Episode 506 - 21 Nissan (Regular Year) - What Do You Really Want?

In this episode of the It Is Taught podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores the profound spiritual concept of authentic intention in serving God, drawing from Chapter 41 of The Tanya. She begins by reflecting on the universal human experience of desiring things that are ultimately harmful—like overeating or staying up late—paralleling this to how people often want temporary pleasures rather than their deeper, holier true desires. This metaphor extends to spiritual life: while we may not consciously feel the intense, selfless love for God required to unite our souls with the divine source, the Tanya teaches that this desire is innately present in every Jew. The episode emphasizes that even if we don’t feel this profound love in the moment, we are still connected to it through our 'Jewish DNA'—an inherited, innate love of God and desire to fulfill His will. The key takeaway is that by habituating ourselves to this higher intention, we align with our truest self, even if the feeling isn’t fully realized yet. The episode closes with a call to cultivate awareness of our deeper desires and to continue striving toward spiritual unity through consistent practice and inner recognition.