being expert in Running and Returning. "I will run to it, but whatever I achieve, I will be happy with what I managed to achieve without being frustrated." Then renew your energies and try again with more realistic expectations. This is shov, returning.

The dynamic of ratzo v'shov can be expressed another way: When a person ascends so high in his spirituality and feels so close to God (ratzo, running), he needs to know that he is still far and has not attained God, as it were. On the other hand, the idea of shov, returning, is when a person is in the lowest of depths, feeling like nothing, thinking he will never get up again. The Yetzer HaRa says, "You should know yourself already. You will never change. You will just keep making the same mistakes over and over again. Why even try to get up?" It is here where God says, "I am with you in this place, let us ascend together."

These ideas are the secret of teshuva.

Taken from a recent shiur of Rav Ephraim Kenig, shlita, based on Likutey Moharan 6:4.

tapestry of wisdom quote: on renewal

2 Av 5770

When you are speaking to God, it is good to say: "Today I am beginning to attach myself to You." Start anew each time, because everything goes according to its beginning... If things were already good, they will be even better now. And if they weren't good before, obviously you should make a new beginning!

Chayey Moharan 437

miracles are waiting to happen this month

The entire month of Nisan, we are surrounded by miracles waiting to happen: miracles that can save or rescue us from any sort of problem or impending misfortune. These potential miracles are right next to us, we only need to prepare the vessels to receive them. How do we do this? Talk to God, whether in your own words or formal prayer, since the actual words of prayer create the vessels to receive these miracles. This is called shefa.

Happy is the person who makes the most out of every single moment during this special time, including the many events that occur in this month. There is the Shabbat just before Pesach, called Shabbat HaGadol, followed by bedikat chametz (the checking for chametz), and then the burning of it. Immediately afterwards, there is the evening before Pesach called Erev Pesach, as well as Pesach itself, filled with mitzvot and all sorts of good and beautiful customs. Every single one of these events possesses special significance and power.

Be aware and make the most of them!

we are in the hebrew month of nisan

During the entire month of Nisan, we can rightfully say, "Chodesh Tov" since according to the Torah, the entire month has the status of Rosh Chodesh. The Torah states,  "This month will be to you the head of all months, 'Rosh Chodeshim.'" This means the entire month has all of the special qualities normally present only on Rosh Chodesh itself, a day of profound renewal and festivity.

hebrew shiur: hashem's name & the four parshiot