English translation — משיחות ש״פ וירא, כ״ף מרחשון ה׳תשמ״ז

20 Marcheshvan is an auspicious day — the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab, of blessed memory, in the year 5611.

(as the Tzemach Tzedek said)

And according to the known greatness of the ascent of a birthday,

that "his mazal prevails"²,

That is,

an elevation and addition in a manner of overcoming

(not only in the revealed classes,

understanding and comprehension in Him,

but)

even in the mazal and root of the soul above,

it is understood,

that when the 20th of Marcheshvan arrives each year,

There is an elevation and addition in a manner of intensification in all matters of the birthday person.

(Even after the passing³,

and on the contrary,

with greater strength and vigor⁴)

And through the elevation and addition for the Nasi of Israel,

there is an elevation and addition for all of Israel

("The Nasi is everything"⁵)

— beginning with his students and his students' students,

who walk "in the straight path which He has taught us from His ways, and we will walk in His paths" etc.⁶,

And through them — to all of Israel.

Therefore,

As we stand on this auspicious day,

it is fitting to contemplate the matters of the one whose birthday it is,

in order to make good resolutions to increase and strengthen our walking in his paths and ways throughout the entire year.

The main themes of the birthday — a special emphasis on the matter of spreading the wellsprings outward.

And as an introduction:

The true nature of the matter of "Your wellsprings will spread outward",

the spreading of the teachings of Chassidus

("your wellsprings" of the Baal Shem Tov)

in a manner of "understanding and comprehension"⁷,

Understanding and comprehension in Chabad of the soul — began already by the Alter Rebbe after the redemption of Yud-Tes Kislev

(as explained in the well-known sicha of the birthday⁸)

However,

After the beginning of the matter by the Alter Rebbe — behold,

the revelation and dissemination of the wellsprings outward in a manner that penetrates the world

(by means of it penetrating first among the students of Torah,

Parshas Vayeira,

20 Cheshvan

as the statement⁹ "He looked into the Torah and created the world")

— was born and added by our Rabbeim Nesi'im from generation to generation,

And especially — by the Rebbe Maharashab,

the birthday person,

who founded the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva where they will study

(not only the revealed part of Torah,

but)

also the Torah of Chassidus

("And specifically through this will they live in the study of the revealed Torah"¹⁰)

In the order of study of "yeshiva",

that is,

study in a manner and order of settling,

with understanding and comprehension,

"like the study of the sugya in the revealed part of Torah",

which,

through this, a main stage is added in the dissemination of the wellsprings outward.

And in the words of the birthday person regarding the establishment of the yeshiva — "In the beginning, this is in yeshiva."

I am kindling the lights that our teacher the Baal Shem Tov and the Rebbes bequeathed to us,

so that the promise of "Your springs will spread outward" be fulfilled,

to hasten the coming of Moshiach".

And more specifically — these matters were explained in his well-known sicha on the topic of "All who go out to the war of the House of David"¹⁴,

whose content,

that the students of Tomchei Tmimim,

the students of the birthday celebrant,

They are the "soldiers of the House of David"¹⁵,

whose task is to fight with those "who have blasphemed

the footsteps of Your anointed one"¹²,

as the Midrash says: "If you see a generation that reviles and blasphemes, expect the feet of the Mashiach,

What is the reason?

That Your enemies have blasphemed, O Lord, that they have blasphemed the footsteps of Your anointed one,

and it is written in Scripture: "Blessed be the Lord forever, amen and amen.",

meaning,

that through the actions of the "soldiers of the House of David" in revealing and spreading the light of Chasidut, the victory of the war of the House of David is achieved,

and in the manner of "Blessed is G‑d forever, amen and amen,"

״the psalmist saw.

the coming of Mashiach,

therefore he gave thanks to G‑d"¹⁰.

And in all this — there is added even more in our generation,

by the president of our generation,

His Holy, our father, the Rebbe,

his only son and successor of the birthday bearer:

In addition to the fact that the aforementioned sichah was published,

and printed by our generation's president

(after his arrival in this country)

which,

Also, through the study of the aforementioned sicha, there is added in this in the manner of 'to increase'²⁰,

Thus,

Through him, the completeness of the matter of spreading the wellsprings outward is accomplished — through this that he spread the wellsprings of Chassidus in the manner of 'explained well'¹⁶,

"In seventy languages"²²,

To such an extent,

that even the nations of the world

(not only Jews who speak the language of each nation)

can understand matters of Chassidus,

That is,

that through him came the wellsprings of Chassidic teachings even into the place of "outside" literally,

until the "outside" that has no "outside" beyond it.

