היום יום

At Mincha, tachanun is said.

The Alter Rebbe once said (during those years that he would say short maamarim): "Know what is above you."[1] Know that everything "above" in the supernal sefirot and partzufim (Divine emanations and configurations), all derives "from you"[2]; it all depends on man's service.[3]

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.

This day marks the yahrzeit, in 5712 (1952) of R. Yisrael Aryeh Leib of blessed memory, brother of the Rebbe of righteous memory.

Avot 2:1.

Manifestations of the Divine Emanations, whether Chessed (Kindness) or Gevura (Severity), are determined by Man. Man's actions are independent and real, and from Above, G‑d reacts to Man, "reflects" Man's actions. Man may be insignificant from one perspective, but his importance is cosmic from another. "I am dust and ashes" expresses one view; "The universe was created on my account" expresses the second.

The quotation from Avot may therefore be translated, "Know, that what is Above is from you."

במנחה אומרים תחנון. רבינו הזקן - באותם השנים שהי'[ה] אומר מאמרים קצרים - אמר: דע מה למעלה ממך, דע כי כל מה שיש למעלה בפרצופים וספירות העליונות, הכל הוא ממך, שתלוי בעבודת האדם.