Hayom Yom 23 Iyar - The first stage in a person’s spiritual decline

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

Day 38 of the Omer

רֵאשִׁית הַיְרִידָה, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלַן

The first stage in a person’s spiritual decline (Heaven forbid)

הוּא הֶעְדֵּר הָעֲבוֹדָה בִּתְפִלָּה

is a lack of effort when serving G‑d in prayer.

עֶס וועֶרט אַלץ טְרוּקעֶן אוּן קאַלט

Everything becomes parched and cold.

דִי מִצְוַת אֲנָשִׁים מְלוּמָּדָה וועֶרט שׁוֹין אוֹיךְ שְׁוועֶר

Even the routine performance of mitzvos1 becomes burdensome.

מעֶן אַיילט

One hurries [through their observance]

מעֶן וועֶרט אָן דעֶם געֶשְׁמאַק אִין תּוֹרָה

and loses a taste for Torah study.

וְהָאֲוִיר מִתְגַּשֵּׁם

The very atmosphere becomes more materially oriented.

וּמוּבָן הַדָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ שַׁיָּךְ כְּלָל לִפְעוֹל עַל הַזּוּלַת

And it goes without saying that a person in such a state cannot positively influence others at all.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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