Class One. This classic Ma’amar discusses the question of עבודה צורך גבוה: do the Mitzvos we do make a difference on high or only to us. The answer must be both yes and no, based on the collection of מאמרי חז”ל on the subject. Accordingly our Ma’amar explores this on several levels: Level one: In אצילות, אורות בכלים etc. it matters, higher than אצילות it doesn’t. This is determined by translating the words ועבדתם את הוי’ אלוקיכם ובירך את לחמך ואת מימיך. Level Two is inspired by the change of form from third to second person והסירותי מחלה מקרביך and will be explored in the next class.
Class Two. The second level of the resolution to the עבודה צורך גבוה (yes and no) question is on the level above אצילות: What we do (unifying with Him -?-) is not in His interest, but what we achieve incidentally, to struggle with and elevate the material world does matter and make a difference on high. Avodah is a Mitzvah that -in addition to the קבלת עול notion- also connotes תפלה or אהבה. In this Ma’amar love is more than fear, where one does, not only for themselves but for Hashem as well. This love is linked to the elevation of the material world that matters to Him, above אצילות.
Class Three. The Rebbe completes this classic work with a third [and fourth] discussion on ועבדתם וגו. The need to maintain the Ratzon בארציך, which means never to be satisfied so that את מספר ימיך אמלא- every day is filled with growth, never stopping to be satisfied with self, because that would be a מרידה במלך מלכי המלכים הקדוש ברוך הוא. Beyond this is the idea of Teshuva, that even if things are not perfect Hashem promises to את מספר ימיך אמלא to retroactively, and the Avoda is complete.
