The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

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]

מַתְחִילִין מִזְמוֹר לְדָוִד וְלֹא לְכוּ נְרַנְנָה

[In the Kabbalas Shabbos Service,] we begin with Mizmor LeDavid instead of Lechu Neranenah.

וְכֵן בְּכָל שַׁבָּת מוֹצָאֵי יוֹם טוֹב

This applies whenever a festival ends on Friday evening.

הפטורה: שׁוּבָה - יִכָּשְׁלוּ בָם. מִי אֵל כָּמוֹךָ - מִימֵי קֶדֶם

The haftarah [for Shabbos Teshuvah] begins with Shuvah… yikashlu vam and concludes with Mi E-l kamocha… mimei kedem.

בִּיחִידוּת הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק אֵצֶל רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן ב' תֵצֵא בְּשִׁשִּׁי בֶּאֱלוּל תּקס"ד

During a yechidus of the Tzemach Tzedek with the Alter Rebbe, on Monday of Parshas Ki Seitzei, 6 Elul, 5564 (1804),

סִפֵּר לוֹ רַבֵּנוּ

the Alter Rebbe told him:

שַׁבָּת פָּרָשַׁת תָּבוֹא תּקכ"ח אָמַר מוֹרִי וְרַבִּי (הָרַב הַמַּגִּיד מִמּעֶזְרִיטְשׁ) — תּוֹרָה

“On Shabbos Parshas Ki Savo, 5528 (1768), my mentor and master (the Maggid of Mezritch) delivered a teaching

וְהַתְחָלָתָהּ וְשַׁבְתָּ עַד הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

that opened with the verse, Veshavta ad HaShem Elokecha — ‘You shall return to Havayah (G‑d), Elokecha (your L‑rd).’

וּבִאֵר כִּי עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה צְרִיכָה לִהְיוֹת

“The Maggid [understood this verse as implying that ‘You shall return

עַד אֲשֶׁר הוי', שֶׁהוּא לְמַעְלָה מֵהָעוֹלָמוֹת

until Havayah is Elokecha,’ and] explained that one must bring one’s Divine service of teshuvah to the point that Havayah, [the aspect of Divinity] that transcends all worlds,

יִהְיֶה אֱלֹקֶיךָ, אֱלֹקִים בְּגִימַטְרִיָּא הַטֶּבַע, בְּרֵאשִׁית בָּרָא אֱלֹקִים

becomes Elokecha (your L‑rd). [He went on to say that] the Divine Name Elokim (א-להים) has the numerical equivalent of the word hateva (הטבע), meaning ‘nature.’ This [link is exemplified] in the verse, ‘In the beginning, Elokim created...’” [I.e, the natural world came into being through the Name Elokim. Thus the term Elokecha (your L‑rd) refers to the Divine power within us that endows us with life-energy.]

כָּל הַחֶבְרַיָּא קַדִּישָׁא הָיוּ בְּהִתְעוֹרְרוּת גְּדוֹלָה מִתּוֹרָה הַהִיא

The entire holy brotherhood [of the Maggid’s disciples] was greatly aroused by this teaching.

הָרַב הַצַּדִּיק ר' מְשׁוּלָּם זוּסְיָא מֵאַנִיפּאָלִי אָמַר

However, one of the disciples, the tzaddik R. Meshullam Zusya of Hanipoli, declared

כִּי הוּא אֵינוֹ יָכוֹל לְהַגִּיעַ לְמַעֲלַת תְּשׁוּבָה כָּזוֹ

that he could not reach such a level of teshuvah,

וְעַל כֵּן יְחַלֵּק אֶת הַתְּשׁוּבָה לַחֲלָקִים

and therefore divided it into its components.

כִּי תְּשׁוּבָה רָאשֵׁי תֵּיבוֹת

Teshuvah (תשובה), he pointed out, is an acronym for the following five verses:

ת, תָּמִים תִּהְיֶה עִם הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

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

שׁ, שִׁוִּיתִי הוי' לְנֶגְדִּי תָמִיד.

“I have placed G‑d before me at all times.”

ו, וְאָהַבְתָּ לְרֵעֲךָ כָּמוֹךָ

“Love your neighbor as yourself.”

ב, בְּכָל דְּרָכֶיךָ דָעֵהוּ

“Know Him in all your ways.”

