Hayom Yom 21 Sivan - Mesirus Nefesh stems from the Essence of Ein Sof
The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Rabbi Yosef Katzman
Audio is streamed directly from the publisher (podcasts.captivate.fm) as published in their RSS feed. Play Podcasts does not host this file. Rights-holders can request removal through the copyright & takedown page.
Show Notes
רַבֵּנוּ בְּסֵפֶר שֶׁל בֵּינוּנִים פֶּרֶק ג' אוֹמֵר
In chapter 3 of Tanya, the [Alter] Rebbe states
כִּי ג' מוֹחִין חַבַּ"ד וְז' מִדּוֹת
that the three intellectual faculties of Chochmah, Binah and Daas, and the seven emotive attributes,
הֵם הִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּת מֵעֶשֶׂר סְפִירוֹת הָעֶלְיוֹנוֹת
are an extension of the ten supernal Sefiros.
דְּכָל זֶה הוּא בְּנֶפֶשׁ רוּחַ וּנְשָׁמָה
All this refers to the nefesh, ruach, and neshamah,
שֶׁהֵם הַמִּתְלַבְּשִׁים בְּגוּף הָאָדָם
the levels of the soul that are vested in the human body.
אָמְנָם עִנְיַן הַמְּסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ עַל אֱלֹקוּת
By contrast, the concept of mesirus nefesh [i.e., the ability to sacrifice oneself] for the sake of G‑dliness —
וואָס אַ אִיד נִיט עֶר וִויל אוּן נִיט עֶר קאָן זַיין חַס וְשָׁלוֹם אַ נִפְרָד מֵאֱלֹקוּת
meaning that a Jew neither wants nor is able to become severed from G‑dliness
זֶהוּ מֵעַצְמוּת אֵין סוֹף בָּרוּךְ הוּא
— stems from the very Essence of the [infinite] Ein Sof.
שֶׁלְּמַעְלָה מֵעִנְיַן הַסְּפִירוֹת דְּרֵאשִׁיתָם הִיא סְפִירַת הַחָכְמָה.
And this [level of Elokus] transcends [even] the highest of the Sefiros, which is the Sefirah of Chochmah.
Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English
For questions and follow-up: [email protected]