Editing Etzem HaNeshama (The Essence of the Soul) (section)

== Its Expression ==
In a person's divine service, Etzem HaNeshama is expressed through Mesirus Nefesh (self-sacrifice), which expresses that his connection to Hakadosh Baruch Hu is embedded in his very existence.

On a deeper level, Etzem HaNeshama is expressed specifically when a Jew yearns to cleave to G-dliness even in a normal situation, without the test of Mesirus Nefesh. Therefore, his desire is not to be satisfied with the revelations of Gan Eden or Olam Haba, but he desires the revelation of the Essence. Therefore, even when there is abundance in physicality and spirituality, he is broken and shaken by the fact that we are still in Galus and he demands the true and complete Geula.

During the day, Etzem HaNeshama is primarily expressed in the moment a Jew wakes up from sleep, when his essential existence is revealed, and in this existence, he is already connected to Hakadosh Baruch Hu even before he performs any specific action to express this, such as saying "Modeh Ani."

In the Dvar Malchus talks, it is explained that the spark of Moshiach found in every Jew is the level of "Etzem HaNeshama" (not just Yechida, as explained in earlier sources). Therefore, a Jew's connection to Moshiach is constant, in his very existence - as alluded to in the Sages' statement "all the days of your life to bring about the days of Moshiach": "that his vitality (at every moment) is in bringing about the days of Moshiach, meaning, not just when he thinks and speaks and performs actions to bring Moshiach, but his very vitality ('your life') is to bring about the days of Moshiach."

[[category:Concepts in Chassidus]]
[[he:עצם הנשמה]]