The Spiritual Meaning of Forgetfulness: How Challenges in Memory Cleanse the Soul

Forgetfulness stems from the power of forgetfulness, over which the Sar HaShich’cha (Minister of Forgetfulness) is appointed to cause people to forget their learning, as well as the tasks they must perform. The suffering that comes upon a person through forgetfulness serves as an atonement for his sins.

In our generation, where the forces of impurity (klipot) have multiplied, forgetfulness has also increased. If a person refines his soul, his memory improves. As is well known from the teachings of the righteous, the verse “There is no forgetfulness before Your Throne of Glory” indicates that teshuvah (repentance) is so powerful that it reaches the Throne of Glory, and one who engages in teshuvah to such an extent — until his teshuvah touches the Throne, will no longer suffer from forgetfulness.

The Path of Faith for Those Tested by Forgetfulness

A person who is naturally forgetful should not attribute this to mere coincidence, physical weakness, or neurological deficiencies, as is the common worldly perspective. While these factors indeed contribute to forgetfulness, a person should still understand that when suffering or weakness is decreed upon him from Heaven, leading to forgetfulness, this is by Divine Providence.

If the faculties of memory have been weakened, resulting in a diminished capacity for recall, this is not random, but it has been decreed exactly how many times a day he will forget.

When a person embraces this faith and says upon each instance of forgetfulness, “This is from Divine Providence to cleanse me of my sins,” over the course of his life, many severe decrees will be sweetened and nullified. Each time he experiences the pain of forgetfulness, if he accepts it with gratitude and seeks atonement for his sins, it will accumulate into a great spiritual merit.

Similarly, if one is walking and takes a wrong turn, even within the same city — mistaking one street for another or one house for another, he should believe this too is guided by Divine Providence.

There is a well-known story about the Baal Shem Tov, who once intended to enter a certain room but mistakenly entered a basement. He then instructed his companions to check the mezuzot. Someone asked him: “Is it necessary to check mezuzot just because you mistakenly entered a basement?” The Baal Shem Tov replied: “There is no coincidence in the world. If Heaven caused me to err and enter the basement, it must be that the mezuzot here need checking.” This was the way of the Baal Shem Tov — every step he took was with simple, pure faith. (Shomer Emunim, Part I, p. 133)