כְּתִיב דַּע אֶת אֱלֹקֵי אָבִיךָ וְעָבְדֵהוּ בְּלֵב שָׁלֵם, כִּי כָּל עִנְיַן יְדִיעָה וַהֲשָׂגָה אֲפִילוּ בְּעִנְיָנִים הַיוֹתֵר עֲמוּקִים, צָרִיךְ לָבוֹא בַּעֲבוֹדָה, הַיְינוּ פְּעוּלַת דָּבָר בְּבֵרוּר וְזִכּוּךְ הַמִּדּוֹת וְהִתְקַשְּׁרוּת פְּנִימִית הַנִּקְרָא בִּלְשׁוֹן הַחֲסִידוּת עֲבוֹדָה.

It is written:1 “Know the G‑d of your father and serve Him wholeheartedly.” For every concept that is known and comprehended, even the very deepest, must find expression in Divine service; that is, in activity that refines and improves one’s middos (emotive qualities) and develops an inner bonding [to G‑d]. In chassidic terminology this activity is called avodah.2

Delving Deeply

Avodah (עבודה) literally means “work” — and changing one’s inner self is indeed the hardest work possible. The Hebrew term also relates to the word ibud (עיבוד), which is the process of tanning leather. Building on this etymological connection, Chassidus explains that avodah is not just a momentary endeavor, but a long, involved and arduous process that leads to permanent change.

Many of us speak about how earnestly we want to change and even how much effort we are willing to dedicate to this end, but we often hanker after immediate results. The term ibud implies that for our avodah to effect lasting change, a sustained effort is required.