Picture this scene. A powerful river is flowing with great force. In the path of this river stands a dam, blocking the flow of water. Suddenly the waters breach a hole in the dam and shoot out with incredible force. This image can be summarised in one word - Ufaratzta!
In a Yechidus in 1965, the Rebbe asked the Chassidic artist Reb Hendel Lieberman (Futerfas) to paint a painting of “Ufaratzta”. When R’ Hendel asked how, the Rebbe illustrated the concept with the imagery described above.
The term comes from Hashem’s promise to Yaakov, which is found in the beginning of this week’s Parsha;
וְהָיָָ֤ה זַרְעֲך֙ כַעֲפֵַּ֣ר הָאֶָ֔ ר ץ ופָרַצְתָָּ֛ יָָ֥מָה וָקֵַׁ֖דְמָה וְצָפֵֹּּ֣ נָה וָנ ַֽ֑גְבָה וְנִבְרֲכָ֥ו בְךָּ֛ כָל־מִשְפְחָֹּ֥ ת הָאֲדָמַָׁ֖ה ובְזַרְע ָּֽך׃
”...You shall spread out to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. All the families of the earth shall bless themselves by you and your descendants.”
Whilst translated as to “spread out”, Ufaratzta means much more than to just spread outwards. It was not just a blessing that Yaakov’s descendants would inherit a land without boundaries. It was a spiritual blessing that the Jewish people would be able to transcend all limitations.
A similar term is found at the birth of Tamar’s twins in Vayeshev. One twin put his hand out and the midwife tied a red string to it, to designate him as the first born. But then he drew back his hand and his brother emerged first. Marveling at his strength she exclaimed מַה־פָרַַׁ֖צְתָ עָל ֵּ֣יך פָ֑ר ץ “You have made a breach (Paratzta) for yourself, and so she named him Peretz”.
Ufaratzta means to break through boundaries. As such, the Avodah of Ufaratzta is specifically when one needs to overcome and breach a limitation, be it a restriction coming from forces outside of ourselves or a restraint that comes from within.
The Rebbe took the word Ufaratzta and transformed it into an entire world-outlook and attitude. Ufaratzta is an approach in our personal Avodah of Torah and Mitzvos and in spreading Yiddishkeit.
The Rebbe first spoke about the concept of Ufaratzta in 5718 and the words of the Posuk were put to a now-famous nigun. The Rebbe named the following year 5719 as the Year of Ufaratzta. The directive of Ufaratzta in Torah and Mitzvos featured strongly in the Rebbe’s letters and talks throughout the year.
Ufaratzta or Paratzta does not only refer to breaking through the limitations of our Yetzer Hara that obstructs us from serving Hashem. There are also limitations within the “side of holiness”, when our service of Hashem is limited and based on calculations, rationalization and understanding.
Ufaratzta is to reveal the Yechida, the essential core of the Neshama, that desires only to serve Hashem, with a powerful desire that it completely unlimited. The Yechida is the deepest power with us, that can burst through and overcome all limitations.
The Rebbe described how the approach of Ufaratzta can be applied in the 3 Pillars of Torah, Avodah and Gemilus Chassadim;
- In Torah study, even for the business-person, Ufaratzta means to learn “without looking at the clock” (measuring). Even with Torah’s dispensation one should not want to suffice with the limited shiurim that a person thinks that they can manage and should push to go beyond.
- In Tefillah, Ufaratzta means that even when one has legitimate time limitations, they should not rush their Davening and should use their time to engage meaningfully in prayer.
- In Gemilus Chassadim - Tzedakah - Ufaratzta means to give even beyond the limitations set by Torah itself - being a tenth or a fifth.
Ufaratzta is a mindset that can be applied to every part of our lives. In our Ahavas Yisrael, it means going above and beyond for others. In our Simcha it means breaking through our sources of sadness.
When we break through and transcend our boundaries and limitations in serving Hashem, Hashem responds Mida Kneged Mida. When we serve Him in a manner of Paratzta, He will respond in kind, so that even if there are barriers Above which may be cause to restrict our blessings, Hashem will breach those barriers.
The ultimate boundary and constraint is Golus itself, which conceals Hashem’s presence and make it difficult for us to actualise our true selves.
Moshiach, a descendent of Peretz and collective Yechida-sould of the Jewish people is called the Poretz - the one who breaches through boundaries as the Novi Micha describes in a prophesy of the Geulah;
עָלָָ֤ה הַפֹּרֵץ֙ לִפְנֵיה ֶ֔ ם פָָּֽרְצו֙ וַַָּֽֽיַעֲבֶֹּ֔רו שַַׁ֖עַר וַיֵֵּ֣צְאו ב֑וֹ וַיַעֲבָֹּ֤ר מַלְכָם֙ לִפְנֵיה ֶ֔ ם וַה ‘בְר ֹּאשָָּֽם
“One who makes a breach goes before them... their king marches before them and Hashem at their head”.
May we actualize the blessing that Hashem gave to Yaakov, which he in turn instilled within us, to break through our own personal limitations. And may Hashem break through the walls Golus, breaching forth with the light of Moshiach - the Poretz, and the Geulah Shleimah.
