Rebbe Nachman compares a person who is overwhelmed in avodas Hashem to someone who is caught in a fire, G-d forbid, and grabs things that he doesn’t really need. With this example, he teaches us another important concept regarding how to serve Hashem with yishuv hadaas. In addition to not trying to take on too much at one time – which causes us to feel stressed, confused, and makes us give up completely on growing in Torah and mitzvos, as we explained before – it is also important to make sure that we choose the right things to do.
If we let ourselves get overwhelmed by the long list of avodos that the sefarim hakedoshim require us to fulfill, it is likely that we will take things from the list that are not the most necessary according to our situation. If we don’t approach the sefarim with a calm, step by step method, then we will probably emphasize certain things that are not so essential for us at the current moment in time.
On the other hand, when we remember that Hashem and the tzaddikim don’t expect us to do more than we can, and we approach the sefarim hakedoshim with the yishuv hadaas that, over time, we can accomplish an incredible amount of avodas Hashem by doing a little bit every day, it is easier for us to identify the right things to do in order to reach the next level of kedushah. We can see clearly what will be the most beneficial for us right now.
The Four Essentials
Practically speaking, this advice applies both in the large scale and small scale aspects of avodas Hashem. In general, when we decide which sefarim and avodos that we want to add to our daily schedule in a manageable way, as we explained before, it is important for us to choose things that are very necessary for us to get closer to Hashem. What we learn from the teachings of Rebbe Nachman is that, overall, there are four things that each one of us should fulfill every day: the study of Gemarra, Shulchan Aruch, and a sefer of chassidus, as well as the practice of hisbodedus.
Gemarra awakens our seichel to see the world through the perspective of the holy Torah. It connects us to the Malchus of Kedusha (the yetzer tov) and gives us the power to overcome the temptations of the Malchus of the Sitra Achra (the yetzer hara) (see Likutei Mohoran I, 1 and 3).
The avodah of studying Shulchan Aruch is the process of clarifying the specific halacha amidst the many different opinions. This practice brings us even closer to Hashem since it reveals to us exactly how to serve Him (Likutei Mohoran II, 2).
In addition, by filtering through all of the opinions and refining the Torah into particular actions, we purify ourselves of our bad middos and bring out the good points within us (see Likutei Mohoran I, 8).
Next, it is essential to learn a sefer of chassidus every day that inspires us to actually perform the halachos that we know with love and awe, and teaches us how to find Hashem in all aspects of our lives – even those that are outside of the Beis Midrash.
Lastly, it is necessary for us to do some hisbodedus every day. By talking to Hashem in our own words, we create a real relationship with the Creator and avodas Hashem so that the amazing light of the Torah truly enters our hearts and everyday lives, and doesn’t just remain an intellectual understanding in our minds.
Therefore, we should make sure that we’re connected to all four of these avodos on a daily basis. Then, if we can do more, each one of us should choose – with yishuv hadaas – what we think will truly benefit our lives.
The Right Thing at this Moment in Time
Furthermore, on a small scale, it is also very important for us not to grab things we don’t need out of confusion. Every single day we face different challenges and we find ourselves in different situations. Thus, even from one day to the next, our avodas Hashem shouldn’t be exactly the same. Sometimes, we’re so tired that if we try to daven slowly we will probably lose our place and make a mistake. Therefore, at these times, we should go quickly and make sure that we fulfill the halachos of tefillah. On the other hand, there are other days when we’re refreshed and our minds are clear, so we should take more time to daven to Hashem with concentration and inspiration.
Sometimes, it is necessary to take five or ten minutes in the middle of the afternoon to do an impromptu hisbodedus session in order to sort out certain feelings that are disrupting our day. Other times, it is important to learn a certain sefer in order to refocus ourselves on Hashem and the realm of kedushah.
However, the main mistake that many of us make is that we decide in our minds that we have to serve Hashem a certain way all of the time. Because of this, we force ourselves to do things that are beyond our capabilities on that day, which causes us to give up altogether. So instead, we should awaken our awareness of how to be close to Hashem from moment to moment, and not try to do avodos that are not beneficial to us in our current situation.
The only way to accomplish this is by approaching life and with calm yishuv hadaas, and recognizing that if we go step by step and do a little bit of a number of avodos every day, over time, we will eventually grow much closer to Hashem. And in the meantime, we are also very happy and satisfied with what we accomplish on a daily basis.
