Path to Selflessness, Maamar Yehuda Ata

The Path to Selflessness is a discourse delivered by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, of blessed memory, on the eve of the fast of the tenth of Tevet 5738(1977)

At the time, the rebbe was recuperating from a heart attack he had suffered on the night of Shemini Artzeret, and would periodically deliver addresses from his office at Lubavitch World Headquarters, by way of a special hookup system, to the main synagogue. This was the last of these unique addresses, as he subsequently returned to his regular schedule.

Beginning with the words Yehuda Atah, the discourse examines the blessing which Yaakov blessed his fourth son, Yehuda, as compared to the blessings he gave his first three sons, Reuven, Shimon and Levi. Yaakov`s sons embody distinctive forms of divine service, which correspond to distinct sections of the prayers of Shema and the Amidah. Using these distinctions, the discourse further derives lessons about the bond between the individual Jewish soul and G-d.