ה, הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם ה' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

“Walk humbly with G‑d your L‑rd.”

כְּשֶׁסִּפֵּר לִי אַאַמוּ"ר אֶת הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל

[The Rebbe Rayatz added:] When my revered father [the Rebbe Rashab] told me the above,

סִיֵּם

he concluded:

תֵּיבַת תְּשׁוּבָה צְרוּפָה מֵחָמֵשׁ אוֹתִיּוֹת

“The word teshuvah comprises five letters,

אֲשֶׁר כָּל אוֹת הוּא דֶרֶךְ וְאוֹפֶן בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה

each representing a distinct path and approach to the labor of teshuvah.

וּבִאֵר בַּאֲרִיכוּת חֲמִשָּׁה הָאוֹפַנִּים

” He explained these five approaches at length

וְכוּלָּם בָּאִים מִכֹּחַ אֶל הַפּוֹעַל עַל יְדֵי עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּפִלָּה

and then said: ‘All of them are actualized through the service of prayer.’”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

לְאֵל עוֹרֵךְ דִּין - בִּתְפִלַּת מוּסָף

The liturgical hymn, LeE-l Orech Din, is recited in the Mussaf Service.

בְּמִנְחָה אֵין אוֹמְרִים הוֹדוּ, אֲבָל אוֹמְרִים פָּתַח אֵלִיָּהוּ

Before the Minchah Service, we do not recite the psalm beginning Hodu, but we do recite the passage beginning Pasach Eliyahu.

מַה שֶׁכָּתוּב בַּסִּדּוּר, שַׁעַר הַקְּרִיאַת שְׁמַע, דִּבּוּר הַמַּתְחִיל לְהָבִין הַהֶפְרֵשׁ (ע"ד עָמוּד א')

It is stated in the Siddur — under the heading Shaar HaKerias Shema in the maamar entitled LeHavin HaHefreish (p. 74a ff.)

שֶׁקּוֹדֶם תְּקִיעַת שׁוֹפָר אוֹמְרִים אָנָּא בְּכֹחַ

that before sounding the shofar we recite the passage beginning Ana BeCho’ach.

פֵּרוּשׁוֹ: בְּדֶרֶךְ כְּלַל הֵם הַכַּוָּנוֹת מֵהַפְּסוּקִים שֶׁרָאשֵׁי תֵּיבוֹת שֶׁלָּהֶם שֵׁם שֵׁנִי מִשֵּׁם מ"ב

Generally speaking, the [intent of this instruction is that one should have in mind] the mystical significance of the verses [recited before the sounding of the shofar], whose words form an acronym for the second [component] of G‑d’s Name of 42 Letters.

אָמְנָם יֵשׁ שֶׁמְּכַוְּנִים הַתֵּיבוֹת אָנָּא בְּכֹחַ כו' בְּמַחֲשָׁבָה

Some individuals, however, picture the words of Ana BeCho’ach in their minds,

אֲבָל אֵין אוֹמְרִים הָאוֹתִיּוֹת וְהַתֵּיבוֹת

without articulating the letters or words.

וְהָעוֹסֵק בְּכַוָּנוֹת צָרִיךְ לִלְמוֹד הָעִנְיָנִים בָּרוּר בְּכִתְבֵי הָאַרִ"י ז"ל

Whoever engages in mystical intentions must study the concepts clearly from the writings of the AriZal.

וְאָז כַּוָּנָתוֹ רְצוּיָה

[Only] then will his intention be acceptable.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

בִּרְכַּת הַדְלָקַת הַנֵּרוֹת: שֶׁל יוֹם הַזִּכָּרוֹן. שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּ

The blessings recited over candle-lighting are asher kidshanu… lehadlik ner shel Yom HaZikaron, and Shehecheyanu.

אֵין כּוֹפְלִין "לְעֵילָּא" בְּקַדִּישׁ, לְבַד מִנְּעִילָה

The word le’eila is not repeated in Kaddish, except at Neilah.

לְדָוִד גו' הָאָרֶץ וּמְלוֹאָהּ גו' — קוֹדֶם עָלֵינוּ

The psalm beginning LeDavid… haaretz u’meloah is recited [in the Evening Service] before Aleinu.

