Editing Hiskashrus (section)

== Its Role in a Person's Divine Service ==
A person's divine service must be permeated with self-nullification to the Nasi HaDor (leader of the generation). This applies both to the soul's work in the world with the animal soul, and to the soul's own elevation in holiness from one level to another.

The soul's work in the world is the avodah of birur (refinement). Its purpose is to refine worldly matters which, on their own, are kelipah - they perceive themselves as separate entities from G-dliness. A person's work is to refine and sanctify the world by using worldly matters for the sake of Heaven, thereby penetrating the world's reality with the recognition that their entire existence is to fulfill G-d's will. However, this work requires the person to nullify himself to the Nasi HaDor, so that the refinement process can be done properly and completely. For the soul, which is inherently separate from the world, to be able to descend into the world without being overwhelmed, but rather to overcome and refine it, it must receive renewed powers that come through its self-nullification to the Nasi HaDor.

Furthermore, self-nullification to the Nasi HaDor brings completeness to the work of refinement. The perfect refinement is when all details in the world unite to become one single reality. Since each person has their own individual characteristics, even though all details in their life are united with the intention of "for the sake of Heaven," this is still not true unity because by nature one person is separate from another's characteristics. It is specifically through the self-nullification of the entire generation to the head of the generation that complete unification is achieved<ref>Likkutei Sichos Volume 2 Page 479 and Volume 3 Page 808</ref>.

To further explain, the work of refinement itself consists of several levels: a person's refinement is only the beginning of the process and is called the "first refinement." This is because even when a person is nullified to G-dliness, since this work is done through him and he is a "created being," the level to which he elevates the world is still at the level of creation and not actual holiness. (In Chassidic terminology, this self-nullification is called "bitul hayesh" - nullification of existence - and has not yet reached "bitul b'metzius" - complete nullification of being.) Only after a person's work in refining the world comes the second stage - the "second refinement," which is the nullification achieved through divine revelation from above. This refinement can only be drawn down through a lofty soul that, even after descending to this world, still radiates with the divine light that transcends the world, and this revelation comes specifically through self-nullification to that soul.

In addition, self-nullification to the Nasi HaDor is also necessary for the soul's work in its own elevation from one level to another within holiness itself.