Hayom Yom 18 Kislev - One desires nothing other than G‑d Himself
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
בְּמִנְחָה אֵין אוֹמְרִים תַּחֲנוּן
In the Afternoon Service, Tachanun is not recited.
הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק כּוֹתֵב
The Tzemach Tzedek writes:
אַהֲבָה דִבְחִינַת וְעִמְּךָ לֹא חָפַצְתִּי (הַיְינוּ) שֶׁלֹּא לַחְפּוֹץ שׁוּם דָּבָר זוּלָתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ
The love [of G‑d at the level] indicated by the verse, “Beside You, I desire nothing,” is such that one desires nothing other than G‑d Himself.
וְלֹא אֲפִילוּ שָׁמַיִם וָאָרֶץ שֶׁהֵם גַּן עֵדֶן עֶלְיוֹן וְתַחְתּוֹן, כִּי רַק בְּיוּ"ד נִבְרָא כו
One does not even desire “heaven” or “earth,” which allude here to the Higher Gan Eden and the Lower Gan Eden, for they were created only through the letter yud.
אֶלָּא תִּהְיֶה הָאַהֲבָה רַק לוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ לְבַד, דְהַיְינוּ לִמְהוּתוֹ וְעַצְמוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ מַמָּשׁ
Rather, one’s love is directed solely to G‑d, to His very Essence.
וְכַךְ הָיָה נִשְׁמָע הַלָּשׁוֹן מִמּוֹרִי וְרַבִּי נִשְׁמָתוֹ עֵדֶן, רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן
And indeed, these were the words that used to be heard from our mentor and master (the Alter Rebbe),
בִּדְבֵקוּתוֹ, שֶׁהָיָה אוֹמֵר בְּזֶה הַלָּשׁוֹן
when he entered a state of dveikus:
אִיך וִויל זעֶ גאָר נִיסט
“I desire nothing.
אִיך וִויל נִיט דַיין גַּן עֵדֶן
I don’t want Your Gan Eden.
אִיך וִויל נִיט דַיין עוֹלָם הַבָּא כו
I don’t want Your World to Come….
אִיךְ וִויל מעֶר נִיט אַז דִיךְ אַלֵיין
I want nothing but You alone.”
גוּט יוֹם טוֹב
Gut Yom-Tov!
לְשָׁנָה טוֹבָה בְּלִמּוּד הַחֲסִידוּת וְדַרְכֵי הַחֲסִידוּת תִּכָּתֵבוּ וְתֵחָתֵמוּ
May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year in the study of Chassidus and the paths of Chassidus.
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English