It follows, that “taking a break” or vacationing, is not something that a Yid chooses to do, per se. A Yid takes breaks so that he
can continue his work afterwards with refreshed energy and focus.
Taking a break, while ignoring our true “needs”, can actually have the opposite effect on the very health we sought to improve...
Someone once wrote to the Rebbe about his parents, whom he
felt needed to take a break from the difficult work they were involved in, for the
sake of their health.
The Rebbe answered: In general, taking a break from
difficult work is an ideal thing to do. However, your parents derive their entire energy, satisfaction and pleasure from the actual hard work itself. Therefore, spending (extended) time away from their work will result in a spiritual [emotional] emptiness... their taking a break, “to improve their health”, may actually have the opposite effect.
Certainly, when one regards his spiritual well-being with the proper respect, he makes sure not to compromise it when tending to his physical well-being, because he knows that his physical well-being itself will be adversely affected by his spiritual emptiness.
***
True to his mission to distract us from our Tafkid, the
Yetzer Hara tries to redefine our eating, breaks, etc. so that they
become the focus of our lives…
The Yetzer Hara isn't called an “old foolish king” for
naught, because following his advice never yields truly desirable and
satisfying results. Making vacation or tending to our "limitations" the focus
in life, actually hurts the very
physical wellbeing we set out to refresh and improve…
L'ilui Nishmas R' Naftoli Zvi ben Yehuda Dovid A"H
Based on a letter from the Rebbe 22 Menachem-Av 5721, and "The G-d Course", by Rabbi Manis Friedman. The 4-part tele-conference "Hashem Needs You" starts on July 20 2015. For more information, visit www.itsgoodtoknow.com
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