hayom yom rosh chodesh tammuz

greenfire

Sun, Jun 09 2013, 10:32 am

העברת הפרשה שמו"ת [שנים מקרא ואחד תרגום] - פסוק פסוק. וקורין גם ההפטרה, או שתי ההפטרות אם הוא שבת ר"ח [ראש חודש], או פרשיות מחוברות וכיוצא בזה.

מענה רבינו הזקן לאברך עילוי מצוין ובעל כשרון מפורסם כשנכנס ליחידות שלו הראשונה - בשנת תקנ"ה בליאזנא: רוחניות וגשמיות זיינען הפכים בעצם מהותם. דאס וואס עס איז א מעלה אין גשמיות, איז א חסרון אין רוחניות.

אין גשמיות איז א שמח בחלקו דער גרעסטער בעל מעלה. און דורך עבודה וועט אזא איינער צוקומען צו די העכסטע מדריגות. אין רוחניות אבער איז א שמח בחלקו דער גרעסטער חסרון, און ער ווערט, ר"ל [רחמנא ליצלן], א יורד ונופל.

An answer that the Alter Rebbe gave to a brilliant young man who was well known for his outstanding natural gifts, during the latter's first yechidas in 5555 [1795] in Liozna:"Spirituality and physicality are intrinsically opposites. A material virtue is a spiritual disadvantage.

"Materially, one who is 'satisfied with his lot' is the loftiest of men, and his Divine service will lead him to the highest rungs. Spiritually, by contrast, being 'satisfied with one's lot' is the greatest failing. It causes one to decline and fall spiritually, heaven forbid."
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As the Rebbe Rayatz relates, the Alter Rebbe addressed the above observation to R' Ze'ev Dov, a gifted torah scholar who had studied under the leading sages in Minsk and Slutzk. Though a man of pleasant disposition, he was tainted with conceit. In scholarly debate, winning an argument mattered more than arriving at the truth.

The first time he entered the Alter Rebbe's study for yechidus, the Alter Rebbe asked him: "What are you lacking?"

He replied: "I don't know what I am lacking. I don't feel that I am lacking anything."

To this the Alter Rebbe responded with the above teaching, which touches upon one of the fundamental approaches of Chabbad Chassidus to Divine service. As the Alter Rebbe explains in tanya, the effort and striving a jew invests in his spiritual growth is critical, for spiritual lethargy is one of the greatest vices. In that vein, the Alter Rebbe interprets the verse: "Perceive the difference ... between one who serves God and one who does not serve Him." Both these individuals observe the torah and its mitzvos. The difference is that a person "who does not serve Him" is content with doing what comes naturally for him, without striving for more. By contrast, "one who serves Him" goes beyond his normal level. Even though he already maintains a comprehensive program of torah study and observance, he is not satisfied, but continually strives to deepen his understanding and raise his level of commitment.