Hayom Yom: Tackling Life's Tasks - 22 Adar I

The maamar entitled Meheirah Yishama 5648 [1888]. On the concept to follow, see: Siddur Im Dach, Hosafos, p. 58b, note 77; Likkutei Sichos, Vol. 21, p. 84ff.

Speaking of the double portion of manna that fell in the wilderness on Friday, Moshe Rabbeinu tells the people: “Eat it today, for today is a Shabbos unto G‑d; today you will not find it in the fields” (Shmos 16:25). From this repetition, the Talmud learns that there should be three Shabbos meals (Shabbos 117b). Now, the third time this word appears, its context is negative (Hayom lo… — “Today you will not…”). This wording implies that the third Shabbos meal should be primarily a spiritual exercise, and not a physical repast. (See: Levush, sec. 291:5; Or HaTorah (by the Tzemach Tzedek), Beshalach, p. 631.)

So that the meal should be not only a spiritual experience, without a material aspect.

Shabbos 118b.

HaTamim, p. 794.

The scholarly community of Liozna appointed the Alter Rebbe as their maggid (spiritual mentor) in the year 5527 (1767), when he was 21 or 22 years old.

Berachos 6b on I Melachim 18:36ff.

It is significant that this teaching of the Alter Rebbe is attached to this particular date, because in the year that HaYom Yom was first published, this date fell on the Shabbos whose haftarah describes the prayer of the Prophet Eliyahu at Mount Carmel. There, confronted by the 450 idolatrous prophets of Baal, he offered his prayer at Minchah time.

For עולם means both “always” and “world.”

His task is (lit.) “to be a man (adam).” Of the various synonyms for “man,” אדם denotes a man of superior intellectual potential. (See entry for 4 Elul.)

For זהיר means both “careful” and “shining.”

In the original, tzurah — “Form.”

In the original, chomer — “Matter.”