Finally, the great moment arrived. It was the morning of Rosh Hashanah, and Rabbi Ze'ev stood on the reading platform in the center of the Baal Shem Tov's synagogue amidst the Torah scrolls, surrounded by a sea of tallit-draped bodies.
6 Comments Posted
For about 2 weeks I've lived, much of the time, in a world of hunger. My hunger is for comprehension. For comprehension of what 2 stories are trying to tell me...2 stories which have now become my daily companions regardless where I am or what I do.
This story here is one of them.
The last 2 sentences of it say: "But there is one key that unlocks all doors, that opens up for us the innermost chambers of the divine palace. That master key is a broken heart."
I would like to ask for help with understanding this. Our world is probably full of broken hearts, and so I would like to use the visible-to-all Post a Comment- even though the article itself is not that visible at this time.
Last, I realize that this is a very full time for all of you. I'm asking with help with this when you have time.
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Remember, a broken heart is also an open heart.
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Rabbi Ze'ev did study. He made notes which he misplaced. In his ernest study those same notes were written on his heart. He presumed he had failed, and this broke his heart.
Eric S beautifully reminds us a broken heart is an open heart.
I don't know if this is right, but it gives me comfort and makes sense to me.
This is a wonderful website.
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That is really true. A broken heart means humility - and humility is the true key. Thank you for these beautiful stories/lessons.
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(answering the question above)
Sometimes we get carried away, like Rabbi Ze'ev, by the details of our mitzvot (which are very important). But we forget that above all the details is a broken heart. When you approach Hashem, accepting that you are but His servant, you are at His mercy, and you are literally standing before Hashem with a broken heart--your prayer pierces thru heaven.
That is what I think the message is.
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It is that there is nothing so "whole" as a broken heart.
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