ABSTRACT Likkutei Sichos

Devoid of self-interest is the intermediary between the beginning & the goal

Stages in Avodah:

• Awaken the Divine soul
• Refine the animal soul
• Nullify one’s self

Our avodah in Galus is a preparation for Moshiach

• (א) Every day in month of Iyar has the Mitzvah - to count each day itself – all days are equal
• (ה) Leaving Egypt – Passover – Nissan מודה אני
  Transition – Sefiras HaOmer – Iyar קריאת שמע
  Giving of Torah – Shavous – Sivan שמונה עשרה
• (יז) Are the 49 days of Sefirah one entity- or 49 separate Mitzvos? Sefirah is a preparation for Matan Torah
• א Two dimensions of Shavous (which can be independent):
  th day of the Omer – our service of counting – obtain 50th gate
  th of Sivan – initiative from G-d – season of giving of the Torah
• ג Double language of “saying” emphases more than talking; rather, total involvement with the katan leads to the redemption להזהיר גדולים על קטנים
  Gedolim share same essence of lifeforce with the Ketanim, but are limited by their Gadlus
  By using enlightenment (זהר) with Ketanim, a Gadol can reach true Gedulah without limits אמור ואמרת כא, א זא
• Every Jew is a Cohen Gadol; and in that level in each of us, tumah does not apply
  G-d as Cohen Gadol buried Moshe Rabenu: Creation can serve as a guide to Above; but the inherent limitations (i.e., Tumah) of Creation do not apply Above לנפש לא יטמא בעמיו כא, א זב
• Death by stoning includes hanging on wood; alludes to the initial sin of the tree of knowledge; allows for complete atonement
  In Mitzvah of stoning, witnesses have the initial obligation to carry out the sentence; if sentence is not completed, then, falls upon the rest of the Jews to complete the sentence
  Since no warning by Mekallel, unsure of this law *ובני ישראל עשו כד,כג זג
• Service of counting the Omer is Birur of the animal soul from a level of Shabbos
  Counting of the Omer is תמימות when first count occurs on the day after Shabbos; if not, then same level achieved if Jews do the Will of G-d ממחרת השבת כג, טו יבא
• Emphasis on saying the verses of zikhronos & of shofros seek to awaken the “memory” of HaShem regarding the Akeida of Yitzchak, who was replaced by a ram *זכרון תרועה כג, כד יבב
• A Jew’s service requires opposing aspects: “six days” soul enclothed in the body labor is required; Shabbos and the Festivals are for the soul to shine, transcending the body and its needs
  The mentioning of the six days, indicate a unit of time which defines two sets of time periods: Six days is a period during which “work” is obligatory, that should be done. Any other time (Shabbos & Yom Tovim), “work”, which is prohibited, should not be done ששת ימים כג, ג יזא