Segment 1
ב"ה, עֶרֶב חֲנֻכָּה תש"כ.
B.H. Erev (-the day preceding) Chanuka 720 [Friday, 25 December, 1959] My soul, my dear and cherished one, Mr.
Segment 2
עַל-יְדֵי דִּבּוּר קַל שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיק נִפְתָּח אוֹר גָּדוֹל,
Z. Shazar, who has put his heart to intertwine himself to the real truth which redeems from all hardships, which the entire world needs very, very much to receive/accept, Shalom and all good (-all the best).
Segment 3
אֲזַי בְּנָקֵל לִבְנֵי-אָדָם לְהַשִּׂיג חָכְמוֹת רָמוֹת.
The adversary lies in ambush for the person always — and especially regarding his end and his outcome. For the more a person ages, the more he must draw close to his root and his repair. And therefore the battle of the evil inclination against him intensifies even more. And it is impossible to leap and to jump over the Gehennom — which is this world — except through the power of the true Tzadik and his books and his most deep and sincere counsels — for each and every one. Which bind his soul to Hashem Yisburach like a seal upon his heart. As Rabbainu, may the memory of the righteous one be for a blessing, said in these words: "I have nothing whatsoever to do in this world — for myself I have no need to do anything at all. I have only come to the world to bring the souls of Israel close to Hashem Yisburach."
Segment 4
נַפְשִׁי יַקִּירִי וַחֲבִיבִי, שֶׁשָּׂם אֶת לִבּוֹ לְשַׁזֵּר עַצְמוֹ אֶל הָאֱמֶת הָאֲמִתִּי הַפּוֹדֶה מִכָּל הַצָּרוֹת, אֲשֶׁר כָּל הָעוֹלָם צְרִיכִים מְאֹד מְאֹד לְקַבְּלוֹ, אַשְׁרֵי חֶלְקוֹ. בְּרָכָה וְשָׁלוֹם וְחֶסֶד לְאֹרֶךְ יָמִים.
Therefore I hereby turn to you from the very depths of my heart — to establish you in the holy obligation that rests upon you — to think deep thoughts, to overcome and to exert yourself with a very strong will — to meditate in his holy books every single day. And to see the new awesome lights within them — until the good fragrances within them enter your heart — for fulfillment and for action. For this is the essential of the essential purpose.
Segment 5
זֶה שֶׁאָנוּ מַדְלִיקִין נֵר חֲנֻכָּה כָּל אֶחָד בְּבֵיתוֹ לְמַטָּה מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים, כִּי הַצַּדִּיק הַגָּדוֹל מַמְשִׁיךְ תִּקּוּנִים נִפְלָאִים כָּאֵלֶּה עַד שֶׁמֵּאִיר בְּחִינַת הַשָּׂגַת אֱלֹקוּת עַל-יְדֵי צִמְצוּמִים גַּם לְמַטָּה בִּדְיוֹטָא (מדרגה) הַתַּחְתּוֹנָה מְאֹד שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת לְמַטָּה מֵעֲשָׂרָה טְפָחִים שֶׁמֵּעוֹלָם לֹא יָרְדָה הַשְּׁכִינָה לְשָׁם, כִּי בְּגֹדֶל כֹּחוֹ יָכוֹל לְהָאִיר אֲפִלּוּ בְּהַרְחוֹקִים וְהַגְּרוּעִים מְאֹד אִם רוֹצִים לְקַבֵּל, בִּבְחִינַת "כִּי אֵשֵׁב בַּחשֶׁךְ ה' אוֹר לִי".
This that we kindle the flame of Chanuka, each one in his house, below ten handbreadths (“tifuchim”), because the great Tzadik draws such wondrous rectifications, until there is radiation of the aspect of hasugas (-conception of) Eloakus (Divine), through constrictions (“tzimtzoomim”), even below the very lowest level, which is the aspect of below ten handbreadths, which the Shechina (Divine Presence) never descended
Segment 6
עִקַּר מִצְוַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה הוּא לְהַדְלִיק וּלְהָאִיר אוֹר הָאֱמֶת בָּעוֹלָם, שֶׁיִּזְכּוּ הַכֹּל לֵידַע הֵיכָן הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת שֶׁהוּא רֹאשׁ מֻבְחָר הָאֱמֶת שֶׁבֵּין הַצַּדִּיקִים. עִקַּר הַנֵּס שֶׁל חֲנֻכָּה, שֶׁנִּכְנַע מַלְכוּת הָרְשָׁעָה שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת שֶׁקֶר, בְּחִינַת עֶבֶד, זֻהֲמַת הַנָּחָשׁ, וְנִתְגַּבֵּר וְנִתְעַלֶּה מַלְכוּת דִּקְדֻשָּׁה שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל שֶׁהֵם בְּחִינַת בֶּן הַמֶּלֶךְ, בְּחִינַת אֱמֶת.
