Hayom Yom 3 Iyar - Lessons from a thief in serving G‑d

Day 18 of the Omerהפטורה: וַיְהִי דְבַר גו' הֲלִדְרוֹשׁ אוֹתִי[On Shabbos Parshas Kedoshim,] the haftarah begins Vayehi dvar…halidrosh osi (Yechezkel 20:2-20).אֵין שׁוֹתִים מַיִם קוֹדֶם הַבְדָּלָה[On Motzaei Shabbos, even] water should not be drunk before [reciting or hearing] Havdalah.כָּל הַמִּדּוֹתAll character traits,אַף גַּם הַמִּדּוֹת הַלֹּא טוֹבוֹתeven those that are not good,אוֹ גַם רָעוֹת עַל פִּי תּוֹאֲרָם וּשְׁמוֹתֵיהֶםor are even evil in name and description,אֶפְשָׁר לְהִשְׁתַּמֵּשׁ בָּהֶם לַעֲבוֹדַת ה' עַל פִּי הַתּוֹרָהcan be used [as a lesson] in serving G‑d according to the Torah.וּכְמוֹ שֶׁהָרַב הַצַּדִּיק ר' מְשׁוּלָם זוּסְיָא זצ"ל מֵהאַניפָאליאIn this vein, the saintly R. Meshullam Zusya of Hanipoliלָמַד כַּמָּה דְרָכִים בְּדַרְכֵי הָעֲבוֹדָה מִגַּנָּבlearned several approaches to Divine service by pondering on the work ethic, so to speak, of a thief:א) הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת(a) A thief is modest.ב) מַעֲמִיד עַצְמוֹ בְּסַכָּנָה(b) He is prepared to endanger himself.ג) דָּבָר הַיּוֹתֵר קָטָן חָשׁוּב כְּדָבָר גָּדוֹל(c) The minutest details are as important to him as greater considerations.ד) עָמֵל בְּטִרְחָא גְדוֹלָה(d) He labors with great exertion.ה) זְרִיזוּת(e) He works quickly.ו) בּוֹטֵחַ וּמְקַוֶּה(f) He exhibits trust and hope.ז) אִם לֹא הִצְלִיחַ בַּפַּעַם הָרִאשׁוֹנָה חוֹזֵר הַרְבֵּה פְּעָמִים(g) If he fails the first time, he tries again and again.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]