Hayom Yom: Nissan 26, 11th day of the omer

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 intellectual2 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.