Why Looking Back Holds You Back

Exploring how letting go can help us connect more deeply with Hashem. Print and enjoy over Shabbos.

My father, Rav Yaacov Haber, often relates that many years ago, he had the opportunity to drive a renowned Rebbe around Melbourne, Australia, to meet with potential supporters. One individual lived a bit far out, and in the days before GPS and Waze, my father was unsure of the way. The Rebbe, however, seemed to know the route and, in rich Hungarian Yiddish, kept instructing him to drive straight ahead: foroys glaych (פֿאָרויס גלײַך).' At each intersection, the Rebbe would repeat the directive to keep going straight.

Reflecting on this experience, my father noted that in life, there can be many turns and distractions, but no matter what, you need to foroys glaych—to keep going straight. Don’t look back, dwell on 'what ifs,' or get caught in indecisiveness. Keep your eye on the Shechinah and move straight ahead.

This idea of looking straight ahead and not looking back is found throughout the Torah. One well-known instance is when we left Mitzrayim and were instructed not to look back or …