Like most of the components of Iggeret HaKodesh, this pastoral letter too was addressed to the chassidic community as a whole. Why, then, echoing the words first addressed to Daniel (“To enlighten you with understanding”),1 does the Alter Rebbe open it in the singular? In this letter the Alter Rebbe demands spiritual service of a […]

The Alter Rebbe now goes on to explain how a Jew can achieve a total lack of yearning for the physicality of things, even things that are essential. According to the explanation that follows, it will be seen that one can go beyond this, and even not be pained by their absence. Indeed, this equanimity […]

וכשיתבונן האדם בעומק הבנתו Now when a man will contemplate in the depths of his understanding ויצייר בדעתו הווייתו יש מאין בכל רגע ורגע ממש and will [moreover] picture in his mind how he comes into being ex nihilo at every single moment, so that he is affected at every moment of his existence by […]

ומי שמתעצב ומתאונן But he who is grieved and laments מראה בעצמו שיש לו מעט רע ויסורין demonstrates29 that he is undergoing some hardship and suffering, וחסר לו איזה טובה and lacks some goodness; והרי זה ככופר, חס ושלום he is (heaven forfend) like a heretic, who denies G‑d’s omnipresence. For if he would truly […]

והיה מעשה הצדקה שלום, ועבודת הצדקה השקט ובטח עד עולם “And [the reward for] the act of tzedakah will be peace, and [the reward for] the service of tzedakah [will be] quietness and surety forever.”1 Some commentaries explain that “act” (מעשה) and “service” (עבודה) are one and the same; the verse merely reiterates the same […]

על ידי בחינה ממוצעת, קו המכריע ומטה כלפי חסד by a mediary, the determining factor between Chesed and Gevurah, which leans towards Chesed, היא מדת הרחמים i.e., the attribute of Rachamim (“mercy”). When Chesed does not insist (so to speak) on an unlimited revelation of kindness (but is satisfied to reveal the G‑dly illumination in […]

ומודעת זאת מה שאמרו רז״ל על העוסק בתורה לשמה It is well-known that our Sages, of blessed memory, said9 of a person who engages in the study of Torah for its own sake, משים שלום בפמליא של מעלה ובפמליא של מטה that “he makes peace within the heavenly retinue and within the terrestial retinue.” פמליא […]

אך באדם התחתון But as regards terrestrial man, בכל עת מצוא at every “time of finding,” every propitious time for finding G‑d,18 זו תפלה meaning prayer,19 או שאר עתים מזומנים להתבודד עם קונו or at other times designated for secluding oneself with one’s Maker, כל אחד לפי מעשיו זוכה למעין בירור זה, על ידי עסק […]

אך לשון עבודה אינו נופל אלא על דבר שהאדם עושה ביגיעה עצומה, נגד טבע נפשו The term “service” (avodah), however, applies only to what a man does with immense exertion, contrary to his soul’s inclination, Indeed, it is his very disinclination for a particular task that works against him, and necessitates such exertion. רק שמבטל […]

מה רב טובך אשר צפנת ליראיך וגו׳ “How abundant is Your goodness which You have hidden away for those who fear You, [which You have wrought for those who trust in You before man].”1 Now the first part of the verse states that the reward is “hidden away,” while its conclusion implies that it is […]