A Sacred Time
Adar 5
Rebbe Nachman teaches that forgetting is necessary if you want to serve G-d. If we were to remember every one of our flaws and failures all the time, we would really have a hard time feeling happy. So forgetting is the gift that allows us to act as though we were just created and have no past. The freshness and joy that it brings is the best way to prepare for Pesach, for the new beginning of our liberation. Before Pesach, we remove chametz from our domain—the spiritual nature of chometz is the negativity that’s bred when we sit and brood on our flaws until they ferment. Purim presses the restart button so that we can jettison the thoughts of the past that toxify our present.
Beloved Creator! Let me forget my past so that I can heal and restart my life. Instead of obsessing on the past, I want to boldly face the future with a confident heart. Just like You helped us during Purim You will surely help us through all our difficulties and down times. Help me remove the depression of sin by forgetting what can no longer be changed and focusing on joy. When I am able, I will go back and fix what I can. But for now, let me forget and embrace the beautiful times which begin with the Pesach seder and that culminate in receiving the Torah fifty days later!