there[1], because with his great power he can illuminate even in the extremely distant and degenerate, if they desire to receive, in the aspect of (Micah 7:8), “When I sit in the dark, Hashem is light for me”[2] – The main mitzva of ner (candle/flame) Chanuka is to kindle and illuminate the light of the truth in the world, that everyone should merit to know the whereabouts of the true Tzadik, who is the chief choiceness of the truth from amongst the tzadikim.
Segment 7
צָרִיךְ לְכַוֵּן בְּהַדְלָקַת נֵר חֲנֻכָּה שֶׁנִּזְכֶּה עַל-יְדֵי זֶה לְהַמְשִׁיךְ הֶאָרַת הָאֱמֶת וְנִזְכֶּה לְהִתְקָרֵב לִנְקֻדַּת הָאֱמֶת תָּמִיד.
The true Tzadik — all the salvation and all the desire and all the aim of Rabbainu Hakadosh, may his memory be for a blessing — is that we merit to walk with his words. Meaning to fulfill them simply — and to understand one thing from within another. And to find for oneself counsels every single day always, in all that passes over a person at every time and season — by day and by night, in his lying down and in his rising up and in his walking on the way. In the days of his youth and the days of his maturity and the days of his old age — from his beginning to his very end. Whether between himself and himself — or in his conduct with his household and his wife and his children.
Segment 8
כְּשֶׁכְּבָר הַיָּמִים בָּאִים, וְהִגִּיעַ הָאָדָם לְעֵת זִקְנוּתוֹ וְקִצּוֹ, וּמַתְחִיל הַיּוֹם לַעֲרֹב, וּכְשֶׁרוֹאֶה שֶׁעָבְרוּ רֹב שְׁנוֹתָיו, וְרוֹצֶה לְהַתְחִיל לְרַחֵם עַל עַצְמוֹ לְהַרְהֵר בִּתְשׁוּבָה וּלְהִתְקָרֵב לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת, אֲזַי עַל-פִּי רֹב מִתְגַּבֵּר הַבַּעַל-דָּבָר וּמִתְפַּשֵּׁט מְאֹד לְמוֹנְעוֹ מִדֶּרֶךְ הַחַיִּים, חַס וְשָׁלוֹם, וְאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לְהַנִּיחוֹ לָצֵאת מִתַּאֲווֹתָיו וּרְשָׁתָיו אֲשֶׁר נִלְכַּד בָּהֶם, וַאֲזַי עִקַּר הַנִּסָּיוֹן שֶׁל הָאָדָם. אָז צָרִיךְ לְהִסְתַּכֵּל בְּעַצְמוֹ מְאֹד עַל אַחֲרִיתוֹ וְסוֹפוֹ, וּלְהִתְגַּבֵּר בְּיוֹתֵר וְיוֹתֵר לְקַשֵּׁר עַצְמוֹ הֵיטֵב לַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת משֶׁה מָשִׁיחַ שֶׁמְּחַזֵּק אוֹתָנוּ בְּהִתְחַזְּקוּת גָּדוֹל מְאֹד בְּלִי שִׁעוּר וְעֵרֶךְ וּמִסְפָּר, לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְהַתְחִיל בְּכָל פַּעַם מֵחָדָשׁ לְהִתְקָרֵב לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ כְּאִלּוּ הַיּוֹם נוֹלָד, וְלִבְלִי לִפֹּל מִשּׁוּם דָּבָר שֶׁבָּעוֹלָם. וְהָעִקָּר שֶׁצָּרִיךְ לְהִתְגַּבֵּר כְּנֶגֶד בְּחִינַת הַמּוֹחִין דְּקַטְנוּת שֶׁהֵם מִתְגַּבְּרִים מְאֹד עַל הָאָדָם וְרוֹצִין לְהַפִּילוֹ בְּדַעְתּוֹ כְּאִלּוּ אֵין לוֹ עוֹד תִּקְוָה חַס וְשָׁלוֹם. רַק יֵדַע וְיַאֲמִין בְּדִבְרֵי הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת שֶׁצָּעַק בְּקוֹל גָּדוֹל וְחָזָק כִּי אֵין שׁוּם יֵאוּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, כִּי לִגְדֻלָּתוֹ אֵין חֵקֶר, וּבְגֹדֶל רַחֲמָיו יִתְבָּרַךְ יָכוֹל לַהֲפֹךְ הַכֹּל לְגַמְרֵי, מֵרַע לְטוֹב, וּמֵעֲווֹנוֹת לִזְכֻיּוֹת, עַל-יְדֵי תְּשׁוּבָה!
