Day 44 of the Omer

עֲלִיַּת הַנְּשָׁמָה הִיא שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בְּכָל יוֹם בְּהַג' תְּפִלוֹת

The soul ascends three times a day, during each of the three prayer services.

וּבִפְרָט נִשְׁמַת הַצַּדִּיקִים דְּיֵלְכוּ מֵחַיִל אֶל חָיִל

This is especially true of the souls of tzaddikim, of whom it is said, “They proceed from strength to strength.”

וְדָבָר וַדַּאַי

It is certain

אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל מָקוֹם קָדוֹשׁ הֱיוֹתָם

that at all times and in every holy place they may be,

נוֹשְׂאִים רִנָּה וּתְפִלָּה

they offer supplication and prayer

בְּעַד הַמְקוּשָּׁרִים אֲלֵיהֶם וְאֶל פְּקוּדָּתָם וְשׁוֹמְרִים פִּקּוּדֵיהֶם

for those who are bound to them and to their directives, and to those who carry out their directives —

וּבִפְרָט בְּעַד תַּלְמִידֵיהֶם וְתַלְמִידֵי תַלְמִידֵיהֶם

especially their students and their students’ students —

לְהִוָּשֵׁעַ בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיּוּת

that they be delivered materially and spiritually.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 43 of the Omer

בְּאַחַד הַחֶזְיוֹנוֹת לַיְלָה שֶׁרָאָה הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק אֶת רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן

In one of the nighttime visions in which the Tzemach Tzedek saw [his maternal grandfather,] the Alter Rebbe,

בְּתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים לְהִסְתַּלְּקוּתוֹ

within thirty days of the latter’s passing,

אָמַר לְפָנָיו הַמַּאֲמָר עַל שְׁלֹשָׁה דְבָרִים הָעוֹלָם עוֹמֵד

[the Alter Rebbe] delivered a maamar [based on the teaching of the Mishnah], “The world stands on three things….”

אַחֲרֵי הַמַּאֲמָר אָמַר לוֹ

After delivering the maamar, the Alter Rebbe [quoted and interpreted a Talmudic teaching]:

אִישׁ מַזְרִיעַ תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת נְקֵבָה — זֶהוּ אִמְךָ

“‘When a man gives seed first, a female is conceived.’ This alludes to your mother.

אִשָּׁה מַזְרַעַת תְּחִלָּה יוֹלֶדֶת זָכָר — זֶהוּ אַתָּה

‘When a woman gives seed first, a male is conceived.’ This refers to you.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 42 of the Omer

אַאַמוּ"ר סִפֵּר

My revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], related

שֶׁשָּׁמַע מֵאָבִיו

that he heard from his father, [the Rebbe Maharash,]

בְּשֵׁם הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק שֶׁשָּׁמַע מֵרַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן

that the Tzemach Tzedek heard the Alter Rebbe

שֶׁהָיָה קוֹרֵא אֶת עַצְמוֹ

referring to himself

בְּשֵׁם בֵּן לְהָרַב הַמַּגִּיד

as the son of the Maggid of Mezritch

וּבְשֵׁם נֶכֶד לְהַבַּעַל שֵׁם טוֹב

and the grandson of the Baal Shem Tov.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 41 of the Omer

קוֹדֶם צִוּוּי הוֹכֵחַ תּוֹכִיחַ

Before the commandment, “You shall surely reprove [your fellowman],”

כְּתִיב וְלֹא תִשְׂנָא אֶת אָחִיךָ

it is written, “Do not hate your brother [in your heart],”

כִּי זֶהוּ תְּנַאי מוּקְדָּם לְהוֹכָחָה

for this is a necessary prerequisite for rebuking one’s fellowman.

וְאַחֲרֵי זֶה כְּתִיב וְלֹא תִשָּׂא עָלָיו חֵטְא

The same verse continues, “but do not bear a sin because of him.”

שֶׁאִם לֹא פָּעֲלָה הַהוֹכָחָה

That is, if the reproof is ineffective,

בְּוַדַּאי אַתָּה הָאָשֵׁם

it is certainly you who are to blame,

שֶׁלֹּא הָיוּ דְּבָרִים הַיּוֹצְאִים מִן הַלֵּב.

for your words did not come from your heart.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 40 of the Omer

מִמַּאֲמָרֵי רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן בִּשְׁנַת תקנ"ה בְּליאָזנאָ

The Alter Rebbe delivered the following maamar in Liozna in the year 5555 (1795):

שְׂכַר מִצְוָה מִצְוָה

“The reward for a mitzvah is a mitzvah.”

הַמִּצְוָה בְּעֶצֶם עַצְמוּתָהּ הִיא הַשָּׂכָר

The very essence of the mitzvah is itself the reward for the mitzvah.

וְהִתְגַלּוּת הָעַצְמוּת תִּהְיֶה לֶעָתִיד

This essence will be revealed in the Ultimate Future.

אֲבָל זֶהוּ הַקֶּרֶן קַיֶּמֶת שֶׁל הַמִּצְוָה

That is [only] the principal of the mitzvah, which is preserved [for the future].

אָמְנָם פֵּירוֹתֶיהָ אָדָם אוֹכֵל בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה

However, the fruits of the mitzvah (i.e., its side benefits) are enjoyed by a person in This World.

וְהוּא בְּכָל מִצְוָה וּמִצְוָה בְּעִנְיָנָהּ

[This applies] to every mitzvah, each in its own way.

