“If you are not a better person tomorrow than you are today, who needs tomorrow?” – Reb Nachman of Breslov

If the Sabbath is about rest and renewal, the rest of the week is about making things happen. “Six days shall you labor and do your work, and on the seventh day you rest.”

This mentioned at least seven times in the Torah and repeated again in the Prophets and the Gospels. We often focus on the imperative to rest one day of seven. But the flip side is that we are also told to work the rest of the week. But what kind of work?

There’s an saying that healing the world is an inside job. So whatever our work in the world may be, it starts with ourselves. With working on our own stuff, our issues, our strengths and weaknesses. That way, whatever our work in the outer world, we are better equipped to do it well.

Reb Nachman reminds us that while we don’t have to do it all at once, we should still strive to make a little progress every day. We are to make tomorrow a bit better than today was. Otherwise, what’s the point of tomorrow?

What work can I do today, to make tomorrow better?

Nachman of Breslov, also known as Reb Nachman of Bratslav, (April 4, 1772 – October 16, 1810), was the founder of the BreslovHasidic movement.

Joe Laur is a father, husband, artist, builder, naturalist, consultant, and EcoKosher mashgiach. He lives with his wife Sara in western Massachusetts, where he serves as head groundskeeper and resident singer songwriter. Send him your favorite teaching quote for commentary. He can be reached at joe.laur@joelaur.com.