Hayom Yom 19 Cheshvan - Chassidus is Shema Yisrael, higher and higher
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
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Show Notes
מַעֲנֵה רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן לִיחִידוּת
In response to a question at yechidus, the Alter Rebbe once gave the following response:
חֲסִידוּת איז שְׁמַע יִשְׂרָאֵל
“Chassidus is Shema Yisrael.
שְׁמַע אִיז רָאשֵׁי תֵּיבוֹת שְׂאוּ מָרוֹם עֵינֵיכֶם
The word Shema (שמע) is an acronym for the words, ‘Raise your eyes on high’ (שאו מרום עיניכם) —
וְאוֹמֵר מָרוֹם וְלֹא שָׁמַיִם
‘on high,’ not ‘heavenward.’
מָרוֹם אִיז העֶכעֶר אוּן העֶכעֶר
That means higher and higher,
לְהַגִּיעַ לְמַעְלָה מִן הַשֵּׂכֶל
reaching beyond the intellect.
וְזֶה גוּפָא לְהָבִינוֹ בְּשֵׂכֶל
Yet [we should] understand this very [non-intellectual] dimension with our minds as well —
וּכְמוֹ שֶׁאוֹמֵר וּרְאוּ מִי בָּרָא אֵלֶּה
as the verse continues, “and behold Who created these.”
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English