Hayom Yom 14 Kislev - 1) Tzaddik, righteous. 2) Yashar, upright. 3) Tamim, earnest. 4) Chassid

מְבָרְכִין בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן בְּכוֹס שֶׁל בְּרָכָה, אַף שֶׁאֵין עֲשָׁרָהThe Grace after Meals is recited over a cup of wine even if a quorum of ten is not present. הַכּוֹס עַל כַּף הַיַד וְהָאֶצְבָּעוֹת זְקוּפוֹתThe cup is placed on the palm of the hand with the fingers upraised. אוֹחֵז הַכּוֹס מֵאֲמִירַת "רַבּוֹתַי מִיר וועֶלעֶן בּעֶנטשעֶן" עַד אֲחַרֵי סִיוּם בְּרָכָה שְׁלִישִׁיתThe cup is held from the recitation of the phrase Rabosai, mir veln bentshen until the end of the third blessing. שֶׁאָז מַעֲמִידוֹ עַל הַשֻלְחָןAt that point, it is placed on the table.בְּאַחַת מִשִּׂיחוֹתָיו בִּאֵר אַאַמוּ"ר וְתוֹכֶן דְּבָרָיוIn one of his talks, my revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], explained [the following concept]. To sum up his words:יֵשׁ צַדִּיק יָשָׁר תָּמִים חָסִידThere are [four levels]: tzaddik (a righteous man), yashar (an upright man), tamim (an earnest person), and chassid. צַדִּיק עַל שֵׁם קִיּוּם מִצְוֹת עֲשֵׂהThe title tzaddik denotes one’s observance of the positive commandments, מַמְשִׁיךְ גִּלּוּיִים דְּסֵדֶר הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּתfor he draws down spiritual revelations [measured out] according to the limits of the spiritual cosmos. יָשָׁר עַל שֵׁם קִיּוּם לֹא תַעֲשֶׂהThe title yashar points to one’s observance of the prohibitive commandments, גִּלּוּיִים לְמַעְלָה מִסֵּדֶר הַהִשְׁתַּלְשְׁלוּתwhich evokes revelations that transcend the limits of the spiritual cosmos. תָּמִים — עֶרנסטקַייטThe title tamim reflects earnestness, גִּלּוּיִים דְּטַעַם עֵצוֹ וּפִרְיוֹ שָׁוִיםwhich draws down the revelations that are alluded to by the metaphor, “The taste of the tree and the fruit were identical.” הִתְחַבְּרוּת סוֹבֵב כָּל עָלְמִין וּמְמַלֵא כָּל עָלְמִיןHis conduct unites G‑d’s transcendent light (sovev kol almin) with His immanent light (memaleh kol almin).לְמַעְלָה מִכּוּלָּם חָסִידAbove them all is the title chassid, וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה ג' מַדְרֵגוֹתwhose rung comprises three levels:א) שֶׁעִנְיָנֵי הָעוֹלָם אֵינָם מַטְרִידִים וּמְבַלְבְּלִים אוֹתוֹ(a) One who is neither troubled nor disturbed by worldly matters. כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד יָכוֹל לְהַגִּיעַ לָזֶה וְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד מְחוּיָּב לְהַגִּיעַ לָזֶהThis is a level that everyone can reach, and is obligated to reach.ב) שֶׁכָּל עִנְיָנָיו הֵם אֱלֹקוּת(b) One whose concerns are solely about G‑dliness. וְאַף שֶׁלֹּא רְחוֹקָה הִיא מִמְּךָ גוAlthough “this is not distant from you,” מִכָּל מָקוֹם אֵין זֶה שַׁיָּךְ לְכָל אֶחָד וְאֶחָדit is not relevant to everyone.ג) מַה שֶׁכָּתוּב בְּתִקּוּנֵי זֹהַר(c) The level described in Tikkunei Zohar: אֵיזֶהוּ חָסִיד הַמִתְחַסֵּד עִם קוֹנוֹ עִם קֵן דִּילֵיהּ“Who is a chassid? One who is benevolent (mis’chassed) towards his Creator (Kono) — that is, towards his nest (ken dilei).” וּפִרֵשׁ בְּסֵפֶר שֶׁל בֵּינוּנִיםAs explained in Tanya, שֶׁזֶּהוּ לְיַחֲדָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא וּשְׁכִינְתֵּיהּ בַּתַּחְתּוֹנִים this refers to a person whose Divine service is motivated by his desire to unite the Holy One with His Shechinah, thereby illuminating even the lower realms, וְלֹא לְרַוּוֹת נַפְשׁוֹ הַצְּמֵאָה בִּלְבַדand not motivated merely by a desire to satisfy his thirsting soul.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]