Why the World Feels Separate

If Divine light were revealed without restraint,

creation would lose all sense of identity.

Hashem wanted a world that experiences itself as independent

so that human beings could choose, grow,

and return to Him willingly.

That is the purpose of tzimtzum:

not to remove G-dliness,

but to conceal it enough

for creation to exist as itself.

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The Key Clarification

The concealment is real for us.

It is not real for Hashem.

To Him,

darkness and light are the same.

The veils do not block Him,

because they come from Him.

Like a shell that is part of the animal itself,

the concealment is not foreign to G-dliness.

It is G-dly.

That is why the Torah says:

Hashem is Elokim.

Revelation and concealment are one.

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The Message

Creation introduced change only

in how the world experiences Hashem.

It introduced no change in Hashem Himself.

What feels separate exists only because it is being held.

What feels distant exists only because it is being sustained.

From His perspective,

everything is still within Him,

utterly null,

and His oneness remains

exactly as it always was,

before creation and after.

Creation is not separate from Hashem.

It only appears that way to us.

Hashem’s “speech” did not leave Him to create the world.

It is continuously revealing and sustaining it from within.

The world feels real.

Hashem is reality itself.

And living with that awareness

quietly changes how we see everything.

Be kinder than necessary. Everyone is healing from something, and behind every smile may rest an untold struggle. A gentle word or kind gesture can be the lifeline someone has been waiting for. Compassion may not solve every battle, but it reminds the fighter they’re not alone.

Inspired by the teachings of Rebbe Nachman (1772-1810)

Holiness is not something you add to yourself.

It appears when self-focus quiets

and attention turns toward Hashem.

This happens when a person submits to truth,

places loyalty in truth rather than self,

and aligns with it regardless of cost.

When ego steps aside, wisdom becomes accessible.

Where wisdom is present, holiness follows.

If you feel distant, it does not mean holiness is gone.

It means truth is being resisted.

Closeness returns the moment a person chooses loyalty to truth over comfort

and aligns with what they know is right.

Soften your need to know.

Today’s contemplation is to recognize how much is unknown. As you encounter people and ideas, notice the subtle pull to appear as “the expert,” even when it comes to all of us. Can you soften the need to know and let life stay open and limitless?

Wisdom is easier to access when the mind is humble. Rest in the understanding that reality is far bigger than any viewpoint. Humility is not a lack of knowledge but a willingness to meet what is, freshly.

Reroute Your Thoughts with Emuna

We’ve all heard the phrase “think positive.” But let’s be real—it’s not so easy when life hurls curveballs and our minds spiral into negativity. The question is, how do we actually shift the inner script?

Chazal gift us with a powerful practice: the moment a negative thought sneaks in, visualize the words “Shiviti Hashem l’negdi tamid” — I place Hashem before me always. Close your eyes, and imagine the holy Name Y-K-V-K shining before your mind’s eye. The quicker you anchor your mind in Hashem’s presence, the faster the negative thought loses its grip.

Dovid HaMelech teaches, “Why are you downcast, my soul?” (Tehillim 43:5) — even he had to talk back to his inner doubt. You have that same holy right. Your soul was created for light, not lingering darkness.

Each time you reroute your thoughts, you're not only healing yourself—you’re sending waves of positivity into the world. Your thoughts have cosmic ripple effects. You are powerful. You are a channel of divine renewal.

When eager for change – whether it’s in yourself or in your circumstances – waiting can feel like standing still. There are seasons when nothing appears to move – days pass, effort is made, and yet nothing seems to visibly shift. That pause can be uncomfortable, even discouraging, but it doesn’t mean nothing is happening. Stillness is not stagnation. It is often preparation – quiet, deliberate, and necessary.

Patience is the willingness to remain present while change is already unfolding beneath the surface. It’s the understanding that the waiting time is not wasted time. Much of what matters most grows invisibly at first, shaping itself where the eye cannot yet follow.

Change rarely arrives all at once. It unfolds in layers, requiring time for foundations to strengthen before anything visible can emerge. Often, the waiting is not a pause in the journey, but a quiet reshaping of the person who will take the next step – habits are forming, perspectives are adjusting, resilience is building. What feels like delay is often preparation – growth that wouldn’t hold if it came too quickly.

The same is true of circumstances beyond our control. Pieces move, alignments form, and timing matures long before the outcome appears. We may not see how today connects to tomorrow, but each moment of patience is part of a larger process that’s still in motion.

Quiet does not mean abandoned. G-d is as present in concealment as in revelation. If we can learn to trust the unseen work, we will discover that the stillness is part of the movement, and that time is not our enemy but the ally that ensures we’re prepared and ready for change when it does appear.

Inspired by the teachings of the Maharal of Prague, Rabbi Yehudah Loew (1512-1609)

Perfection is an illusion that keeps you chasing a moving target. You don’t have to be flawless to be worthy. Real growth happens in the messy, imperfect moments where you show up anyway.

Mistakes are not failures – they are moments of learning disguised as setbacks, each one carrying insight that only experience can teach. They are part of the process of becoming who you’re meant to be, and often become the very thing that strengthens you most.

Let go of the pressure to be perfect and embrace the freedom of being real. Remember that progression matters more than perfection, and consistency with compassion is how growth becomes sustainable instead of exhausting. Be kind to yourself and celebrate small wins. Keep stepping, stumbling, learning and repeating. Keep getting up, keep showing up, and no matter what, don’t ever give up.

Inspired by the teachings of Reb Noson of Breslov (1780-1844)

Five Reminders to Take to Heart

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1. What you thought would complete you was never meant to.

It was meant to point you beyond yourself, toward a deepening connection to Hashem.

2. Life does not disappoint us by accident.

It disappoints the illusion so that the truth can emerge.

3. Peace begins the moment we start asking the right questions.

Stop asking:

* “Am I getting what I need?”

Start asking:

* “What lesson is Hashem teaching me now?”

* “What does Hashem want me to do in response to this situation?”

Stop asking life to serve you.

Start asking what you are here to serve.

4. Menucha deepens when you stop demanding that life satisfy you.

It grows when you let go of that demand.

5. Life was never meant to make you comfortable.

It was meant to help you grow and align with your neshama.

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