The main miracle of Chanuka is that the wicked monarchy, which is the aspect of falsehood, the aspect of a slave, the pollution of the (primordial) snake, was quashed, and there was a strengthening and elevation of the holy monarchy of Israel, who are the aspect of a king’s son, the aspect of truth.[3] One needs to have intention when kindling the ner (candle/flame) of Chanuka, that we should merit through this to draw illumination of the truth, and we should merit to draw close to the point of truth always![4] When days have already came, and a person reaches his old age and his end, and the day begins to wane, and when he sees that most of his years have transpired, and he wants to start to have mercy on himself to contemplate in repentance, and to draw close to Hashem Yisburach in truth, then, usually the Baal Duvur (-litigator – evil inclination – Satan) strengthens and spreads out (-goes all out) to bar him from the Way of Life, and he (-the evil inclination) doesn’t want to allow him to leave his (worldly) desires and trappings which he was trapped in, and then it is the main test of the person.
Segment 9
דִּבְרֵי הַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת שֶׁמְּחַזֵּק אוֹתָנוּ מְאֹד לְהִתְחַזֵּק בִּרְצוֹנוֹת וְכִסּוּפִים טוֹבִים לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ תָּמִיד בְּכָל מַה שֶּׁעוֹבֵר עָלֵינוּ, וּמוֹדִיעַ לָנוּ כִּי אֵין שׁוּם יֵאוּשׁ בָּעוֹלָם כְּלָל, דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ צְרִיכִין אֲנַחְנוּ לִזָּהֵר בָּהֶם, לְהַכְנִיסָם בְּלִבֵּנוּ כְּטַל וּכְמָטָר. כִּי כְּמוֹ הַטַּל וְהַמָּטָר שֶׁיּוֹרְדִין טִפַּת מַיִם בָּאָרֶץ וְאַחַר-כָּךְ צוֹמֵחַ מֵהֶם צְמָחִים נִפְלָאִים, כְּמוֹ כֵן צְרִיכִים לְהַכְנִיס הַדִּבּוּרִים אֵלּוּ בְּעֹמֶק הַלֵּב הֵיטֵב עַד שֶׁיִּצְמְחוּ בַּלֵּב וְיַעֲשׂוּ פֵּרוֹת טוֹבִים. כִּי דְּבָרִים אֵלּוּ לְהִתְחַזֵּק בַּה' יִתְבָּרַךְ תָּמִיד, צְרִיכִין לְהַאֲזִין הֵיטֵב וּלְהָבִין דָּבָר מִתּוֹךְ דָּבָר, לְהָבִין הֵיטֵב רְמִיזוֹתָיו שֶׁל הַצַּדִּיק עַד הֵיכָן עַד הֵיכָן צְרִיכִין לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְעוֹלָם, כִּי אִי אֶפְשָׁר לְבָאֵר כְּלָל כָּל הַצֹּרֶךְ בַּדְּבָרִים הַלָּלוּ בִּפְרָטִיּוּת, רַק בְּרֶמֶז, שֶׁמּוֹרֶה לְךָ הַדֶּרֶךְ, בְּדֶרֶךְ זוֹ תֵּלֵךְ וְעַל-יְדֵי זֶה וְכוּ', וּמְרַמֵּז לְהִתְחַזֵּק תָּמִיד בִּרְצוֹנוֹת וְכִסּוּפִים וּצְעָקָה וּשְׁאָגָה לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ, וְעַל-יְדֵי זֶה בְּוַדַּאי יִזְכֶּה סוֹף כָּל סוֹף לִגְאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה, לָשׁוּב לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ בֶּאֱמֶת!
