Hayom Yom 8 Tishrei - Teshuva by carefully avoiding all conspicuousness

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman

קִצּוּר בִּאוּר אוֹפֶן הה

An explanation [by the Rebbe Rashab] of the fifth approach, abridged:

ה, הַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת עִם הוי' אֱלֹקֶיךָ

“Walk humbly with G‑d your L‑rd.”

זְהִירוּת שֶׁלֹּא תְהִי שׁוּם בְּלִיטָה

This means carefully avoiding all conspicuousness.

וּכְמַאֲמַר לְעוֹלָם יְהֵא אָדָם עָרוּם בְּיִרְאָה

As the Sages expressed it, “A person should always be sly in his fear [of G‑d].”

וְעִנְיַן הָעַרְמוּמִית הוּא שֶׁלֹּא יִהְיֶה נִכָּר כְּלַל

This “slyness” means ensuring that [one’s fear of G‑d] is utterly unnoticeable.

יָדוּעַ דְּכַמָּה מֵחֲסִידִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים הָיוּ מַסְתִּירִים עַצְמָם

As is well known, some early chassidim would conceal their [spiritual achievements],

וְאִם הִתְגַּלּוּ הָיוּ מִצְטַעֲרִים

and were distressed if they were revealed.

וְזֶהוּ עֲבוֹדַת הַתְּשׁוּבָה הַבָּאָה מֵהַצְנֵעַ לֶכֶת

This is the kind of teshuvah that comes from walking humbly.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: [e-mail]