Hayom Yom

It is written: "The gift of man makes room for him and leads him before the great." [1]

Some are renowned for their wisdom or wealth.

But "the gift of man" - when an individual gives his "man," i.e., devotes himself to an undertaking to strengthen Judaism, then not only will he "make room for himself" (releasing him from constrictions and bounds), but it "leads him before the great" (his position will be superior to the great).

Notes:

Mishlei 18:16.

Friday Adar Sheini 12 5703

Chumash: Vayikra, Shishi with Rashi.

Tehillim: 66-68.

Tanya: Ch. 37. This (p. 167)... G-d forbid. (p. 169).

The Torah portion dealing with altar offerings begins: "A man who offers (Yakriv) of you an offering to G-d." [1]

The logical order of the words should be, "A man of you [2] who offers, etc."

The Alter Rebbe answers: [3] "A man who offers" - in order that a man become closer [4] to G-d - "of you, an offering to G-d" - he must bring the offering, of himself. He must sacrifice his personal "animal," the desire for evil that is called the animal soul. [5]

Notes:

Vayikra 1:2.

I.e., "from among you."

Likutei Torah, Vayikra, beginning.

Yakriv ("who offers") literally means "draws close."

Tanya, Ch. 1.