Yismach Yisroel · Parshas Vayigash · Maamar ח

Giving Thanks for One's Present Spiritual Level

From the Torah ofRav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchok Dancygerהרב ירחמיאל ישראל יצחק בן יחיאל דנציגרProfile ›

Tehillim 68:20

בָּרוּךְ אֲדֹנָי יוֹם יוֹם יַעֲמָס לָנוּ הָאֵל יְשׁוּעָתֵנוּ סֶלָה

Blessed is the Lord day by day; He loads upon us [His blessings]; the G-d of our salvation, Selah.

1“Blessed is Hashem day by day” [Tehillim 68:20]. Just as a person must thank Hashem for his bodily needs according to his level, so too in matters of the soul. He must long and yearn to rise higher, to a greater level. Even so, he must also thank Hashem for where he is now, for he could have been worse, Heaven forbid. This is the meaning of “You shall be holy”¹ [Vayikra 19:2]: even on the level where he stands, he should give thanks for his portion.

[ח] ברוך ד' יום יום, פי' כמו שצריך להודות על עניני הגוף לפי מדריגתו כן בעניני הנפש, אף שצריך להתאוות ולחמוד לעלות עוד למדריגה גדולה עכ"ז צריך להודות להשי"ת גם לפי מה שהוא, כי הי' באפשרות להיות ח"ו גרוע יותר, וזהו קדושים תהי' היינו גם בהמדריגה שעומד בה יתן הודאה על חלקו

The print has only קדושים תהי', “holy you shall be”; perhaps it also hints at tehillah, praise. ↩

In shortWhile longing to climb higher, a person must still thank Hashem every day for the spiritual level he has now, since it could have been worse; that gratitude is part of holiness.

Takeaway

Spiritual ambition and gratitude do not conflict. While longing to climb higher, a person must thank Hashem every day for the level he has already been given, knowing it could have been worse. Holiness includes thanking Hashem for one's present portion.

Learn this in the merit of Rav Yerachmiel Yisrael Yitzchok Dancyger. His yahrzeit and life ›

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