Hayom Yom: Kislev 14

Birkat hamazon (pp. 88-94) is said over a cup of wine even without ten (people having dined together). The cup is held in the palm of the hand, the fingers extending upward. Hold the cup from Rabossai mir velen benchen1 until after the third b'racha,2 when it is placed on the table.

In one of my father's sichot, he explained a subject, of which this is the core:

There are tzadik, yashar, tamim and chassid. Tzadik3 is so called regarding his fulfillment of the positive mitzvot, thereby eliciting revelations inherent in the creative order.4

Yashar5 is so called regarding his fulfillment of the negative mitzvot - which draws forth revelations beyond the creative order. Tamim, (man of) earnestness6 elicits revelations (from a level of G-dliness at which) "the taste of the tree and its fruit is the same" - the co-joining of the Encompassing (soveiv)7 and Permeating (memalei)8 modes of Divine influence.

Highest of all is Chassid, and here there are three levels: (a) Worldly affairs do not disturb or distract him. Every individual can, and every individual must, attain this level. (b) All his affairs "are G-dliness."9 Though this level "is not distant from you etc.,"10 it is still not within everyone's reach. (c) The level described in Tikunei Zohar, "Who is a chassid? He who conducts himself with benevolence towards his Creator - towards His nest"11 - which means that he seeks to unite the Holy One blessed be He, and His Shechina12 within those who dwell in the lower worlds - not merely to quench the thirst of his own soul; as explained in Tanya.13