Day 49 of the Omer

עֶרֶב חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת תּקנ"ז אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן תּוֹרָה

On the eve of Shavuos, 5557 (1797), the Alter Rebbe delivered a teaching

וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר גוֹ

[on G‑d’s command to Moshe Rabbeinu a few days before the people were to receive the Torah]: “You shall sanctify them today and tomorrow [and they shall launder their garments].”

וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר זֶהוּ מִלְמַעְלָה

He said: “‘You shall sanctify them today and tomorrow’ is granted from above,

אֲבָל וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלוֹתָם דאָס דאַרף מעֶן אַלֵיין

but ‘launder[ing one’s] garments’ must be done on one’s own.”

דאָס אִיז געֶוועֶן דִי גאַנצעֶ תּוֹרָה

That was the entire teaching.

דעֶר צֶמַח צֶדֶק האָט מְבַאֵר געֶוועֶן

The Tzemach Tzedek pointed out

וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם אִיז געֶזאָגט געֶוואָרן צוּ מֹשֶׁה'ן

that the command “you shall sanctify” was directed to Moshe.

אוּן אִתְפַּשְׁטוּתָא דְמֹשֶׁה בְּכָל דָרָא וְדָרָא

Now, there is “an extension of Moshe in every generation” —

וואָס זֵיי קעֶנעֶן הֵיילִיג מאַכעֶן דעֶם הַיינט אוּן דעֶם מאָרגעֶן

[and these tzaddikim in every generation] have the power to sanctify one’s today and tomorrow.

אָבּעֶר מְ'דאַרף דעֶרצוּ וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלוֹתָם

In addition, however, “they [i.e., the people at large] must launder their garments” —

לְבוּשֵׁי מַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וְמַעֲשֶׂה

that is, the [soul’s] garments — thought, speech, and action.

וואָס דאָס דאַרף מעֶן אַליין

And this, every individual must do himself.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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