Hayom Yom 5 Sivan - Laundering your garments must be done by yourself

Day 49 of the Omerעֶרֶב חַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת תּקנ"ז אָמַר רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן תּוֹרָהOn the eve of Shavuos, 5557 (1797), the Alter Rebbe delivered a teachingוְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר גוֹ[on G‑d’s command to Moshe Rabbeinu a few days before the people were to receive the Torah]: “You shall sanctify them today and tomorrow [and they shall launder their garments].”וְקִדַּשְׁתָּם הַיּוֹם וּמָחָר זֶהוּ מִלְמַעְלָהHe said: “‘You shall sanctify them today and tomorrow’ is granted from above,אֲבָל וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלוֹתָם דאָס דאַרף מעֶן אַלֵייןbut ‘launder[ing one’s] garments’ must be done on one’s own.”דאָס אִיז געֶוועֶן דִי גאַנצעֶ תּוֹרָהThat was the entire teaching.דעֶר צֶמַח צֶדֶק האָט מְבַאֵר געֶוועֶןThe Tzemach Tzedek pointed outוְקִדַּשְׁתָּם אִיז געֶזאָגט געֶוואָרן צוּ מֹשֶׁה'ןthat the command “you shall sanctify” was directed to Moshe.אוּן אִתְפַּשְׁטוּתָא דְמֹשֶׁה בְּכָל דָרָא וְדָרָאNow, there is “an extension of Moshe in every generation” —וואָס זֵיי קעֶנעֶן הֵיילִיג מאַכעֶן דעֶם הַיינט אוּן דעֶם מאָרגעֶן[and these tzaddikim in every generation] have the power to sanctify one’s today and tomorrow.אָבּעֶר מְ'דאַרף דעֶרצוּ וְכִבְּסוּ שִׂמְלוֹתָםIn addition, however, “they [i.e., the people at large] must launder their garments” —לְבוּשֵׁי מַחֲשָׁבָה דִּבּוּר וְמַעֲשֶׂהthat is, the [soul’s] garments — thought, speech, and action.וואָס דאָס דאַרף מעֶן אַלייןAnd this, every individual must do himself.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]