Machshava:

Elul 

Collections: Rabbi Weinberger: Wine And Water

Description

Based on the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Likutei Sichos. Why is there a difference between the wine pouring and water pouring, in that the wine pouring is only acceptable during the day, yet water pouring is also acceptable at night? Everything in creation, even a single halacha contains within it the revealed part and also a soul (the hidden part), the mitzvah of nissuch hamayim has a very deep meaning. Wine - understanding, pleasure; water - tasteless, not easily understood. Being an eved Hashem in the way of wine or the way of water. When we contemplate the exaltedness and the origin of our soul, we humble ourselves to do the will of G-d which transforms our avodas Hashem from tasteless water to water for which we thirst. Comparing the joy of Shavuos (learning and understanding) to that of Simchas Torah (unbridled, with the sefer Torah closed). The taste of wine depends on my personal preferences; water, however, and by extension "kabbalas ol malchus shamayim", does not depend on what I feel or how much I like it. Nonetheless, we should try our best to understand more, engage our mind to come closer and grasp more of Hashem but our avodas Hashem cannot depend on our understanding.