Hayom Yom

My father instructed his brother-in-law, R. Moshe Horenstein, a kohein, to say Yehi ratzon after the nassi, noting that even a kohein or leivi must say it, for it is related to ibur.[2]

Compiled and arranged by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, of righteous memory, in 5703 (1943) from the talks and letters of the sixth Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, of righteous memory.

The nassi describes the offering brought by the Prince of each tribe during the twelve days of dedication of the Sanctuary.

See Glossary to Tanya I. Ibur is "gestation," the undifferentiated state prior to the appearance of organs. In the Yehi ratzon prayer, we say, "...if I am of the tribe of ____," indicating the possibility of any of the twelve tribes (including Efrayim and Menasheh; excluding Levi). This would seem inappropriate to a kohein or a leivi, who are by definition from the Levi tribe. However, the concept of ibur indicates an initial state of total merger, coalescence - in this context the coalescence of all souls. The kohein then, is not absolutely unrelated to the other tribes of Israel.

אאמו"ר [אדוני אבי מורי ורבי] ציוה לגיסו הרב משה הארענשטיין הכהן לאמר היהי רצון שאחר הנשיא, ואמר לו כי אפילו כהן ולוי צריך לאמרו, כי זה שייך לעיבור.