## Tzava'at HaRivash Chapter 46

###### Tzava'at HaRivash 46:1
[Tzava'at HaRivash 46:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tzava%27at%20HaRivash/r/46:1)

**ואל ירבה בדקדוקים יתירים בכל דבר שעושה** שזה כוונת היצה"ר לעשות לאדם מורא שמא אינו יוצא בדבר זה כדי להביא אותו לעצבות. ועצבות היא מניעה גדולה לעבודת הבורא ית'.

**The Way of The Baal Shem Tov. Adapted into English by Rabbi Amiram Markel and Yehudah Shimon Markel, 2020:**
A person who is just starting out in the service of *HaShem* should not be overly scrupulous and stringent about everything he does. For, the intention of the evil inclination is to make you depressed by causing you to fear that you have not fulfilled your obligations in every detail. However, depression is a terrible and destructive quality that obstructs a person from the service of *HaShem*, blessed is He and must be avoided.⁷⁷

footnotes:
⁷⁷ See Shaarei Kedusha of Rabbi Chaim Vital, 2:4, translated as Gates of Holiness.  Also see Tanya, Igeret HaKodesh, Epistle 11.


###### Tzava'at HaRivash 46:2
[Tzava'at HaRivash 46:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tzava%27at%20HaRivash/r/46:2)

ואפי' נכשל בעבירה לא ירבה בעצבות שיבוטל העבודה. רק שיעצב על העבירה ויחזור לשמוח בהבורא ית' כיון שהוא מתחרט בחרטה גמורה ובדעתו שלא ישוב לכסלתו בשום פעם.

**The Way of The Baal Shem Tov. Adapted into English by Rabbi Amiram Markel and Yehudah Shimon Markel, 2020:**
Even if you actually did stumble and sin, God forbid, do not be overly depressed over it, thereby tearing down everything you have accomplished and giving up on yourself, because this causes you to refrain from progressing in your service of *HaShem,*blessed is He. Instead, be upset and ashamed about the sin before the Creator, beg Him to remove your wickedness, resolve never to revert to this foolishness again and return to rejoicing in *HaShem,* the Creator, blessed is He.


###### Tzava'at HaRivash 46:3
[Tzava'at HaRivash 46:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tzava%27at%20HaRivash/r/46:3)

ואפילו כשיודע בודאי שאינו יוצא בדבר אחד מחמת מניעות הרבה לא יהי' עצב ויחשוב שהבורא ית' בוחן לבות וכליות שהוא יודע שרצונו לעשות מן המובחר רק שאינו יכול. ויחזק עצמו לשמוח בהבורא ית'.

**The Way of The Baal Shem Tov. Adapted into English by Rabbi Amiram Markel and Yehudah Shimon Markel, 2020:**
Even if you know, for certain, that you did not fulfill your obligation in a given matter, due to numerous obstacles, do not be depressed. Consider that *HaShem,*the Creator, blessed is He, “Examines the heart and innards”⁷⁸ and that He knows that you wanted to do your best but were unable. You should thus strengthen yourself and rejoice in the Creator, blessed is He.

footnotes:
⁷⁸ Psalms 7:10


###### Tzava'at HaRivash 46:4
[Tzava'at HaRivash 46:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tzava%27at%20HaRivash/r/46:4)

וכמ"ש עת לעשות לד' הפרו תורתך שפעמים יש מצוה שיש בה קצת נדנוד עבירה אל ישגיח על היצה"ר שרוצה לבטלו מלעשות המצוה ויאמר ליצר הלא אין כוונתי באותה המצוה רק אני רוצה לעשות נחת רוח להבורא ית' במצוה זו ובזה יסתלק היצה"ר ממנו בעז"ה אבל מ"מ צריך להבחין בשכלו אם יעשה המצוה הזאת אם לא.

**The Way of The Baal Shem Tov. Adapted into English by Rabbi Amiram Markel and Yehudah Shimon Markel, 2020:**
The verse states,⁷⁹ “It is a time to do for *HaShem*, they have abrogated Your Torah.” It is explained⁸⁰ that there are times in which the fulfillment of a *mitzvah* may contain an admixture of sin, but that, nevertheless, one must pay no heed to the evil inclination who wishes to prevent him from fulfilling it. Under such circumstances, tell the evil inclination: “In fulfilling this commandment, my intention was certainly not to anger the Creator, blessed is He, nor was it for my own honor. Had I known that the Creator does not desire that I do this, I would certainly not have done it. My only desire is to give satisfaction of spirit to *HaShem*, the Creator, blessed is He, through the fulfillment of this *mitzvah*.” With this, the evil inclination will withdraw from you, with *HaShem’s*help. Nonetheless, before doing something, use your intellect to discern whether or not you should do it.

footnotes:
⁷⁹ Psalms 119:126
⁸⁰ Talmud Bavli, Brachot 63a


###### Tzava'at HaRivash 46:5
[Tzava'at HaRivash 46:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Tzava%27at%20HaRivash/r/46:5)

וכל מה שכתבתי הם כללים גדולים ונחמדים מפז רב כל דבר ודבר הוא כלל גדול:

**The Way of The Baal Shem Tov. Adapted into English by Rabbi Amiram Markel and Yehudah Shimon Markel, 2020:**
All the above are very great and important principles that are, “More desirable than fine gold.”⁸¹ Each of them is an important principle.

footnotes:
⁸¹ Psalms 19:11