בְּקִדּוּשׁ הַיּוֹם: תִּקְעוּ, כִּי חֹק

In [the daytime] Kiddush, we say the verses that begin, Tiku…. and Ki chok.

וְאֵין אוֹמְרִים אֵלֶּה מוֹעֲדֵי וְאַתְקִינוּ

The verse that begins Eileh moadei and [the introductory Kabbalistic sentence beginning] Askinu seudasa are not recited.

לְתַשְׁלִיךְ: מְנַעֲרִים שׁוּלֵי הַטַּלִּית קָטָן

[After] Tashlich, one shakes the hem of one’s tallis katan.

יְהִי רָצוֹן שֶׁעַל הַתַּפּוּחַ — אַחַר הַבְּרָכָה וְקוֹדֶם הָאֲכִילָה

The Yehi Ratzon should be recited after the blessing over the apple, before it is eaten.

אוֹכְלִים רֹאשׁ אַיִל, אֲבָל אֵין אוֹמְרִים יְהִי רָצוֹן כִּי אִם עַל הַתַּפּוּחַ

One partakes of the head of a ram, but the Yehi Ratzon is recited only over the apple.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

סְלִיחוֹת בְּאַשְׁמוֹרֶת הַבּוֹקֶר

[The penitential prayers called] Selichos are recited “at the morning watch.”

וְאֵין נְפִילַת אַפַּיִם

On this day, Tachanun is omitted.

הַתָּרַת נְדָרִים וּבַעֲשָׂרָה

[In the morning,] the Annulment of Vows is carried out with ten [listeners who serve as an ad hoc court].

עֵרוּב תַּבְשִׁילִין

An Eruv Tavshilin is made.

יוֹם הֻלֶּדֶת אֶת הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק — שְׁנַת תקמ"ט

The Tzemach Tzedek was born on this date in 5549 (1789).

מִפִּתְגָמֵי רַבֵּינוּ הַזָּקֵן

A saying of the Alter Rebbe:

מעֶן האָט גאָר קֵיין הַשָּׂגָה נִיט, וִוי עֶס אִיז טַייעֶר בּאַ הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרֵךְ דעֶר גּוּף פוּן אַ אִידעֶן

We have no comprehension of how dearly G‑d cherishes the body of a Jew.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]

בִּרְכַּת ד' הִיא תַעֲשִׁיר

“It is G‑d’s blessing that brings wealth.”

בִּכְלַל

This applies universally,

וּבִפְרַט לְהַנּוֹתֵן מֵעִתּוֹ וּמִזְּמַנּוֹ לַעֲסוֹק בְּצָרְכֵי צִבּוּר

but particularly to a person who devotes his time to communal needs,

בְּעִנְיָנֵי צְדָקָה וְחִזּוּק הַיַּהֲדוּת

such as matters of tzedakah and strengthening the practice of Yiddishkeit.

וּכְמַאֲמַר

As the familiar adage expresses it,

דעֶר אוֹיבּעֶרשׁטעֶר בָּרוּךְ הוּא בְּלַייבּט נִיט קֵיין בַּעַל חוֹב

“G‑d does not remain a debtor.”

פאַר יעֶדעֶר גוּטעֶר זאַךְ וואָס אַ אִיד טוּט

For every good deed that a Jew does,

צאָלט עֶר בְּמֵיטַב

G‑d repays him generously —

מִיט בָּנֵי חַיֵּי וּמְזוֹנֵי רְוִיחֵי

with children, vitality, and abundant sustenance.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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מִדִּבְרֵי קֹדֶשׁ רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן

The following are the holy words of the Alter Rebbe,

יִשְׂרָאֵל גּוֹי אֶחָד בָּאָרֶץ

[commenting on the phrase,] “Israel, one nation in the world:”

דעֶר עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹיך אִין דעֶר עֶרדִישׁעֶר וועֶלט

The nation of Israel, even as it exists in this earthy world,

אִיז פאַרבּוּנדעֶן מִיט ה' אֶחָד

is connected with the one G‑d.

הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרֵךְ מאַכט פוּן רוּחָנִיּוּת גַּשְׁמִיּוּת

G‑d creates materiality out of spirituality,

אוּן דעֶר עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל מאַכט פוּן גַּשְׁמִיּוּת רוּחָנִיּוּת

and the people of Israel make spirituality out of materiality.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [email protected]