Hayom Yom 7 Cheshvan - Action Speech and Thought vs. Thought Speech and Action

הַסֵּדֶר לְאַחַר מַתַּן תּוֹרָה הוּא

In the era since the Giving of the Torah, the stages [in our Divine service] are:

הֲסָרַת עָרְלַת הַגּוּף

first, removing the foreskin of the body,

הַלָּשׁוֹן

then of the tongue,

הַלֵּב

and then of the heart —

מַעֲשֶׂה דִּבּוּר מַחֲשָׁבָה

action, speech, and thought.

אַבְרָהָם אָבִינוּ שֶׁהָיָה קוֹדֶם מַתַּן תּוֹרָה

Avraham Avinu, who lived before the Giving of the Torah,

הֲרֵי בַּתְּחִילָה הִכִּיר אֶת בּוֹרְאוֹ — מַחֲשָׁבָה

first “recognized his Creator” — thought;

אַחַר כַּךְ פִּרְסֵם אֱלֹקוּתוֹ — דִּבּוּר

then publicized G‑d’s existence — speech;

וְאַחַר כַּךְ מִילָה — מַעֲשֶׂה

then performed the circumcision — action.3

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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