The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

עֵרוּב תַּבְשִׁילִין

[Today] an Eruv Tavshilin is made.

אֵין מוֹסִיפִין עַל שְׁתֵּי עֲרָבוֹת

No more than two willow twigs are taken.

מַה שֶׁאֵין כֵּן בַּהֲדַסִים

One may, however, take more than three myrtle twigs.

מְהַדְּרִים לֶאֱגוֹד הַלּוּלָב בַּסּוּכָּה וּבְעֶרֶב יוֹם טוֹב

To perform the mitzvah in its optimum manner, one makes a point of binding the lulav [with the hadassim and aravos] in the sukkah on erev Sukkos.

עַל הַלּוּלָב שְׁתֵּי כְּרִיכוֹת

Two rings [made of leaves of the lulav] are bound around the lulav alone, [higher than the other three rings that will bind the lower ends of the hadassim and aravos to its base].

וּמִשְׁתַּדְּלִים שֶׁשְׁתֵּיהֶם תִּהְיֶינָה מְכוּסוֹת בַּהֲדַסִים וַעֲרָבוֹת

One should endeavor to see that these two rings are hidden by the [upper ends of] the hadassim and aravos.

גַּם כְּרִיכָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה בִּמְעַט עַל כָּל פָּנִים

Even the upper ring should be at least partly concealed.

וּמִלְּבַד זֶה שָׁלֹשׁ כְּרִיכוֹת שֶׁבָּהֶם אוֹגֵד הַהֲדַסִים וְהָעֲרָבוֹת עִם הַלּוּלָב

In addition to these two rings, the hadassim and aravos are bound to [the base of] the lulav by three rings,

שָׁלֹשׁ אֵלּוּ בְּמֶשֶׁךְ טֶפַח אֶחָד

which should all be tied within the space of a tefach.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

הִסְתַּלְּקוּת אַדְמוּ"ר מַהֲרַ"שׁ — תּרמ"ג — וּמְנוּחָתוֹ כָּבוֹד בְּליוּבַּאוִויטְשׁ

[This date is] the anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe Maharash in 5643 (1882). His resting place is in Lubavitch.

תְּחִלַּת אִגֶּרֶת סִימָּן כב וְסוֹפָהּ — לֹא בָּא בִּדְפוּס בְּאִגֶּרֶת הַקּוֹדֶשׁ. (נִדְפַּס בְּקוֹבֶץ הַתָּמִים חוֹבֶרֶת שְׁנִיָּה)

The beginning and end of Epistle 22 were not published in Iggeres HaKodesh [in the Tanya]. (They were, however, printed in the journal entitled HaTamim, Issue 2.)

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

בְּרִית כְּרוּתָה

One may rest assured, as by a covenant,

לְתַעֲמוּלָה וַעֲבוֹדָה

that endeavors and toil [for the dissemination of Yiddishkeit],

בְּמוֹעֲצוֹת חָכְמָה

in a spirit of wise consultation

וּבְקִרוּב הַדַּעַת

and comradely openness,

שֶׁאֵינָהּ חוֹזֶרֶת רֵיקָם

will not be expended in vain.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

בְּמוֹצָאֵי יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים תּקנ"ו בְּלִיאָזנאָ

On the night following Yom Kippur, 5556 (1795), in Liozna,

אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן תּוֹרָה בְּרַבִּים

the Alter Rebbe publicly delivered a teaching —

כַּנָּהוּג אָז דְּרוּשִׁים קְצָרִים

briefly, as was his custom in those years —

עַל פָּסוּק מִי כְּהַשֵּׁם אֱלֹקֵינוּ בְּכָל קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו

on the verse, “Who is… like G‑d, our L‑rd, whenever we call unto Him?”

אֵלָיו וְלֹא לְמִדּוֹתָיו

[And on the latter phrase the Sages specify:] “Unto Him, and not unto His attributes.”

