Hayom Yom 10 Teves - Abandon the thoughts of 'I' say, 'I' hold

The daily Hayom Yom with Rabbi Yosef Katzman · Dec 29, 2025 · 5m

תַּעֲנִית, סְלִיחוֹת, אָבִינוּ מַלְכֵּנוּ

[The Morning Service on this] fast day includes Selichos and Avinu Malkeinu.

מַעֲנֵה הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק עַל יְחִידוּת

In response to a question raised at yechidus, the Tzemach Tzedek once explained:

כְּתִיב יַעֲזוֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ וְאִישׁ אָוֶן מַחְשְׁבוֹתָיו גו

“It is written, ‘Let the wicked man abandon his path and the man of iniquity [abandon] his thoughts.’

אָוֶן הוּא מִלְּשׁוֹן אוֹן בְּחוֹלָם, שֶׁפִּרוּשׁוֹ כֹּחַ וְעוֹז

“The word אָוֶן (‘iniquity’) can also be interpreted as hinting at אוֹן (‘strength’).

וּכְשֵׁם דְיַעֲזוֹב רָשָׁע דַּרְכּוֹ זֶהוּ…