Episode 537- 22 Iyar (Regular Year) - Sometimes Loving Means Holding Back

In this episode of the It Is Taught Tanya Podcast, host Sarit Switzer explores a profound concept from Chapter 50 of The Tanya: that true love—especially the intense, self-nullifying love of God—sometimes requires holding back. Drawing from the emotional film *Stella Dallas*, she illustrates how a mother’s ultimate act of love was not closeness, but selfless detachment to allow her daughter to thrive. This mirrors the soul’s journey: though the deepest yearning of the soul is to dissolve into God, the true expression of divine love is to remain in the physical world, fulfilling God’s will by creating a dwelling place for the Divine here below. The episode delves into the paradox of being 'against your will' alive, yet choosing life for a higher purpose. It emphasizes that spiritual maturity involves transcending personal desire for union with God to embrace the responsibility of active, embodied service in the world. The discussion culminates in a meditation on Rosh Hashanah’s cosmic theme—God’s decision to sustain creation despite the desire to return to the source—reinforcing the idea that love often means staying, not fleeing.