Zerizus (זריזות) — Alacrity

Core definition

Zerizus — alacrity, zeal, energetic quickness in doing — is the tempo of avodah done from love. "For one who does with will does with running and with alacrity" [19800/maamar_003 :: §582] — zerizus is the body's signature that the will is engaged. The Rebbe's letter of 3 Tammuz 5727 calls for carrying out the mesiras-nefesh missions "with alacrity (zerizus) on our part, and with speed (mehirus) on the part of the help from Above" [19801/front_matter :: §35–36] — citing Iggeres HaKodesh ch. 21 as the source [19801/front_matter :: §55].

How the Rebbeim develop it

The faithful servant. A long maamar (תש״ו) develops two manners of avdus (servitude): the simple servant who works only from fear — "no delight and joy at all in his avodah" — and the faithful servant, bound to his master in all his heart and soul, whose "avodah is in zerizus and delight, in true mesirah and giving... all in ol specifically" [15966/maamar_022 :: §473–474]. "Certain: all such a precious eved's avodah — only in zerizus, joy, and great delight. From all he does nachas ruach to his master — also he receiving from this delight and joy" [15966/maamar_022 :: §228–229]. His hiskashrus makes the great toil no burden at all; he works day in toil, night in guarding — "Torah and mitzvos eternal — no change" [15966/maamar_022 :: summary].

Zerizus indicates love; precision indicates fear. "If he understands the excellence of the commander, he does the command with alacrity (zerizus) and precision (diyuk): for alacrity indicates love, and precision indicates fear — for he greatly fears lest anything be lacking in the fulfillment of the command" [15718/maamar_001 :: §389–392]. The two together are the complete act: love speeds it, fear exacts it.

Yackov at the Akeidah. The Alter Rebbe in Iggeres HaKodesh ch. 21 expounds "the greatness of Yackov's alacrity and joy in the Akeidah" — alacrity in the hardest test as the mark of essential, inner will and desire [19800/maamar_005 :: §359–360]. Doing His will "with essential and inner will and desire" is what makes alacrity possible [19800/maamar_005 :: §359].

The main boiling. "When man conducts himself in worldly matters, he must be cool — and the main boiling (harticha) is in Torah, in prayer, in mitzvos — with vitality (chayus), alacrity, and joy" [31608/maamar_006 :: §289–290]. Zerizus belongs with chayus and simchah as the inner heat of avodah, in deliberate contrast to the "coolness" owed to worldly matters.

Walking in His ways. As one who walks girded (chagur) walks with more alacrity, so the walking "in Havayah's ways and in His mitzvos' keeping" is with zerizus — and this is through the strengthening of faith, "to believe in Elokim chayim, chayei hachayim" [57653/maamar_027 :: §237–240].

Occasions of zerizus. On erev Pesach there was "the early rising and alacrity" — for biur chametz and the other preparations [58840/maamar_010 :: §52–53]. "Erev Yom Kippur must be zerizus" — the eve of the holy day demands the hastened, zealous preparation [58840/maamar_010 :: §68]. And R. Meshulam Zusya of Anipoli learned several ways in avodah from a thief — among them "alacrity," alongside toiling with great toil and returning again if he did not succeed the first time [31621/maamar_024 :: §232].

Key distinctions

Related concepts

Sources