The Rebbe once spoke about those who are religious for a while and then fall away. He said that even the short time they are religious is very dear to God, no matter what happens later.
It is written, “You have captured My heart with one of your eyes” (Song of Songs 4:9). God is speaking to the Jewish people, recalling the time they accepted the Torah.
The Midrash asks why the verse says, “with one of your eyes.” It answers that the other eye was already looking at the Golden Calf.197310 Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:55. Cf. Shabbat 88b; Gittin 36b.
Even when they accepted the Torah, the Jewish people already had plans to stray. Still, the short time they were close to God was very dear to Him. Therefore, God said, “You have captured My heart with one of your eyes.”
מֵעִנְיַן קְצָת אֲנָשִׁים שֶׁמִּתְקָרְבִים לַעֲבוֹדַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ וְאַחַר־כָּךְ מִתְרַחֲקִין. עָנָה וְאָמַר: אַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן יָקָר אֵצֶל הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ הַהִתְקָרְבוּת בְּעַצְמוֹ, אַף לְפִי שָׁעָה. אַף־עַל־פִּי שֶׁאַחַר־כָּךְ נַעֲשֶׂה מַה שֶּׁנַּעֲשֶׂה, ח"ו.
The Rebbe once spoke about those who are religious for a while and then fall away. He said that even the short time they are religious is very dear to God, no matter what happens later.
וְאָמַר: הֲלֹא עַל שְׁעַת מַתַּן תּוֹרָה נֶאֱמַר (שִׁיר הַשִּׁירִים ד): "לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַת מֵעֵינַיִךְ".
It is written, “You have captured My heart with one of your eyes” (Song of Songs 4:9). God is speaking to the Jewish people, recalling the time they accepted the Torah.
וְאִיתָא בַּמִּדְרָשׁ: "מַהוּ בְּאַחַת מֵעֵינַיִךְ? אֶלָּא שֶׁבָּעַיִן הַשֵּׁנִית כְּבָר הָיוּ מִסְתַּכְּלִין עַל הָעֵגֶל".
The Midrash asks why the verse says, “with one of your eyes.” It answers that the other eye was already looking at the Golden Calf.197310 Shir HaShirim Rabbah 1:55. Cf. Shabbat 88b; Gittin 36b.
נִמְצָא שֶׁבִּשְׁעַת מַתַּן תּוֹרָה כְּבָר הָיָה דַּעְתָּם לִפְרֹשׁ ח"ו, וְאַף־עַל־פִּי־כֵן הָיָה יָקָר בְּעֵינֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ מְאֹד הַהִתְקָרְבוּת בְּעַצְמוֹ. כְּמוֹ שֶׁכָּתוּב "לִבַּבְתִּנִי בְּאַחַת מֵעֵינַיִךְ". כִּי זֶה בְּעַצְמוֹ יָקָר מְאֹד בְּעֵינֵי הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ.
Even when they accepted the Torah, the Jewish people already had plans to stray. Still, the short time they were close to God was very dear to Him. Therefore, God said, “You have captured My heart with one of your eyes.”