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Even Better


Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson

Even had he remained a tzadik, the descent would still have been worthwhile; all the more so now that he has sinned.

He was meant to have confined himself to the permissible; he would have enlightened that portion of the world, healed it and carried it upward. He was meant to remain there, for if he would break out, intending to return, who knows that he could ever succeed in his gambit?

But now that he has fallen, let him return, and in doing so he will transform to light that which the tzadik could never have touched.

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Based on letters and talks of the Rebbe, Rabbi M. M. Schneerson   More articles...  |   RSS Listing of Newest Articles by this Author

From the wisdom of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, of righteous memory; words and condensation by Rabbi Tzvi Freeman. To order Rabbi Freeman’s book, Bringing Heaven Down to Earth, click here.

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Reader Comments
Latest Comments:
Posted: Nov 29, 2010
For Liz
Not just mitzvot, but the "realm of the permissible." Like kosher food and marital relationships. As opposed to "the realm of the forbidden."
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Nov 29, 2010
Getting it a bit more.
Basically, I get it. That the growth we achieve from returning from our sins makes us stronger than if we had not sinned. And that you don't suggest we intentionally sin, just for this purpose. But confusion still lies in the "permissible matters", vs. "non-permissible." Do you just mean mitzvot vs sins?

Thanks so much for helping to clarify. (Thanks to 'kick at the cat' also!)
Posted By Liz, Marietta, Georgia

Posted: Nov 28, 2010
Apology
Rabbi Freeman - Thank you. That does make more sense. I apologize for my grumpiness and I'm grateful that you edited my previous comment; it was mean-minded. It was not my essential self. I'm really a very nice fellow when you get to know me.
Posted By Mark, Ottawa, Ontario

Posted: Nov 28, 2010
kick at the cat
I will offer an interpretation of the item. If i am way wrong, R. Tzvi might step up. The gist of the matter is about one who sins. No matter what his status, by returning to the righteous path (tshuva) he surpasses the status of a tzaddik (righteous person). The tzaddik who has never sinned has engaged in only permissible actions. That circumstance leaves him less able to make our world better (tikkun olam). Tikkun olam is man's purpose. It is to repair the world so that it becomes a dwelling place for G-d, at the site of a third Beit Hamikdash on the Temple Mount in Jerusalem. So the upshot is that regular people like you and me (less than 100% righteous) have a huge stake in making the world a better place. Fix ourselves (tshuva) in order to fix the world (tikkun olam). That's about it.
Posted By Anonymous

Posted: Nov 27, 2010
Re: More on this?
Your soul descends from its place above into this world. It's a painful descent, but worth it nonetheless, since here you are able to perform mitzvahs and release the G-dly sparks that are found within the permissible matters of this world.

What if, however, instead of doing mitzvahs, a soul does the opposite? You might think that this is nothing but failure, a futile painful descent.

But now that you have sinned you can return back to your essential self. And when you do so, you will carry with you the sparks that were lost in the non-permissible matters of this world. Since those sparks are of a much higher source--ala "the higher they are the lower they fall"--it turns out that by messing up you end up accomplishing something much greater than one who dealt only with the permissible.

The middle paragraph was inserted to warn a person not to sin in order to achieve even more, since such a gambit has very poor chances of success.

Starting to make sense?
Posted By Rabbi Tzvi Freeman

Posted: Nov 27, 2010
Tzadik
I know that I am not intellectually stupid, but really, I have only a very hazy supposition of what you are talking about. Perhaps you might try again.
Posted By Mark, Ottawa, Canada

Posted: Nov 26, 2010
Comprehension
As An Investigative "member " Of this religion.. I have only to comment, that my Comprehension is ALWAYS touched as if by a translating angel.. the posted quotes by our Rabbi, are never ever difficult for me to comprehend.
Full blessings shine through, in these ..
I am thankful. I am inspired. I am eternally lovingly grateful. I am always always always moved. No other religious posts touch and are relevant, the way these are. There is just something SO perfect in these. Thank you Rabbi.
Posted By Pacgrovemum, Pacific Grove, Ca/usa

Posted: Nov 26, 2010
More on this?
Could someone elaborate a bit on this subject? I want to know that I am understanding it as was intended. Thanks.
Posted By Mary Angela, San Clemente, CA/USA

Posted: Nov 26, 2010
Judaism
It's comforting to know that Judaism understands that the majority of us are imperfect. We don't do wrongs on purpose. They happen. We make wrong decisions as we grow up. Once we get around to Judaism, whether early on or later, it seems to quietly say: it's normal, improve and do more rights/mitzvot going forward and nobody but nobody can look down on you. File those that do as uneducated, others as unenlightened.

One non-mitzvah i have always been cognizant of is to never waste somebody else's time. A polite way to say, i wouldn't waste mine either. Mitzvah-wise, the time taken to post these comments falls under the asset side of elevating/making holy each moment of the commodity of time. Leave it to Judaism to teach this fascinating concept. When you first hear Torah has everything in it and there isn't anything in the Universe that Torah has missed, it sounds like a rather bold claim. Then you see it become more true as time passes.
Good Shabbos !
Posted By Anonymous



 


Yom Kippur Meditations
G-d's Fishing Net
Dance with the Other
Self-Pity
Time Machine
The Fair Maiden's Hero
Progressive Failure
Kosher Yearnings
Bouncing Up
Delights
Our Voice
Even Better
Time Travel
Getting Personal

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