Ratzo V'Shov and the World of Tohu and Tikkun
In the book of Yechezkal (1:14) it describes the angels: “and the Chayos angels were running and returning, like flames that shoot out of a furnace and immediately retreat.” Rashi explains from the Gemara: The angels run in yearning to reach a higher level of perceiving Hashem, but as soon as they see the glory of Hashem on that higher level, they are terrified and return to their original level.
This represents the general balance of service of Hashem: We yearn to perceive Hashem on deeper level. We accomplish this generally in our effort in contemplation on Hashem’s true existence and greatness in prayer followed by heartfelt recitation of the words. When we do come to a deeper connection, we have awe of Hashem that He chose us to fulfill His mission for us in this world through Torah and Mitzvos, and therefore we return to this world infused with greater energy and clarity to fulfill our mission.
Now, the aforementioned World of Tohu existed only in a state of ‘Ratzo-running.’ The world of Tohu did not have the proper balance of returning after the yearning, it only experienced an unlimited yearning for Hashem, so strong that it had no capacity to return to fulfill Hashem’s mission to bring down the Lights systematically into the lower worlds.
Therefore, the Lights departed from the vessels, similar to how the Ahava Rabba is an intense yearning for Hashem causing the person’s soul to desire to detach from the “wick” and the “vessels,” i.e., the limitations of the body and physicality.
However, the World of Tikkun exists in a state of Shov-Return, which is the idea of returning to this physical world to fulfill the Torah and mitzvos.
