Spiritual Tools-Slonim-The Purpose of Our Service

The 28th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Mordechai Kastelanitz of Lecovitz, the father of the Slonim Chassidic dynasty: A youth came to the Rabbi and asked to be taught how to serve God. The Rabbi answered, “God does not need your service. Do we not say in the Neilah Amidah, “And if men be righteous, what can he give You?” What you may properly ask me is to instruct you how to serve yourself! You, not God, will receive benefit from your mitzvot and your Torah. (Ohr Yesharim, page 9)