The Alter Rebbe’s teaching follows:

דעֶר פַּרְדֵּס זאָגט

The Pardes [Rimonim] states

אֵלָיו אִיז אוֹרוֹת הַמִּתְלַבְּשִׁים בְּכֵלִים דְּעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דַּאֲצִילוּת

that “unto Him” refers to the oros (the Divine “lights”) that are enclothed in the keilim (“vessels”) of the Ten Sefiros of the World of Atzilus.

דעֶר רֶבִּי דעֶר בַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב זאָגט

The Rebbe, the Baal Shem Tov, states

אֵלָיו אִיז דעֶר אֱלֹקוּת וואָס אִין כֵּלִים דְּעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת דַּאֲצִילוּת

that “unto Him” refers to the G‑dliness in the vessels of Ten Sefiros of the World of Atzilus.

דעֶר פֵּרוּשׁ הַפָּשׁוּט אִיז

The simple meaning of “unto Him” is

אֵלָיו עַצְמוּת אֵין סוֹף

the Essence of the [infinite] Ein Sof

וואָס עֶס אִיז בַּא יעֶדעֶן פָּשׁוּט'ן אִידעֶן בִּידִיעָה עַצְמִית דוּרךְ אֱמוּנָה פְּשׁוּטָה

that is present in the essential, intrinsic awareness of every ordinary Jew, by virtue of his simple faith.

אוּן דאָס אִיז קְרוֹבִים אֵלָיו

[The verse in full states: “Who is the nation so great that has G‑d so near to them, like G‑d, our L‑rd, whenever we call unto Him?” In light of the latter explanation,] having G‑d “so near” to us

אוּן בְּכָל קָרְאֵנוּ אֵלָיו

“whenever we call unto Him” means

עַצְמוּת אֵין סוֹף אוּן עַצְמוּת הַנְּשָׁמָה

connecting the Essence of G‑d with the essence of the soul.

תְּפִלָּה בֶּאֱמוּנָה פְּשׁוּטָה אִיז מְחַבֵּר עַצְמוּת הַנְּשָׁמָה מִיט עַצְמוּת אֵין סוֹף

And it is praying with simple faith that connects the Essence of G‑d with the essence of the soul.

אַז עַצְמוּת אֵין סוֹף זאָל זיין דעֶר רוֹפֵא חוֹלִים אוּן מְבָרֵךְ הַשָּׁנִים

The Essence of the Ein Sof is then the One Who heals the sick and the One Who blesses the years [with prosperity].

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

לֵיל יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים מַתְחִילִים ה' מָלָךְ תָּגֵל גו

The Evening Service of Yom Kippur opens with the psalm beginning A-donai malach tagel.

פָּסוּק אוֹר זָרוּעַ — פַּעַם אַחַת וּבְקוֹל רָם

Its second-last verse, beginning Or zarua, is said once, aloud.

עַל דַּעַת הַקָּהָל כו' ג' פְּעָמִים וּבְקוֹל נָמוּךְ

The statement beginning Al daas HaMakom is recited three times, quietly.

אֵין כּוֹפְלִים הֶחָרוּז כִּי הִנֵּה כַּחוֹמֶר

The opening stanza of the liturgical hymn beginning Ki hinei kachomer is not repeated as a refrain [at the end of each of the subsequent stanzas].

קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שֶׁעַל הַמִּטָּה כְּמוֹ בְּשַׁבָּת וְיוֹם טוֹב

Kerias Shema, the Prayer before Retiring at Night, follows the same order as on Shabbos and Yom-Tov.

אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ זְכוֹר רַחֲמֶיךָ כו' — בְּכָל תְּפִלּוֹת הַיּוֹם

The passage beginning Avinu Malkeinu zechor rachamecha is recited in all the daytime prayer services.

בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה וְיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים אוֹמְרִים י"ג מִדּוֹת הָרַחֲמִים בְּהוֹצָאַת הַסֵּפֶר תּוֹרָה גַּם כְּשֶׁחָל בְּשַׁבָּת

When the Torah scroll is taken out of the Ark on Rosh HaShanah and Yom Kippur, the Thirteen Attributes of Mercy are recited even on Shabbos.

