Inspiration and Implementation
Chukas - Parah
This Shabbos, the Shabbos before Gimmel Tammuz, we read Parshas Chukas. The Mitzvah of Parah Adumah is introduced as התורה חוקת זאת, this is the Chok of the Torah, suggesting that the Mitzvah of Parah Adumah represents the essence of Torah.
Chassidus explains that serving Hashem through Torah and Mitzvos follows an interplay between two opposite movements acting in cycle, referred to as Ratzo and Shov. These terms are ‘borrowed’ from the vision of Yechezkel the prophet when he saw והחיות שוב רצוא - "the angels known as Chayos were running and returning".
Ratzo (literally running) reflects a yearning. Through reflection and meditation we arouse within ourselves a thirst and deep desire to escape our earthly reality to connect ourselves with Hashem. Ratzo is a passionate expression of sensing His greatness and wanting to draw closer. To a large extent it is a necessary indulgence of our own desire for spirituality.
However afterwards comes the Shov, the return. Our spiritual pleasure in connecting ourselves upwards needs to be followed by a recognition that true connection to Hashem is achieved by drawing down His presence into our worldly reality. For this is ultimately Hashem’s will; not that we cleave to Him by escaping our worldly reality, but that we surrender ourselves to draw down His presence into that reality, to transform it into His abode.
In order to keep focused on the mission in a material world that does not naturally manifest G-dliness, there needs to be the regular movement of Ratzo. We need to constantly feed our inspiration, which is followed by yet another realisation of Shov. And so the cycle, like the intake and output of blood to and from the heart, repeats itself over and over again.
The service of the Parah Adumah had two primary parts. The Parah would be burned in fire until it became ashes. But afterwards, in order to be able to bring purity ונתן כלי אל חיים מים עליו, the ashes had to be mixed with fresh living waters in a vessel. Fire represents Ratzo, the passionate desires which strive to reach upwards out of the world, consuming the soul.
But after the fire comes water, which must be mixed together with the ashes. Water represents the downward flow of Shov. This Shov is channelled into a Keli, a vessel. The Keilim are the Mitzvos which we perform, the expression of Hashem’s will, and the conduit through which we draw down His presence into the world.
The Talmud teaches that even after the water has been placed on the ashes, to be valid, the ashes must remain visible. The Ratzo does not dissipate. On the contrary, the yearning and passion needs to remain, to serve as the inspiration that infuse and invigorates our Mitzvos.
As we stand, days before Gimmel Tammuz, this same Ratzo-Shov dynamic play itself out in the Rebbe-Chossid relationship. Through farbrengens and stories, visiting the Ohel and moments of reflection and reminiscing, we kindle the flames of emotion, of love and desire. We become inspired, longing to see the Rebbe once more and feel his closeness just like before. It is these feelings which fuel the fire which somewhat illuminates and alleviates the feelings of darkness and concealment.
But without the water, channelled downwards into a Keli, the fires of Ratzo will not ‘purify’. Inspiration is not an end goal in and of itself. Inspiration serves a poel mammash.
When the Frierdike Rebbe was asked how a Chossid can be mekushar - connected - to him, he did not answer “through loving me and desiring to be close to me”. These feelings of a Chossid to his Rebbe are fundamental, but they express our desire. The Rebbe’s answer was that true hiskashrus is expressed and achieved through Shov - when you study my maamarim, read the sichos and associate with those dear to me - the chassidic community and the temimim - in their studies and farbrengens, and you fulfill my request regarding saying Tehillim and observing Torah study times.
This is the Rebbe’s desire. We should all participate in the farbrengens and shiurim and experience a real Ratzo; to be inspired, to reflect on our relationship and connect with the Rebbe with deep feeling and emotion. But make sure to bring it back down with a Shov, a hachlota to add in our learning of the Rebbe’s Torah and fulfilling his Horaos, infused with the chayus which we all no doubt take from this special day.
Chassidus explains that serving Hashem through Torah and Mitzvos follows an interplay between two opposite movements acting in cycle, referred to as Ratzo and Shov. These terms are ‘borrowed’ from the vision of Yechezkel the prophet when he saw והחיות שוב רצוא - "the angels known as Chayos were running and returning".
Ratzo (literally running) reflects a yearning. Through reflection and meditation we arouse within ourselves a thirst and deep desire to escape our earthly reality to connect ourselves with Hashem. Ratzo is a passionate expression of sensing His greatness and wanting to draw closer. To a large extent it is a necessary indulgence of our own desire for spirituality.
However afterwards comes the Shov, the return. Our spiritual pleasure in connecting ourselves upwards needs to be followed by a recognition that true connection to Hashem is achieved by drawing down His presence into our worldly reality. For this is ultimately Hashem’s will; not that we cleave to Him by escaping our worldly reality, but that we surrender ourselves to draw down His presence into that reality, to transform it into His abode.
In order to keep focused on the mission in a material world that does not naturally manifest G-dliness, there needs to be the regular movement of Ratzo. We need to constantly feed our inspiration, which is followed by yet another realisation of Shov. And so the cycle, like the intake and output of blood to and from the heart, repeats itself over and over again.
The service of the Parah Adumah had two primary parts. The Parah would be burned in fire until it became ashes. But afterwards, in order to be able to bring purity ונתן כלי אל חיים מים עליו, the ashes had to be mixed with fresh living waters in a vessel. Fire represents Ratzo, the passionate desires which strive to reach upwards out of the world, consuming the soul.
But after the fire comes water, which must be mixed together with the ashes. Water represents the downward flow of Shov. This Shov is channelled into a Keli, a vessel. The Keilim are the Mitzvos which we perform, the expression of Hashem’s will, and the conduit through which we draw down His presence into the world.
The Talmud teaches that even after the water has been placed on the ashes, to be valid, the ashes must remain visible. The Ratzo does not dissipate. On the contrary, the yearning and passion needs to remain, to serve as the inspiration that infuse and invigorates our Mitzvos.
As we stand, days before Gimmel Tammuz, this same Ratzo-Shov dynamic play itself out in the Rebbe-Chossid relationship. Through farbrengens and stories, visiting the Ohel and moments of reflection and reminiscing, we kindle the flames of emotion, of love and desire. We become inspired, longing to see the Rebbe once more and feel his closeness just like before. It is these feelings which fuel the fire which somewhat illuminates and alleviates the feelings of darkness and concealment.
But without the water, channelled downwards into a Keli, the fires of Ratzo will not ‘purify’. Inspiration is not an end goal in and of itself. Inspiration serves a poel mammash.
When the Frierdike Rebbe was asked how a Chossid can be mekushar - connected - to him, he did not answer “through loving me and desiring to be close to me”. These feelings of a Chossid to his Rebbe are fundamental, but they express our desire. The Rebbe’s answer was that true hiskashrus is expressed and achieved through Shov - when you study my maamarim, read the sichos and associate with those dear to me - the chassidic community and the temimim - in their studies and farbrengens, and you fulfill my request regarding saying Tehillim and observing Torah study times.
This is the Rebbe’s desire. We should all participate in the farbrengens and shiurim and experience a real Ratzo; to be inspired, to reflect on our relationship and connect with the Rebbe with deep feeling and emotion. But make sure to bring it back down with a Shov, a hachlota to add in our learning of the Rebbe’s Torah and fulfilling his Horaos, infused with the chayus which we all no doubt take from this special day.