אַ סַךְ יאָהרעֶן נאָך פאַר פּעֶטעֶרְבּוּרג (הַמַּאֲסָר שָׁם בִּשְׁנַת תּקנ"ט), אִיז דעֶר אַלְטעֶר רֶבִּי אַמאָל אַרוֹיס צוּם עוֹלָם אוּן האָט געֶזאָגְט: אִין גַּן עֵדֶן דעֶרְהעֶרט מעֶן דִי טַייעֶרקַייט פוּן עוֹלָם הַזֶּה. לֹא מִיבָּעִי מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת, אֲפִילוּ נֶאֱצָלִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים וואָלטעֶן אַלץ אַוועֶק געֶגעֶבּעֶן פאַר אַ אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵי'הּ רַבָּא פוּן אַ אִידעֶן, אַז עֶר זאָגט בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ כְּפֵרוּשׁוֹ בְּכָל כַּוָּנָתוֹ, הַיינוּ אַז עֶר אִיז אִינְגאַנְצעֶן אִין דעֶם.

דאָס אִיז געֶוועֶן דעֶר גאַנְצעֶר מַאֲמָר, אוּן עֶר האָט געֶפּוֹעֶלְט אַזאַ הִתְלַהֲבוּת וְהִתְלַהֲטוּת בַּא דִי העֶרעֶר, אַז אַ גאַנְץ יאָהְר האָט מעֶן געֶזאָגְט אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵי'הּ רַבָּא מִיט אַ בְּרעֶן.

One day, many years before his imprisonment in Petersburg in 5559 [1798],1 the Alter Rebbe stepped out of his study and addressed the chassidim present as follows: “In Gan Eden, they appreciate the precious quality of this world. Not only the ministering angels, but even the exalted beings first emanated from the World of Atzilus, would forego all [their blissful revelations of Divinity] in exchange for the Amen, yehei Shmei rabba…2 that a Jew recites with all his might3 — which is understood to mean,4 ‘with all his devout intent’; i.e., he is focused entirely on those words.”

That was the entire discourse.5 It generated such ardent enthusiasm among the listeners that for a whole year they responded Amen, yehei Shmei rabba with fire.6

Living as a Chassid

In this world, we often overlook what is truly important, wasting time on trivialities.

The angels do not envy us because we make money, are physically fit, or have attained positions of power and authority. What arouses their envy is the opportunity for spiritual growth that exists in this world alone. When we pray, study Torah, or perform mitzvos with all our might, we enter into a bond with G‑d that is more intimate than even angels can attain. The angels are aware of this, and that is what they covet.