Tzeitel Katan, part 2

The Tzeitel Katan of Rebbe Elimelech of Lizhensk

These are the things that a man shall do and live by:

2 – When saying the first pasuk of of Shema and the first berachah of the daily Shemoneh Esrei, you should meditate on the previous concept [of sanctifying yourself in the Name of Hashem]. You should also meditate on the idea that if you were tortured by any means at the hands of oppressors, and they would even skin you alive, you would rather suffer all the torments than deny the unity of the one true G-d. You should meditate on this and depict this in your mind, as if all this was real, and by this you will discharge your obligation in the recitation of the Shema and daily prayer service properly.

“Tzeitel Katan” means “Small Pamphlet.” For almost two hundred years the learning and recitation of this small pamphlet was a chassidic devotion. However, to fulfill all the teachings found in the Tzeitel today might seem almost impossible. We have therefore selected those teachings that we felt were important. We have therefore selected those teachings that we felt were important and relevant for those who wish to attempt to learn and fulfill them. It is also worthwhile studying the Tzeitel as an insight, a mirror that reflects the life of the Rebbe and his followers. Through it we can see just how high and exalted a spiritual level the Rebbe and his Chassidim achieved. Even in our lowly generation, which cannot hope to fulfill all of the ideas found in the Tzeitel Katan, this “small pamphlet” gives us a glimpse into the lives of the saintly early founders of the Chassidic movement; Rebbes who lived by Rebbe Elimelech’s words and fulfilled them. It can also inspire us to strive to come closer to Hashem and perhaps to one day reach a level of understanding where these concepts do not seem so foreign and so far beyond our graps, but rather as ideas and customs to live by.

 

A Boyaner chassid by the name of Rav Ben Tzion Rachman once explained that the title Tzeitel Katan implies that whoever learns the Tzeitel becomes “katan”; he becomes small in his own eyes because he sees just how much he is lacking in service and devotion.

[Note of Journal Mitzvah’s editor. There are 17 parts, we will post each part separately. Thank G-d!]

Published in Journal Mitzvah with permission of author.

Taken from Mipeninei Noam Elimelech book.

R' Tal Moshe Zwecker
Director Machon Be'er Mayim Chaim Publishing
Chassidic Classics in the English Language
www.chassidusonline.com