Hayom Yom 22 Cheshvan - Kindness of Atzilus envies a soul that extends hospitality in this world

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

אַחַת מִתּוֹרוֹת הַמַּגִּיד מִמֶּעזְרִיטשׁ שֶׁשָׁמַע רַבֵּנוּ הַזָקֵן בִּהְיוֹתוֹ שָׁם בַּפַּעַם הָרִאשׁוֹנָה

The following is one of the teachings that the Alter Rebbe heard during his first visit to the Maggid of Mezritch,

שִׁלְהֵי קַיִץ תקכ"ד עַד אַחֲרֵי חַג הַפֶּסַח תקכ"ה

from late in the summer of 5524 (1764) until after Pesach of 5525 (1765). [The teaching is based on a verse from the prophet Yeshayahu.]

אָנֹכִי עָשִׂיתִי אֶרֶץ וְאָדָם עָלֶיהָ בָרָאתִי

“I (Anochi) made the earth and I created man upon it.”

אָנֹכִי מִי שֶׁאָנֹכִי

This means that… Anochi, [a term signifying the One]

שֶׁהוּא נֶעְלָם וְנִסְתָּר גַּם מִנֶּאֱצָלִים הַיוֹתֵר עֶלְיוֹנִים

Who is hidden and concealed from even the highest emanated beings,

הִלְבִּישׁ עַצְמוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ בְּכַמָּה צִמְצוּמִים

enclothed His Essence in numerous self-screening contractions

לְהַאֲצִיל הַנֶאֱצָלִים וְלִבְרוֹא הַנִּבְרָאִים

in order to radiate forth the emanated beings, and to produce the created beings,

שְׂרָפִים חַיּוֹת וְאוֹפַנִים מַלְאָכִים וְעוֹלָמוֹת עַד אֵין מִסְפָּר

[including] seraphim, as well as chayos and ofanim — angels and worlds beyond number.

וּבְצִמְצוּמִים עַד אֵין שִׁעוּר עָשִׂיתִי אֶרֶץ הַלֵּזוּ הַגַּשְׁמִית

Moreover, with an infinite number of contractions,… I made the earth — this physical world,

וְאָדָם עָלֶיהָ בָרָאתִי

and I created man upon it.

הָאָדָם הוּא תַּכְלִית הַהִתְהַוּוּת

Man is the ultimate purpose of creation.

וּבָרָאתִי בְּגִמַטְרִיָּא תרי"ג הוּא תַּכְלִית הָאָדָם

In fact, the numerical value of the word בראתי (“I created”) is 613, [the total number of mitzvos,] which are the ultimate purpose of man.

וּכִדְאִיתָא בְּפַרְדֵּס בְּשֵׁם סֵפֶר הַבָּהִיר

As the Pardes states in the name of Sefer HaBahir:

אָמְרָה מִדַּת הַחֶסֶד לִפְנֵי הקב"ה

“The Attribute of Kindness complained to G‑d:

רִבּוֹנוֹ שֶׁל עוֹלָם

‘Master of the world,

מִימֵי הֱיוֹת אַבְרָם בָּאָרֶץ

ever since Avram has been on earth,

לֹא הוּצְרַכְתִּי אֲנִי לַעֲשׂוֹת מְלַאכְתִּי

I have not been required to perform my tasks,

שֶׁהֲרֵי אַבְרָם עוֹמֵד וּמְשַׁמֵשׁ בִּמְּקוֹמִי

for Avram is there to function in my stead!’”

כִּי אַבְרָהָם שֶׁהוּא נְשָׁמָה בְּגוּף

Thus Avraham Avinu, who was a soul enclothed in a body,

וְעוֹסֵק בְּהַכְנָסַת אוֹרְחִים

and who extended hospitality freely

לְפַרְסֵם אֱלֹקוּתוֹ יִתְבָּרֵךְ בָּעוֹלָם הַזֶּה הַתַּחְתּוֹן

in order to make G‑d’s existence known in this nether world,

הוּא לְמַעְלָה בְּמַעְלָה וּבְמַדְרֵגָה לְגַבֵּי מִדַּת הַחֶסֶד דַּאֲצִילוּת

far surpassed the level of the Attribute of Kindness in the World of Atzilus.

וְאָמְרָה מִדַּת הַחֶסֶד לִפְנֵי הקב"ה, הוּא קִנְאַת מִדַּת הַחֶסֶד דַּאֲצִילוּת, אֲשֶׁר קִנְאָה בַּעֲבוֹדַת אַבְרָהָם עָלָיו הַשָּׁלוֹם

Indeed, the complaint of the Attribute of Kindness reflected its envy of his Divine service.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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