Hayom Yom 11 Adar 2 - Halachah signifies a persons Divine service.

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

תַּעֲנִית אֶסְתֵר מוּקְדָם

[This year (5703/1943), exceptionally,] the Fast of Esther is observed [on this date,] before its usual time.

סְלִיחוֹת, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ

[In any year, the Morning Service for the Fast of Esther includes] Selichos and Avinu Malkeinu,

מַחֲצִית הַשֶּׁקֶל

and the [contribution of three coins of] half a shekel [is made at Minchah time].

חֲסִידוּת כּוֹלֶלֶת שְׁנֵי עִנְיָנִים עִקָּרִים

[The study of halachah through the eyes of] Chassidus comprises two fundamental approaches:

א) הֲבָנַת כָּל הֲלָכָה בְּשָׁרְשָׁהּ וּמְקוֹרָהּ הָעַצְמִי בְּרוּחָנִיּוּת

(a) Understanding every halachah at its essential, spiritual root and source

הַיְינוּ בִּסְפִירוֹת וּמַדְרֵגוֹת בְּכָל עוֹלָם וְעוֹלָם לְפִי עִנְיָנוֹ

in the various Sefiros and rungs within each of the spiritual worlds.

כִּמְבוֹאָר בְּדִבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים

The distinctive nature of each world is explained in the teachings of Chassidus.

ב) הֲבָנַת עִנְיַן כָּל הֲלָכָה בַּעֲבוֹדָה

(b) Understanding what each halachah signifies in an individual’s Divine service.

הַיְינוּ שֶׁהֲגַם שֶׁהִיא חָכְמָה וְשֵׂכֶל אֱלֹקִי וְדִין הַתּוֹרָה

Although [the halachah] represents Divine wisdom and intelligence and is Torah law,

מִכָּל מָקוֹם צָרִיךְ לִמְצוֹא בָּזֶה עִנְיָן בַּעֲבוֹדָה בְּהַנְהָגַת הָאָדָם בְּחַיֵּי עוֹלָם זֶה

one should [seek and] discover an element within it that affects his avodah and his conduct, as he lives his life in this physical world.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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