Dvar Torah for Parshat Toldot

[Rivkah Imeinu] walked to seek God (Genesis 25:22). She went to learn God's teachings (Onkelos) at the *bet midrash* (study hall) of Shem (Rashi).

How important and valuable is it to seek Divine guidance and instruction to improve your connection to God? Rebbe Nachman answered this question when he said, "I bless myself that I should see the radiance of the road you travel to me." Every step of the way creates an angel. He said this also included the preparations, like hiring the wagon (or calling the travel agent to make reservations).

Rebbe Nachman told all this to two of his most advanced disciples, Reb Yudel and Reb Shmuel Isaac. Certainly we who are beginners or intermediates would do well to travel to a tzaddik to learn how to be a better Jew. Many times we, like Rivkah Imeinu (our matriarch), carry so much inside ourselves. Many times we experience gut-churning emotions and strongly conflicting ideas within. When we come into contact with a *bet midrash*, Jewishness that inspires, we are ready to run to it. Yet when we pass a "temple of idolatry"—a theatre, stadium, university, ashram—something that's so much a part of us runs to that as well. "What do I need this struggle for?!" How do I choose correctly and stay true to God?!

Rivkah Imeinu taught us well: Travel to the tzaddik.

So the next time your evil inclination discourages you from traveling to improve your Jewishness—"I just took off my shirt. How can I put it back on? I just washed my feet. How can I get them dirty?" (Song of Songs 5:3)—remember the Talmudic story (Chagigah 5b) of the student who would travel three months to spend just one day at his rabbi's *bet midrash*.
Based on that Rebbe Nachman taught: "It's worth spending a lot of time to be with a tzaddik even a little time" (The Aleph-Bet Book, Tzaddik A:55)

agutn Shabbos!
Shabbat Shalom!