Shovavim is an acronym for the six weekly
Torah portions Shemot, Vaera, Bo, Beshelah,
Yisro and Mishpatim. The word Shovavim
alludes to the Pasuk in Yirmiya (3:14), “Shuvu
Banim Shovavim” – “Return, wayward
children”… The Arizal taught that these
weeks are especially auspicious for doing
Teshuvah in the area of Kedusha since
these are the parshiyos about the slavery in
Mitzrayim and our subsequent redemption.
It’s a time when there is special divine
assistance for every Jew who wants to be
free of the shackles of the Yetzer Hara!
By working on this area together as a group,
we all increase each other’s strength!
Tzadikim have said that the redemption
of Klal Yisrael, both as a people and as
individuals, depends on our working in
the area of Kedusha. This is the test of the
final generation before Moshiach. Never in
history have there been such challenges,
and this is our ticket out of Galus! And on
the individual level as well, a person is
saved from depression and anxiety and
achieves an inner peace. יֵרְֵׁபִיׁלְוּ קיִִஏ ַּ ּלְ ּעַֻרֵָזָ רֵוֹא
הָחָׁמְִִ בֵלְ. Without working on this area, it is
impossible to merit true joy.
INTRODUCTION
I rejoiced upon learning that you have
been inspired in the path of kedushah,
to go in the way of righteousness during
these holy weeks of םיִבִָבִוֹשׁ. If only I could
become part of your wonderful group!
However, our generation is not like the
generations of old, who afflicted
themselves physically, as is well known.
The suffering that we endure by avoiding
evil, by controlling our desire... and by
controlling our thoughts, whether during
tefillah or as we go about our activities —
this is more honorable and beneficial [than
physical affliction].
… How pleasant is your lot, for you have
bonded together to strengthen yourselves
during these holy days. While it is not within
our abilities to fast and afflict ourselves as
in previous generations, without a doubt
the discomfort of controlling our desires is
more exalted and beneficial than the
discomfort from withholding food and
drink from ourselves.
Some people think that Shovavim is a tikkun
practiced only among mekubalim and
chassidim. Below we quote from a letter of
Rav Simchah Zissel (Der Alter) of Kelm to a
group of bachurim who had undertaken
special improvements in their avodas
Hashem during these weeks.
(Kisvei HaSaba MiKelm, Chanukah U’Purim p. 29.)