שִׁעוּר תְּהִלִּים אַחַר מוּסָף

The daily reading of Tehillim follows Mussaf.

הַפְטוֹרַת מִנְחַת יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים: וַיְהִי דְבַר — וּבְהֵמָה רַבָּה. מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ גו

The haftarah recited during the Afternoon Service on Yom Kippur begins Vayehi dvar and continues until behemah rabbah. The maftir then adds the three verses beginning Mi E-l kamocha.

גַּם בְּמִנְחָה אוֹמְרִים לְדָוִד ה' אוֹרִי

The psalm beginning LeDavid HaShem ori is recited [not only in the Morning Service but] also in the Afternoon Service.

פְּתִיחַת הָאָרוֹן בִּנְעִילָה לְאַשְׁרֵי, וְנִשְׁאָר פָּתוּחַ עַד אַחֲרֵי כָּל תְּפִלַּת נְעִילָה

For the Neilah Service, the Ark is opened before the recitation of Ashrei and remains open until the completion of that Service.

בְּקַדִּישׁ דִּנְעִילָה - לְעֵילָּא וּלְעֵילָּא

In the Kaddeishim recited [before and directly after] Neilah, [the sheliach tzibbur] says le’eila ule’eila.

אֵין כֵּאלֹקֵינוּ, עָלֵינוּ

[The Neilah Service then concludes with] Ein K’Elokeinu and Aleinu.

וְאֵין נוֹשְׂאִים כַּפַּיִם

The kohanim do not bless the people in the course of that Service.

אוֹמְרִים הַיּוֹם יִפְנֶה, גַּם אִם הֶעֱרִיב הַיּוֹם

The sentence beginning Hayom yifneh is said even after dark.

אֵין מְבָרְכִים שֶׁעָשָׂה לִי כָּל צָרְכִּי עַד לְמָחָר

The blessing that concludes she’asah li kol tzorki is not recited until the following day.

יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים קוּמְט אוֹיס צוּ פאַסְטעֶן זעֶקס אוּן צְוואַנצִיג שָׁעָה

In practice, the fast of Yom Kippur lasts 26 hours.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

כַּפָּרוֹת: "בְּנֵי אָדָם - וּלְשָׁלוֹם" שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים

In [the expiation ceremony known as] Kaparos, the passage from Bnei adam until u’leshalom is recited three times.

וּבְכָל פַּעַם מְסַבֵּב ג' פְּעָמִים

The chicken is circled above one’s head three times after each recitation,

סַךְ הַכֹּל מְסַבֵּב ט' פְּעָמִים

for a total of nine times.

עַד סוֹף תִּשְׁרֵי אֵין אוֹמְרִים תַּחֲנוּן

[From this day] until the end of the month of Tishrei, Tachanun is not recited.

מַלְקוּת: הַמַּלְקֶה וְהַנִּלְקֶה שְׁנֵיהֶם אוֹמְרִים וְהוּא רַחוּם שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים

[Accompanying the 39 stripes of the nominal flogging called] malkos, the verse beginning Vehu Rachum is recited three times by both the person administering the lashes and the one receiving them.

בְּעֶרֶב יוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים הָעֲבוֹדָה הִיא חֲרָטָה עַל הֶעָבָר

On the eve of Yom Kippur, one’s avodah should focus on regret over the past;

בְּיוֹם הַכִּפּוּרִים — קַבָּלָה עַל לְהַבָּא.

on Yom Kippur itself, it should focus on commitment for the future.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

קִצּוּר בִּאוּר אוֹפֶן הה

An explanation [by the Rebbe Rashab] of the fifth approach, abridged:

ה, הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

“Walk humbly with G‑d your L‑rd.”

זְהִירוּת שֶׁלֹּא תְהִי שׁוּם בְּלִיטָה

This means carefully avoiding all conspicuousness.

וּכְמַאֲמַר לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם עָרוּם בְּיִרְאָה

As the Sages expressed it, “A person should always be sly in his fear [of G‑d].”

וְעִנְיַן הָעַרְמוּמִית הוּא שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה נִכָּר כְּלַל

This “slyness” means ensuring that [one’s fear of G‑d] is utterly unnoticeable.

