Hayom Yom 2 Elul - The Jewish people are called “a cherished land”

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל נִקְרְאוּ אֶרֶץ חֵפֶץ

The Jewish people are called “a cherished land,”

שֶׁיֵּשׁ בָּהֶם כַּמָּה חֲפָצִים יְקָרִים בְּאַהֲבַת הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרֵךְ וְיִרְאָתוֹ וּמִדּוֹת טוֹבוֹת

for they possess many precious qualities, [including] their love of G‑d, their fear of Him, and their upstanding character traits.

וְאֵין דְּבַר גִּלּוּי הַמִּדּוֹת הַטּוֹבוֹת תָּלוּי אֶלָּא בַּמְּעוֹרֵר

[But like treasures buried in the earth,] the revelation of these positive qualities depends solely upon the person who evokes them.

דָּבָר בָּרוּר הוּא

It is obvious

אֲשֶׁר בְּכָל חֶלְקֵי הָאֲדָמָה נִמְצָאִים מַעְיְנוֹת מַיִם חַיִּים

that springs of fresh water exist in all parts of the earth.

וְהַהֶבְדֵּל הוּא רַק בְּקִרוּב וְרִחוּק

The difference lies only in how close or far they are [from the surface].

וְאִם כֵּן הֲלֹא הַכֹּל תָּלוּי בְּהַחוֹפֵר וְכֹחַ סַבְלָנוּתוֹ וּמְתִינוּתוֹ

If so, everything depends on the digger and his patience and deliberateness.

וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהָרָצוֹן הוּא כֹּחַ עֶלְיוֹן הַגּוֹזֵר וּמְפַקֵּד עַל כָּל הַכֹּחוֹת

Since the will is a superior power [within the soul], it decrees and directs [the activity of] all the powers,

וּמַכְרִיחָם לַעֲשׂוֹת וְלִפְעוֹל כְּפִי הַפְּקוּדוֹת שֶׁלּוֹ

compelling them to function and act according to its orders.

אִם כֵּן אֵיפוֹא, עִקָּר הָעֲבוֹדָה הוּא

Thus one’s main task is

לְעוֹרֵר אֶת הָרָצוֹן לִפְעוֹל וְלַעֲשׂוֹת הֵן בְּעַצְמוֹ הֵן בְּזוּלָתוֹ

to arouse the will to act and function, both with regard to oneself and to others.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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