Hayom Yom 1 Cheshvan - The Prime Mover sets in motion circumstances that will bring one to where he is duty-bound

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

בְּמִנְחָה

[In the Torah Reading] at the Afternoon Service,

וְכֵן בַּשֵּׁנִי וּבַחֲמִישִׁי דְשָׁבוּעַ הַבָּא עָלֵינוּ לְטוֹבָה

and likewise [at the Morning Service] on Monday and Thursday of the following week,

קוֹרִין לְיִשְׂרָאֵל מִפָּסוּק וַיֵרָא ה' אֶל אַבְרָם גו

the third aliyah begins with the verse, “And G‑d appeared to Avram.”

כְּבוֹד קְדוּשַׁת אַאַמוּ"ר אָמַר לְאֶחָד עַל יְחִידוּת

My revered father, [the Rebbe Rashab,] once told a chassid at yechidus:

מֵאָז שֶׁאָמַר הקב"ה לְאַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם, לֶךְ לְךָ מֵאַרְצְךָ גו

“From the time the Holy One, blessed be He, told Avraham, ‘Go forth from your land,’

וּכְתִיב וַיִסַּע אַבְרָם הָלוֹךְ וְנָסוֹעַ הַנֶּגְבָּה

and thereafter ‘Avram journeyed on, continuing to travel southward,’

הוּתְחַל סוֹד הַבֵּרוּרִים

the mystical mission of beirurim began. [This term signifies the task of sifting materiality, and elevating the Divine sparks that are embedded within all permissible entities and activities, by using them with spiritual purpose.]

וְעַל פִּי גְּזֵירַת הַהַשְׁגָּחָה הָעֶלְיוֹנָה

“Propelled by the decree of Sublime Providence,

הָאָדָם הוֹלֵךְ לְמַסָּעָיו בַּמָּקוֹם אֲשֶׁר הַנִּצּוֹצוֹת הַצְּרִיכִים לְהִתְבָּרֵר עַל יָדוֹ מְחַכִּים לִגְאוּלָתָם

a person travels to the place where the sparks that are destined to be elevated by him await their redemption.

הַצַּדִּיקִים שֶׁהֵם בַּעֲלֵי רְאִיָּה

“Tzaddikim, being gifted with vision,

רוֹאִים הֵם בְּאֵיזֶה מָקוֹם הַבֵּרוּרִים שֶׁלָּהֶם מְחַכִּים לָהֶם וְהוֹלְכִים שָׁמָּה בְּעַצְמָם

can perceive where ‘their’ sparks await them, and proceed there of their own accord.

וְעַמָּא דְבַר

For common people, by contrast,

הִנֵּה עִלַּת כָּל הָעִלּוֹת וְסִבַּת כָּל הַסִּבּוֹת

the Cause of all causes and the Prime Mover

מְסַבֵּב כַּמָּה עִלּוֹת וְסִבּוֹת

sets in motion a train of events and circumstances

שֶׁיָּבוֹאוּ לַמָּקוֹם הַהוּא

that will bring an individual to the particular place

אֲשֶׁר שָׁם הוּטְלָה עֲלֵיהֶם הָעֲבוֹדָה בַּעֲבוֹדַת הַבֵּרוּרִים

where he is duty-bound to fulfill his specific tasks of sifting materiality and elevating its sparks.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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