יָדוּעַ דְּכַמָּה מֵחֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ מַסְתִּירִים עַצְמָם

As is well known, some early chassidim would conceal their [spiritual achievements],

וְאִם הִתְגַּלּוּ הָיוּ מִצְטַעֲרִים

and were distressed if they were revealed.

וְזֶהוּ עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַבָּאָה מֵהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת

This is the kind of teshuvah that comes from walking humbly.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

קִצּוּר בִּאוּר אוֹפֶן הד

An explanation [by the Rebbe Rashab] of the fourth approach, abridged:

ב, בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָּעֵהוּ

“Know Him in all your ways.”

הָאָדָם הַשָּׂם לִבּוֹ וְדַעְתּוֹ עַל כָּל הַנַּעֲשֶׂה עִמּוֹ וּמִסָּבִיב לוֹ

A person who sets his heart and mind on everything that happens to him and around him

רוֹאֶה הוּא אֱלֹקוּת בְּמוּחָשׁ

actually perceives G‑dliness.

וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי

As the Mitteler Rebbe said,

בְּיִתְרוֹן הַבַּעֲלֵי עֲסָקִים עַל הַיּוֹשְׁבֵי אֹהֶל

businessmen have an advantage over Torah scholars,

בְּעִנְיַן רְאִיַּת אֱלֹקוּת בְּמוּחָשׁ

for businessmen actually perceive G‑dliness.

עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַבָּאָה מִרְאִיַת הַשְׁגָחָה פְּרָטִית

This is the kind of teshuvah that comes from seeing Divine Providence.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

קִצּוּר בִּאוּר אוֹפֶן הג

An explanation [by the Rebbe Rashab] of the third approach, abridged:

ו, וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

כְּמוֹ שֶׁאָמַר רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן

As the Alter Rebbe explained,

אֲשֶׁר זֶהוּ כְּלִי לִוְאָהַבְתָּ אֵת הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

fulfilling this mitzvah is a medium for [attaining the level at which one can] “love G‑d your L‑rd.”

וּבִאוּר בַּמַּאֲמָר כָּל שֶׁרוּחַ הַבְּרִיוֹת נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ רוּחַ הַמָּקוֹם נוֹחָה הֵימֶנּוּ

It also underlies the principle that “anyone with whom his fellowmen are pleased, G‑d is pleased with.”

עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה בְּסִבַּת לֵב טוֹב

To “love your neighbor as yourself” is the path of teshuvah that comes from a good heart.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

צוֹם גְּדַלְיָה נִדְחֶה

The Fast of Gedaliah, postponed [from yesterday], is observed today.

אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ

[The “long”] Avinu Malkeinu is recited [at Shacharis and Minchah].

סְלִיחוֹת

Selichos [are recited on this day].

קִצּוּר בִּאוּר אַאַמוּ"ר בְּאוֹפֶן הָא

An explanation [by the Rebbe Rashab] of the first approach [a continuation from yesterday], abridged:

ת, תָּמִים תִּהְיֶה עִם הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

“Trust G‑d your L‑rd with simple faith.”

עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַבָּאָה עַל יְדֵי הַתְּמִימוּת

This refers to the Divine service of teshuvah that comes through temimus,

כַּמָּה בְּחִינוֹת וּמַדְרֵגוֹת בְּעִנְיַן הַתְּמִימוּת

a quality that comprises several aspects and levels.

וּבְיַחַס אֶל הַתְּשׁוּבָה

With regard to teshuvah,

הָעוֹלָה עַל כּוּלָּנָה הִיא תְמִימוּת הַלֵּב — הַנִּקְרֵאת עֶרנסְטְקַייט

the most important among them is temimus — earnestness — within the heart.

כָּאָמוּר בְּאַבְרָהָם: וּמָצָאתָ אֶת לְבָבוֹ נֶאֱמָן לְפָנֶיךָ

As it is stated with regard to Avraham, “You found his heart faithful to You.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]