דְכַאֲשֶׁר צָרִיךְ לְאוֹתוֹ דָּבָר הוּא נַעֲנֶה

When [the person who fulfills the mitzvah] needs its particular influence, he receives it.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 39 of the Omer

מְבָרְכִים רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ סִיוָן

[On] Shabbos Mevarchim, Sivan [it is our custom]

אֲמִירַת כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים בְּהַשְׁכָּמָה

to recite the entire Book of Tehillim early in the morning

יוֹם הִתְוַעֲדוּת

and to hold a farbrengen on that day.

לִשְׁלִישִׁי עוֹלֶה הַבַּעַל קוֹרֵא, וּמֵעַצְמוֹ

[In years in which Parshas Bechukosai is read alone,] the third aliyah is customarily taken by the baal koreh, on his own initiative.

אוֹמְרִים אָב הָרַחֲמִים

[After the Torah Reading,] the passage beginning Av HaRachamim is recited.

אִם בְּחוּקּוֹתַי תֵּלֵכוּ

[It is written:] “If you will follow My statutes.”

אִם זֶה הוּא לְשׁוֹן תַּחֲנוּנִים

G‑d is pleading here with the Jewish people:

כְּמַאֲמַר רַזַ"ל, שֶׁכַּוָּנָתוֹ הַלְוַאי בְּחוּקּוֹתַי תֵּלֵכוּ

Our Sages say that the intention [of the plea] is “If only you would follow My statutes!”

וְזֶה שהקב"ה כִּבְיָכוֹל, מִתְחַנֵּן לִפְנֵיהֶם שֶׁיִּשְׁמְרוּ אֶת הַתּוֹרָה

The fact that G‑d entreats the Jews, as it were, to observe the Torah,

זֶה עַצְמוֹ מְסַיֵּעַ וְנוֹתֵן כֹּחַ לָאָדָם שֶׁיַּעֲמוֹד בִּבְחִירָתוֹ הַטּוֹבָה

in itself helps and empowers a person to stand firm in his positive choices.

וְעוֹד זֹאת אֲשֶׁר בְּחוּקּוֹתַי תֵּלֵכוּ דְּנַעֲשֵׂית הַנְּשָׁמָה מְהַלֵּךְ

Moreover, [the phrase Im bechukosai teileichu, here translated as “If you will follow My statutes,” literally means, “If you will walk in My statutes”]. [This implies that] by walking along the path of the Torah, the soul becomes a mehalech (lit., “one who walks”).

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בְּבִיאַת הַמָּשִׁיחַ תִּתְגַּלֶּה מַעֲלַת הַפְּשִׁיטוּת וְהַתְּמִימוּת שֶׁיֵּשׁ בַּעֲבוֹדָתָם שֶׁל אֲנָשִׁים פְּשׁוּטִים

When Mashiach comes, the value of the simplicity and artless devotion of the common folk,

שֶׁמִּתְפַּלְלִים וְאוֹמְרִים תְּהִלִּים בִּתְמִימוּת.

who pray and recite Tehillim with heartfelt sincerity, will be manifest.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 38 of the Omer

רֵאשִׁית הַיְרִידָה, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלַן

The first stage in a person’s spiritual decline (Heaven forbid)

הוּא הֶעְדֵּר הָעֲבוֹדָה בִּתְפִלָּה

is a lack of effort when serving G‑d in prayer.

עֶס וועֶרט אַלץ טְרוּקעֶן אוּן קאַלט

Everything becomes parched and cold.

דִי מִצְוַת אֲנָשִׁים מְלוּמָּדָה וועֶרט שׁוֹין אוֹיךְ שְׁוועֶר

Even the routine performance of mitzvos1 becomes burdensome.

מעֶן אַיילט

One hurries [through their observance]

מעֶן וועֶרט אָן דעֶם געֶשְׁמאַק אִין תּוֹרָה

and loses a taste for Torah study.

וְהָאֲוִיר מִתְגַּשֵּׁם

The very atmosphere becomes more materially oriented.

וּמוּבָן הַדָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שַׁיָּךְ כְּלָל לִפְעוֹל עַל הַזּוּלַת

And it goes without saying that a person in such a state cannot positively influence others at all.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 37 of the Omer

פַּעַם אַחַת הִתְוַעֲדוּ חֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים — בִּשְׁנַת תּקמ"ד-ז

Once, at some time in the years 5544-5547 (1784-1787), a group of early chassidim who were farbrengen together

וְתוֹכֶן שִׂיחָתָם הָיָה

spoke of

דעֶר רֶבִּי — רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן — האָט אוֹיפגעֶטאָן וואָס מעֶן אִיז נִיט עֶלעֶנט

how their Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, had done away with solitude.

אַמאָל, אִיז דעֶר רֶבִּי — דעֶר רָאשׁ מְתִיבְתָּא אוּן גָּאוֹן — געֶוועֶן עֶלעֶנט

In previous eras, a Rebbe — a rosh yeshivah or a gaon — was alone,

אוּן דִי תַּלְמִידִים זַיינעֶן געֶוועֶן עֶלעֶנט

and his disciples were alone.

דעֶר דֶּרֶךְ הַחֲסִידוּת וואָס דעֶר רֶבִּי האָט מְיַיסֵּד געֶוועֶן

The path of Chassidus blazed by the Alter Rebbe

אִיז דעֶר גְרוֹיסעֶר גֶ-טלִיכעֶר אוֹיפְטוּ

brought about an awesome G‑dly innovation:

וואָס דעֶר רֶבִּי אִיז נִיט עֶלעֶנט אוּן חֲסִידִים זַיינעֶן נִיט עֶלעֶנט

the Rebbe is not alone and the chassidim are not alone.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com