"We can always find a way to come even closer."
.... The first Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi gave this analogy; Hashem gave us the Torah, and in the Torah there are six hundred and thirteen mitzvoth (commandments). Each mitzvah is a strand that connects us with Hashem. We start off with a rope which is comprised of six hundred and thirteen strands. When we transgress a mitzvah we break a strand.The first part of Teshuva is repairing the broken strand. We do this with a firm commitment not to transgress this commandment, and only Hashem knows if this commitment is real. The strand is now repaired.
A question still remains. But is the connection strong? Is this merely a functional relationship or is this a close loving relationship?
This brings us back to my childhood memory of the Rebbe. Why was his prayer so intense? He surely didn’t have transgressions to repent for. His rope was whole, his connections was strong. He cared about every single Jew and sought to make life better for them. Yet he prayed with all his heart and soul.
From this I understood that it is not enough to repair but we must now build the relationship stronger and stronger. Each strand in our rope is a conduit for the divine flow we can make those strands stronger, build them thicker.
It is not enough to survive - be connected - we must also live - develop a strong intense relationship with Hashem.
T’shuva means to come closer and we can always find a way to come even closer.
May you be inscribed in the book of life a year of peace, happiness, health, success and closeness to Hashem.
-- Rabbi Yitzchok Hurwitz
Chabad of Temecula Valley (CA)
Posted by: credit card | Sunday, 22 October 2006 at 09:52 PM