The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

Hayom Yom 11 Adar - 1) Intention during prayer 2) Halacha should affect daily Avoda


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Hayom Yom 11 Adar 1 - Prayers should be heard by G‑d as if....

יָדוּעַ וּמְקוּבָּל בְּעִנְיַן הַכַּוָּנוֹת שֶׁבִּתְפִלָּה

There is a well-known tradition

אֲשֶׁר אֵלּוּ שֶׁאֵין דַּעְתָּם יָפָה לְכַוֵּן

concerning individuals who do not have the mental ability to concentrate on the kavanos, the mystical concepts to be meditated upon in the course of the prayers,

מִפְּנֵי הֶעְדֵּר הַיְדִיעָה אוֹ מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין בְּכֹחָם לִזְכּוֹר כַּוָּנוֹת הַפְּרָטִיּוֹת בְּעֵת הַתְּפִלָּה

either because they are not familiar with them, or because they cannot recall the specific concepts at the appropriate points in the course of the prayers:

מַסְפִּיק שֶׁיְּכַוְּנוּ כַּוָּנָה כְּלָלִית

It is sufficient that they have in mind a comprehensive kavanah —

לִהְיוֹת תְּפִלָּתוֹ נִשְׁמַעַת לְפָנָיו יִתְבָּרֵךְ עִם כָּל הַכַּוָּנוֹת הַמְבוֹאָרוֹת בְּסִפְרֵי קַבָּלָה

that their prayers should be heard by G‑d as if [they were recited] with all the kavanos that are set out in the Kabbalistic texts.

Hayom Yom 11 Adar 2 - Halacha signifies a persons Divine service.

תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵר מוּקְדָם

[This year (5703/1943), exceptionally,] the Fast of Esther is observed [on this date,] before its usual time.

סְלִיחוֹת, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ

[In any year, the Morning Service for the Fast of Esther includes] Selichos and Avinu Malkeinu, 

מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל

and the [contribution of three coins of] half a shekel [is made at Minchah time].

חֲסִידוּת כּוֹלֶלֶת שְׁנֵי עִנְיָנִים עִקָּרִים

[The study of halachah through the eyes of] Chassidus comprises two fundamental approaches:

א) הֲבָנַת כָּל הֲלָכָה בְּשָׁרְשָׁהּ וּמְקוֹרָהּ הָעַצְמִי בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת

(a) Understanding every halachah at its essential, spiritual root and source

הַיְינוּ בִּסְפִירוֹת וּמַדְרֵגוֹת בְּכָל עוֹלָם וְעוֹלָם לְפִי עִנְיָנוֹ

in the various Sefiros and rungs within each of the spiritual worlds.

כִּמְבוֹאָר בְּדִבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים

The distinctive nature of each world is explained in the teachings of Chassidus.

ב) הֲבָנַת עִנְיַן כָּל הֲלָכָה בַּעֲבוֹדָה

(b) Understanding what each halachah signifies in an individual’s Divine service.

הַיְינוּ שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהִיא חָכְמָה וְשֵׂכֶל אֱלֹקִי וְדִין הַתּוֹרָה

Although [the halachah] represents Divine wisdom and intelligence and is Torah law,

מִכָּל מָקוֹם צָרִיךְ לִמְצוֹא בָּזֶה עִנְיָן בַּעֲבוֹדָה בְּהַנְהָגַת הָאָדָם בְּחַיֵּי עוֹלָם זֶה

one should [seek and] discover an element within it that affects his avodah and his conduct, as he lives his life in this physical world.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef KatzmanBy Rabbi Yosef Katzman