Then one needs to look at himself very well, upon his end and his conclusion, and to strengthen more and (/inordinately) more[5] to bind himself well to the true Tzadik who is the aspect of Moshe Messiah who strengthens us with extremely great enforcement without measure nor estimation nor number, to strengthen to begin each time anew to draw close to Hashem Yisburach as if born today, and not to fall from any matter in the world. And the main thing is that one needs to strengthen against “moachin dikatnus (-small minds – small-mindedness - juvenile consciousness),” which intensify exceedingly to overcome a person, and they want to dishearten his resolution as if he no longer as hope Heaven forbid.
Segment 10
עִקַּר עִכּוּב הַגְּאֻלָּה הוּא רַק עַל-יְדֵי מַחֲלֹקֶת, כִּי בְּכָל דּוֹר נִמְצָאִים בְּנֵי-אָדָם גְּדוֹלִים וַחֲשׁוּבִים שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם נִצּוֹצֵי דָּתָן וַאֲבִירָם, וְהֵם חוֹתְרִים לְהַרְחִיק מֵהַצַּדִּיק הָאֱמֶת בְּחִינַת משֶׁה, וְעַל-יְדֵי זֶה נִתְגַּלְגְּלוּ כָּל הַצָּרוֹת וְהַחֻרְבָּנוֹת שֶׁל עַכְשָׁו. אַךְ אַף-עַל-פִּי כֵן אַתָּה מָרוֹם לְעוֹלָם ה', כִּי גַּם כְּמוֹ כֵן נִמְצָאִים בְּכָל דּוֹר וָדוֹר צַדִּיקִים וּכְשֵׁרִים אֲמִתִּיִּים שֶׁהֵם נִלְוִים אֶל הַצַּדִּיק הַגָּדוֹל הַמֻּבְחָר וּשְׂמֵחִים לִקְרָאתוֹ וְשׁוֹמְעִים לַעֲצָתוֹ, וְעַל-יְדֵי זֶה תָּבוֹא הַגְּאֻלָּה שְׁלֵמָה.
Just, he should know and believe in the words of the true Tzadik who screamed with a great and strong call that there is no despair in the world whatsoever,[6] because to His greatness there is no measure, and in His great mercy, blessed He, He can turn everything around completely, from bad to good, from sins to merits! The transcriber and the arranger, who remembers him always without any interruption. Who yearns and longs to meet up with love and joy, with a true heart, wishes his wellbeing and supplicates on behalf of his wellbeing and his salvation and his success forever.
Segment 11
יֵשׁ לִפְעָמִים שֶׁדַּיְקָא כְּשֶׁאָדָם מַגִּיעַ לְמָקוֹם נָמוּךְ וְרָחוֹק מִקְּדֻשַּׁת יִשְׂרָאֵל מְאֹד מְאֹד, שָׁם דַּיְקָא יִתְעוֹרֵר בְּהִתְעוֹרְרוּת גָּדוֹל לַה' יִתְבָּרַךְ. וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה כַּמָּה טְעָמִים וּבְחִינוֹת.
Yisroel Dov Odesser House of Zalman Odesser Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Hashkumas Haboaker – Waking up early in the morning 4:10. ↑ Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 1, Birchas Hashachar – Blessings of the Morning 3:16.
Segment 12
הַמַּעְתִּיק וְהַמְסַדֵּר, הַזּוֹכְרוֹ תָּמִיד בְּלִי שׁוּם הֶפְסֵק, הַכּוֹסֵף וּמִתְגַּעְגֵּעַ לְהִתְרָאוֹת בְּאַהֲבָה וְשִׂמְחָה בְּלֵב אֱמֶת, דוֹרֵשׁ שְׁלוֹמוֹ וּמַעְתִּיר בְּעַד שְׁלוֹמוֹ וִישׁוּעָתוֹ וְהַצְלָחָתוֹ לָנֶצַח.
↑ Likutay Halachos, Orach Chaim 2, Mincha 5:6. Restoration (/Revival) of the Soul 28. ↑ Likutay Moharan, volume 2, Torah-teaching 78, and elsewhere.
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Segment 13
יִשְׂרָאֵל דֹּב אוֹדֶעסֶר
Israel Dov Odesser