The inherent ability to do it for Hashem.
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Think: Scenario 1: You are doing Avodah out of your comfort zone Scenario 2: Your Avodah also has amazing side benefits, not even for idealistic reasons - you love it, or alternative motivating factors.
Very famous Sicha about Akeidas Yitzchak:
10th Test. Kach Na Es Bincha. Hashem says to Avraham: Please take your son. I have tested you with a number of tests and you have passed them all, You have stood through all of them, now stand through this test, so that the others won’t be canceled out.
Q. Why would not passing the akeida cancel out all the other amazing tests Avraham surpassed?!
Additional Q. The story of the Akeida is our biggest zchus, ultimate peak of our relationship, we mention it every day of davening. Why? What is it about this specific story? We have thousands of examples of crazy mesiras nefesh!
Personal mesiras nefesh vs mesiras nefesh with our child. But we have seen this many times!
Avraham created the tzinor of mesiras nefesh. The pathway for all of this to be capable. But this is NOT the first Mesiras Nefesh! Avraham did this when he was thrown into the fire publicly for declaring Hashems existence.
Still - what is so unique about Akeidas Yitzchak?
What is the Torah Definition of Mesiras Nefesh?
To be able to give yourself over to Hashem. To put aside your entire metziyos and do it for Hashem. Its not about being so passionate that you are ready to give your life up, its about being fully Hashem focused, even when it means pushing me aside.
Akeida - nothing in it for Avraham Avinu
Step: 1) its not public, no public applause 2) Avrahams vision will be totally uprooted, this child wont be able to continue the vision 3) not his personality, he is a man of Chessed/Kindness
This is the opposite of SELF benefit! The ONLY thing Pushing him to do the Akeida, is that Hashem asked him to do it.
Until now, it could all be viewed as a personal agenda
Once you do the Akeida, it proves that all the tests were Hashem’s agenda, not a personal gain
Today, we stand with the ability to do Hashem’s agenda, even if it's different from what I want. I have the ability to do what Hashem wants me to do, every Yid is inherently able to give themselves over to What Is Hashems Plan For Me.
Ois Ches: This is the explanation of why the Akeida is specifically the Opening this Channel, vs Ur Kasdim. Avraham was able to give to us the TRUE definition of Mesiras Nefesh, we are here to do what Hashem wants us to do.
We can be free of ourselves.
Desire of every Jew is to do what Hashem wants us to do. So actually, this is truly what MY desire IS. TO do what Hashem wants me to do.
When a Yid does something for Hashem, it could seem its self-centered, but because he is a descendant of Avraham - now the real truth is it is REALLY mesiras nefesh, its truly for Hashem. Higher than any calculation, just like the Akeida.
Side cheshbonos, they are not front and center
REAL reason is FOR Hashem!
Story: Side motivations: a million vs the nickel. The side stuff is the nickel. The million dollar win is that you are doing what Hashem wants you to do!
Alter Rebbe brings a halacha in shulchan aruch, its a good thing to say parshas akeida every day. When you read the akeida it empowers you to serve Hashem, just like Yitzchak’s moment of being given over.
Once Avraham opened up the channel for REAL mesiras nefesh, my real desire is to go beyond myself. Any of us who are the children of Avraham, we have it because we are their children.
Its part of our innate DNA.
Its a Avraham moment. A yitzchak moment.
Any situation that you find yourself in, Its your Akeida moment. You have the ability to be beyond yourself. To be truly and completely given over to Hashem. There may be something in my mind that is not my vision, and its what Hashem puts for me, maybe it doesnt even fit my personality. I have the ability to do it for Hashem. What about all the superficial moments where I do gain? Don’t get stuck there, the real reality is you are the child of Avraham - and it IS for the real reasons!
What we REALLY want is that Moshiach should come! When we get sidetracked, bring ourselves back to the focus!
Parshas Vayera, Chelek Chof, page 73.
