זבחי אלקים, רוח נשברה: לב–נשבר ונדכה––אלקים, לא תבזה.

Psalms 51:19 The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit;
a broken and a contrite heart, O G-d, Thou wilt not despise.

(image: http://science.howstuffworks.com/light-stick2.htm)

The Torah’s version of a “broken heart” is not what we consider a broken heart.  For us, a broken heart sounds like a loved one hurt us, or like a friend betrayed us, ch”v.

What the Torah speaks of as a broken heart is vastly different.

Rebi Yehoshua ben Levi said in the Gemara:
“Come and see how great the humble are in the eyes of The Holy One, Blessed is He…regarding a contrite person, the Torah ascribes it to him as though he had offered every one of the sacrifices, as it says, ‘The sacrifices of G-d are a broken spirit’ (Psalms 51:19). More than that, his prayer is not despised, for it continues [there], ‘A broken and a contrite heart, O G-d, You will not despise’.” (Sotah 5b)

In this way, he glows with humility.

Rabbi Nachman of Breslev
Rebbe Nachman distinguishes between “a broken heart” and “sadness.” Sadness is that which is dark and leads a person further and further from G-d and is expressed in anger and irritability. Hence, in Judaism we say that “Joy is an Obligation.”

On the other hand, a “broken heart” is when a person understands and feels how distant he is from G-d, like a child who ran away/was sent away/was kidnapped from his Father. With such a “broken heart” a person is filled with a desire and motivation to draw closer to his father, to draw closer to G-d.

In this way, he glows with a longing for closeness.

Student of A Simple Jew
This lovely person’s own interpretation is that a “broken heart” is a heart that is not complete. A person who recognizes that it he is not perfect, that he has much room to grow is a person with a “broken heart.” This is when we see ourselves with truth un-obscured by ego.

In this way, he glows with a desire to perfect himself.

How do you glow?