God of Our Understanding: Jewish Spirituality and Recovery from Addiction

by Shais Taub

the very difference between a need and a desire is that a need can be “rationally” defended but a desire has no “practical” explanation. As Rabbi Schneur Zalman, founder of the Chabad school of Chasidism, used to say when discussing the nature of God’s will for creation, “When it comes to a desire, you cannot ask rational questions.” For example, let’s say your spouse says that they need something; it is possible to ask them to explain their need. If they cannot, you might even be able to argue that they don’t really need it. However, if your spouse says that they want something, even if they cannot convincingly explain why, it doesn’t mean that they don’t really want it. That’s the definition of a want as opposed to a need. A need is practical. A desire is impractical. Thus, the appropriate response to a desire is either to fulfill it or not to fulfill it, but not to argue with it. So, too, when we speak of God’s will, we mean His irrational, impractical desire. The very impracticality of God’s relationship with us is what makes it intimate as opposed to utilitarian. God doesn’t need us. He wants us.

En la adiccion al inicio es un quiero irracional y al final una necesidad