Rotzoi and Shoiv: The Balance in Avodah
Print This Article
View Original PDF

Rotzoi and Shoiv: The Balance in Avodah

הפצת המיינות חוצה | June 27, 2025

[As the Talmud states] “He entered in peace and he exited in peace.” Therefore, this Avodah [of Nodov and Avihu] was not as it was supposed to be, whereas the ‘Mochin of Abbah’ which is a state of Chochma is a state of ‘Shoiv’.

This aligns well with that which our Sages have said: “Who is wise? One who can see that which will be born” in other words ‘can see how everything comes into being ex-nihilo by the word of HaShem ‘something tangible from nothingness’ and because of this he is absolutely self-nullified [thus] within a state of ‘Shov’.

The above can be understood in the realm of a person’s Avodas HaShem as follows; prayer, which as mentioned operates within the realm of ‘Rotzoi’ as the statement in the Zohar: “There is no Avodah like the Avodah of love’ is not the ultimate perfection because even if one were to serve HaShem from the highest levels of love -‘Love of delights’ his connection with HaShem is still limited to [a person’s existence as ‘someone’] who loves HaShem. Whereas connecting to HaShem in Wisdom through Torah, which as mentioned operates within the realm of ‘Shov’ can achieve the highest levels of self-nullification.

[As the Talmud states] “He entered in peace and he exited in peace.” Therefore, this Avodah [of Nodov and Avihu] was not as it was supposed to be, whereas the ‘Mochin of Abbah’ which is a state of Chochma is a state of ‘Shoiv’.

This aligns well with that which our Sages have said: “Who is wise? One who can see that which will be born” in other words ‘can see how everything comes into being ex-nihilo by the word of HaShem ‘something tangible from nothingness’ and because of this he is absolutely self-nullified [thus] within a state of ‘Shov’.

The above can be understood in the realm of a person’s Avodas HaShem as follows; prayer, which as mentioned operates within the realm of ‘Rotzoi’ as the statement in the Zohar: “There is no Avodah like the Avodah of love’ is not the ultimate perfection because even if one were to serve HaShem from the highest levels of love -‘Love of delights’ his connection with HaShem is still limited to [a person’s existence as ‘someone’] who loves HaShem. Whereas connecting to HaShem in Wisdom through Torah, which as mentioned operates within the realm of ‘Shov’ can achieve the highest levels of self-nullification.

PDF Preview