Yesod ViShoresh Ha’avodah: Service of God
The 18th of Adar is the Yahrtzeit of Rav Alexander Ziskind, born in Brzhen, but lived most of his life in Horodna (Grodno, Belarus), Lithuania, the product of the teaching of Rav Aryeh Leib Epstein, Rav of Nikolsberg. He authored
the mussar work, Yesod V’shoresh Ha’avoda, which contains how one should behave every hour of the day and kavanos for tefillos and mitzvot, as well as Karnei Ohr, a commentary on the Zohar. (1700-1794)
This is the most fundamental part of a person’s work in this low world: To constantly rejoice in his thought from the pleasure he brings to God through his service of Him. (Sha’ar Hagadol, Chapter 5)
Please note that he does not focus on the giving “Nachas” to God, but on rejoicing in giving Nachas.