From servants to sons of Hashem

בפסוק כי לי בנ"י עבדים.

On the verse, "For unto Me are Bnei Yisrael servants" (Vayikra 25:55).

The Sefas Emes opens on the verse declaring Bnei Yisrael to be servants belonging to Hashem.

פי' לי לשמי שבנ"י הם עבדים שלא ע"מ לקבל פרס ואיתא בזוה"ק שיש בחי' בנים ועבדים ע"ש באורך.

The meaning of "unto Me" is "for My Name" — that Bnei Yisrael are servants not in order to receive reward; and it is taught in the Zohar HaKadosh that there is an aspect of "sons" and an aspect of "servants"; see there at length.

"Li" (unto Me) stresses serving for Hashem's Name alone, like the servant in the Mishnah (Avos 1:3) who serves "not in order to receive reward." The Zohar distinguishes two modes of relationship to Hashem — banim (sons) and avadim (servants) — which the Sefas Emes will now develop.

והנה בחי' עבדים זכו בנ"י ביצ"מ כמ"ש עבדי הם אשר הוצאתי.

Now, the aspect of "servants" Bnei Yisrael merited at Yetzias Mitzrayim, as it is written, "they are My servants, whom I brought out" (Vayikra 25:42).

The level of being Hashem's avadim was acquired at the Exodus: by redeeming them, Hashem made Bnei Yisrael His own servants.

ובתי' בנים זכו בקבלת התורה.

And the aspect of "sons" they merited at the receiving of the Torah.

The higher level of being Hashem's banim was attained at Mattan Torah, when Yisrael became "children" of Hashem.

וב' אלו מתחדשין ביום השבת.

And these two are renewed on the day of Shabbos.

Both relationships, servant and son, are renewed and re-experienced each Shabbos.

בחי' זכור ושמור.

The aspect of "Zachor" (Remember) and "Shamor" (Guard).

The two dimensions of Shabbos — "Zachor" and "Shamor" — correspond respectively to "son" and "servant."

מוח ולב עבודה בלב.

Mind and heart — the avodah of the heart.

"Zachor" is the mind (mo'ach), the dimension of the son, while "Shamor" is the heart (lev) — "avodah she'b'lev," the labor of the heart that characterizes the servant.

ולכן יש ב' לבבות כי בחי' עבד יש עובד ע"מ לקבל פרס ויש עבד לשמו ית'.

Therefore there are two "hearts," for within the aspect of "servant" there is one who serves in order to receive reward, and there is a servant for the sake of His Name, may He be blessed.

The Torah's doubled letter in "levavcha" hints at two inclinations within the heart, mirrored in two kinds of servant: one who serves for reward, and the higher one who serves purely lishmah, for Hashem's Name.

וזה הרבותא לי בנ"י עבדים לי לשמי.

And this is the novelty of "unto Me are Bnei Yisrael servants" — "unto Me," for My Name.

The verse's emphasis "li" teaches the loftier service: Bnei Yisrael are servants "for My Name" — the selfless avodah lishmah, not the lower service for reward.

וע"ז העבודה מבקשין וטהר לבנו לעבדך באמת.

And concerning this avodah we pray, "and purify our hearts to serve You in truth."

The tefillah "v'taher libeinu" is a request for exactly this — that our hearts be purified to serve Hashem truthfully, lishmah and not for reward.

וזהו הטהרה בימי הספירה להיות העבודה לשמו ית' בלי תערובת פסולת.

And this is the purification of the days of Sefirah — that the avodah be for His Name, without admixture of dross.

The avodah of Sefiras HaOmer is precisely this refinement: cleansing the heart's service of all self-interest so it is for Hashem's Name alone, free of impure admixture.

ואח"כ זוכין בחג השבועות לבחי' בנים בחי' זכור.

And afterward, on Chag HaShavuos, one merits the aspect of "sons," the aspect of "Zachor."

Having purified the "servant" level during Sefirah, one ascends on Shavuos to the level of "sons" — the dimension of "Zachor" and the mind.

מוח הבן ממוח האב.

The mind of the son [derives] from the mind of the father.

The "son" relationship is an essential bond: the child's very mind is drawn from the father's, an unbreakable, intrinsic connection.

ובזה לא שייך שינוי והיא עבודה מיוחדת רק לבנ"י בנים אתם:

And in this no change is possible, and it is an avodah unique only to Bnei Yisrael — "you are sons" (Devarim 14:1).

Unlike a servant, who can in principle be sold or freed, the son's bond admits no change. This level — "banim atem," you are children of Hashem — is a unique avodah belonging to Bnei Yisrael alone.

Summary: "For unto Me are Bnei Yisrael servants" means serving for Hashem's Name alone, not for reward. There are two relationships to Hashem — "servants" (merited at Yetzias Mitzrayim, the aspect of Shamor, heart, avodah she'b'lev) and "sons" (merited at Mattan Torah, the aspect of Zachor, mind) — both renewed each Shabbos. The two hearts reflect serving for reward versus serving lishmah; the purification of Sefiras HaOmer refines the servant's avodah to be wholly for Hashem's Name, and on Shavuos one rises to the unchanging, intrinsic level of "sons" — "you are children" of Hashem, an avodah unique to Bnei Yisrael.