• Bless Rosh Chodesh Iyar; say the entire Tehillim in the early morning.
• Day of Farbrengen.

Haftora: Halo Kivnei Kushi'im.

Shabbat Nissan 26, 5703 11th day of the Omer **
Torah Lessons (5703)	Chumash: Acharei mot, Shevi'i with Rashi. Tehillim: 119, 97 to end. Tanya: Ch. 43. Concerning (p. 227)...enlarged upon later. (p. 231).

From a Sicha of my father:

Chassidus demands that one "...wash his flesh (Hebrew, Et B'ssaro) with water, and clothe himself in them (the priestly robes)."[1]

The intellectual[2] element of Chassidus must thoroughly cleanse the flesh and rinse away the habits of the flesh. The habits are alluded to by the word Et ("and") in the quoted verse, signifying "that which is incidental to the flesh," the habits developed by the body. Only then can one clothe himself in the "sacred garments."

Pondering Chassidus, discussing Chassidus, and the practice of Chassidim to meditate before Davening - these are "sacred garments," garments that were given from the heights of sanctity.

But it is the person himself who must "wash his flesh with water..."

The garments of the soul are given to the individual from On High.

But washing away unwholesome "incidentals" that arise from bodily nature and making the body itself "flesh of sanctity," this is achieved solely by man's own efforts.

This is what Chassidus demands; it is for this ideal that our great teacher (the Alter Rebbe) devoted himself totally and selflessly. He opened the channel of total devotion, [3] sacrifice, for serving G-d through prayer, to be bound up with the Essence of the En Sof, infinite G-d.

Chassidus places a chassid face to face with the Essence of the En Sof.

   

Notes:

1. (Back to text) Vayikra 16:24.

2. (Back to text) Chabad, by its name and philosophy, is a system based on intellect.

   The subject matter of the literature and doctrines is highly complex and abstract, challenging the finest intellect.

   Intellect has the power to dominate emotions, creating or uprooting them, and controlling man's behavior.

   (Another vital element in the Chabad system is developing the emotions, primarily Ahava and Yir'a - vaguely translated as love and fear or awe - exercised particularly in Davening.)

   Here, in this text, the intellect is to be the cleansing agent," preparing the chassid for davening.

   Note the emphasis in the text on the complementary functions of what man is given and what man does.

3. (Back to text) Mesirat nefesh, utter self-sacrifice.

---

Day four of week 2 (11th day of Omer)

Netzach of gevurah

Effective discipline must be enduring and tenacious. Is my discipline consistent or only when forced? Am I perceived as a weak disciplinarian?

Exercise for the day: Extend the plan you made on day two for a longer period of time, listing short-term and long-term goals and review and update it each day, and see how consistent you are; if you follow through.

From:

A Spiritual Guide to the counting of the Omer

Forty-Nine Steps to Personal Refinement

The Forty-Nine Days of Sefirah

by Simon Jacobson

$7.95 Soft Cover

Copyright © 1996 by - Vaad Hanochos Hatmimim

788 Eastern Parkway - Brooklyn NY 11213

718-774-6448 - email: wisdomreb@aol.com