Our Ratzon is Precious to Hashem
Finally, Rebbe Nachman finishes this sichah by teaching us that no matter what, we must hold to our ratzon for Hashem at all times: “And sometimes, if a person is unable to do anything in avodas Hashem, what is there to do? ‘Onnes Rachmana patrei’ – The Compassionate One exempts a person who is unable [to fulfill his obligation] (Bava Kama 25:). But a person should accustom himself to always yearn, desire, and long for Hashem, since the longing and yearning themselves are very great things, ‘And the Compassionate One wants the heart’ (Sanhedrin 106:).”
Sometimes, we have a really hard day. Perhaps, we’re not feeling well and we have to lay in bed. Maybe we have unexpected problems that take a long time to resolve. At these times it is important for us to remain calm and remember that Hashem exempts us from fulfilling our daily requirements. Hashem doesn’t ask us to do what is beyond our capabilities. So, we shouldn’t push ourselves to do too much. Instead, we should accomplish what we can in avodas Hashem, and look for another time in the future when we can make up what we missed.
And at the same time, we should hold onto and cherish our yearning to serve Hashem. We should remember that the most important thing in Hashem’s eyes is what’s in our hearts. Our desire and longing to learn Torah, recite Tehillim, and speak to Him in our own words is the most precious thing in the entire universe!
No Laziness and Despair
However, we also learn from this sichah that we shouldn’t let our yearning go beyond the appropriate measure. Rather, we should feel a deep pull toward the avodah that we desire to fulfill, but if at the end of the day, we’re unable to do so, we shouldn’t get discouraged and give up. This can be compared to a craving for a specific food. Although we really want that food to eat, if it isn’t possible to attain it, we are satisfied by eating something else. So too, in kedushah, although it is very good to long to have deveikus in davening and finish all of Shas, if it doesn’t work out exactly the way that we imagined, we shouldn’t let our ratzon cause us to have negative emotions such as anguish and despair.
Instead, our ratzon should be normal. We truly want something in avodas Hashem and we will try our best to get it, but no matter what happens in the end, we remember that the ratzon itself is the main thing, so there’s no reason to get upset. With this approach, even if we fall a thousand times, we will always start over. Whether we’re able to fulfill our goals or not, through our yearning we will feel close to Hashem, and we will never give up.
On the other hand, we shouldn’t fool ourselves. We shouldn’t live with the idea of “onnes Rachmana patrei” all the time and look for excuses not to have to learn and daven, since this attitude is itself a form of despair, which is the opposite of holding onto our ratzon. In truth, without the sefarim of the tzaddikim, we wouldn’t be fitting for avodas Hashem and we would have a real excuse. However, Rebbe Nachman and all the other great tzaddikim reveal to us a clear path in serving Hashem that makes it possible for every Jew to get closer to the Creator. Therefore, we should be very honest with ourselves, and do what we can on any given day.
Then, regarding whatever happened in the past, we should recognize the compassion of Hashem and believe that He focuses on our yearning for Him. We should confess to Hashem about the time that we wasted and believe with all our hearts that our teshuvah completely wiped the slate clean.
Longing and Yearning for Hashem
Lastly, it is important to note that, even though the subject of this sichah is how to do more avodas Hashem in a healthy way, regarding the ratzon, Rebbe Nachman says, “But a person should accustom himself to always yearn, desire, and long for Hashem.” In other words, if our yearning is only for the avodah itself, when we fail to accomplish that avodah, we will feel very discouraged and give up. On the other hand, when our yearning is for Hashem and the avodah is just a means to bring us closer to Him, then, no matter what happens, we won’t fall, since we realize that Hashem deeply treasures our ratzon, and through the ratzon itself we are very close to Him.
Through this, we can avoid getting overwhelmed and confused, and we can have true yishuv hadaas at all times. We can grow in avodas Hashem and reach new levels in Torah and mitzvos with great satisfaction along the way. We can awaken ourselves to achieve our true spiritual potential, while feeling calm and close to Hashem in all different situations of life.
This article is based on the Torah of Rebbe Nachman of Breslov zt’’l and his primary talmid Reb Noson zt’’l, as given over by Rabbi Nissan Dovid Kivak, shlit’’a. For comments, questions, and donations, or to subscribe to receive future articles by email, you may contact: [email protected]. To join The Rebbe’s Pharmacy Group on WhatsApp, send a message to: +1-718-207-1468 or scan this QR Code: You may also find shiurim from the author on YouTube by searching “The Rebbe’s Pharmacy.”
