יְרִידָה לְצֹורֶךְ עֲלִיָּה, יְרִידָה צֹורֶךְ עֲלִיָּה הִיא

ביטוי (אנגלית)

Descent for the sake of ascent; a descent that is for ascent/ a drop must needs precede a rise/il faut reculer pour sauter mieux (F)

הגדרה (אנגלית)

A descent whose purpose is an ascent to a higher place than before. Figuratively: a difficult situation or an effort whose outcome is a better state. (In the source context, the killer's criminal intent is examined according to his hand movements.)

("Our Rabbis taught..." — except one who intends [to kill]. A willful murderer, obviously, is liable to death!... "If at a sudden moment" — except for a corner; "without enmity" — except for a hater; "pushed him" — meaning that he pushed him with his body, or threw something at him — to bring about a descent that is for ascent. He said to him: You have already touched upon a descent that is for ascent. He objected: This is the rule: anyone who kills while descending is exiled; one who does not kill while descending is not exiled" — Makkot 7b. And similarly: "Since he fell into such places, Heaven forfend, and this is the essence of his repair and ascent, in the sense of 'a descent that is the ultimate ascent' mentioned in the books" — Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutei Moharan II, Torah 12.)