אות - קכג

Regarding certain people who draw near to the service of Hashem Yisburach and afterward distance themselves — he answered and said: even so, the drawing near itself is precious before Hashem Yisburach — even if only for a while. Even though afterward what happens, happens, Heaven forbid. And he said: Was it not said at the time of the giving of the Torah (Song of Songs 4:9): "You have captured My heart with one of your eyes." And it is brought in the Midrash (253): "What is meant by 'with one of your eyes'? — for with the second eye they were already looking at the calf." It is found that at the time of the giving of the Torah they were already intending to separate themselves, Heaven forbid, and even so the drawing near itself was very precious in the eyes of Hashem Yisburach, as it is written: "You have captured My heart with one of your eyes." For this itself — the drawing near — is very precious before Hashem Yisburach.

253. RAK: Shabbas 88b; Gittin 36b; Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:55.

Once he asked me in a tone of wonder: Have you ever heard words of rebuke from me? And he said that he cannot say words of rebuke. For every word of rebuke of his is steeped and bathed in tears (in German he said it in these words: "Itleches vort fun mussar iz bay mir farvoshen mit trehrn" [every word of rebuke with me is washed in tears]). And because of this he cannot say rebuke explicitly.