
This week, I didn’t feel like writing a Dvar Torah. My mind was scattered, and every time I tried to start, nothing came. What am I even going to say? I thought. A small voice whispered, Just skip it this week—no one will notice. But then another thought pushed back: Do it anyway. Even if I wasn’t feeling inspired, I knew the effort itself mattered. So I sat down, opened a sefer, and started typing. At first, it felt forced, but as I kept going, something shifted. The ideas began to connect, the words started to flow, and suddenly, it felt meaningful.
In Tanya (Chapter 29), the Alter Rebbe speaks about Timtum Halev—a blocked heart that makes spiritual efforts feel empty. He explains that this happens because the nefesh habehamis (Animal Soul) resists anything holy. The key isn’t to wait for motivation but to push through. Just like wood that won’t catch fire until it’s splintered, sometimes we need to break through our own resistance. If we keep going, even when it’s hard, the light eventually shines through.
This reminded me that connection to Hashem isn’t about inspiration—it’s about consistency. Whether it’s davening, learning, or writing a Dvar Torah, the effort itself is valuable, even when it feels like a struggle. In fact, the moments we push ourselves the most are often when we grow the most. So this week, I challenge you: when you feel resistance to something meaningful—whether it’s tefillah, learning, or any mitzvah—push through. Take that extra moment to refocus and say one more pasuk with intention. Let's break through the struggle together! Good Shabbos All the best! Avroham Y Ross
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