And it can be said,

that the matter of spreading Chassidus in the manner of "explaining well",

"in seventy languages",

Sefer HaSichos - 5747

is hinted and alluded also in the birthday of the Rebbe Rashab,

20 MarCheshvan 5601,

whose sign is "Kesara" — for,

"Kesara"

(with the addition of an Alef,

and not "Kesser")

is in the language of Targum,

to hint,

that the humility of "the Kesser" of the Torah,

The inner dimension of the Torah that was revealed in Chassidus²³,

descends and is drawn down also into the language of translation [Targum],

(in the manner and pattern of the descent and drawing down from Atzilus to Biya²⁴)

and through it — descends and is drawn down also into all seventy languages of the nations of the world,

as it is stated,

"Be'er Heiteiv" [explained it clearly],

"in seventy languages."

And thus,

in our generation, there is added even more in the activity of "the soldiers of the House of David" to nullify the matter of "they insulted the footsteps of Your anointed,"

until the manner of "Blessed is the L‑rd forever, amen and amen"²⁵ — the perfection of the victory of the war of the House of David,

until the actual coming of Mashiach our righteousness,

when then will be fulfilled the prophecy "so that all the nations of the earth shall know that the L‑rd is G‑d, there is no other"²⁶,

that is,

that also the nations of the world will know matters of G‑dliness,

and more than this — "and the glory of the L‑rd shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see² etc."²⁸.

According to this, it is understood that as we stand on a special day,

the birthday of the Rebbe, our master, Rabbi Sholom Ber, of blessed memory — each and every one must make good resolutions to increase in spreading the wellsprings outward:

First and foremost — in regard to oneself,

to increase in the study of Chassidus in a manner of comprehension and grasp,

both an increase in the quantity of study time,

and an increase in the quality of study,

to toil more in understanding the matters of Chassidus,

And in particular — in the matters of Chassidus of the one having the birthday

(And with additional explanation and clarification — in the Chassidic writings of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe)

as he said before his passing²⁹ — "The writings I leave you"

(the writings,

the Chassidic writings,

I bequeath to you)

to study them in a manner of understanding and comprehension in Chabad within the soul, up to the human and natural intellect,

after the manner of understanding and comprehension in the intellect of the revealed part of Torah³⁰,

and from the understanding and comprehension in the intellect — to feeling in the emotional attributes of the heart,

as it is written³ "Know the God of your father and serve Him with a whole heart,"

love of G‑d and fear of G‑d,

and likewise the other attributes which "are branches of fear and love and their offshoots"³².

And it is understood,

that the addition in the study of Chassidus brings about also addition in the study and toil in the revealed part of Torah,

And "Great is study that leads to action"³³ — an addition in the beautification of fulfillment

Shabbos Parshas Vayigash,

20 Marcheshvan

the commandments

(beyond the letter of the law,

m'das chassidus⁵⁴)

includes also regarding matters of permission,

that they should be in the manner of 'all your deeds should be for the sake of Heaven' ³⁵,

and beyond this — 'in all your ways know Him' ³⁶.

and furthermore, the main point — the spreading of the wellsprings outward,

that is,

to strive that additional Jews increase in the study of Chassidus,

and in a more general sense — the dissemination of Torah and mitzvos and the spreading of Judaism in its entirety,

as they become imbued with the pnimiyus haTorah that is elucidated in the teachings of Chassidus Chabad,

and even to the spreading of the light of holiness throughout the entire world,

Also regarding the children of Noah,

through his influence and effect upon them to “accept the mitzvos that they were commanded as children of Noah*,”

And in simple terms — regarding action:

The action in all the aforementioned matters is — through effort in the area of education,

which,

also in this matter we find a special emphasis by the birthday celebrant³⁷,

and similarly by his son and successor,

His Holiness, our master, our teacher, the Rebbe, the president of our generation,

for,

even though they were occupied with many matters that were necessary and vital, etc.,

they invested much time, effort, and energy, etc., in everything related to activity in the field of education,

as is known and famous.

And the intention of this regarding each one of us — whether regarding education itself,

"Adorn yourself"

(first)

By this, that he fulfills the instruction of the Mishnah⁴ 'Make for yourself a teacher'

(as was discussed at length many times during the recent period⁴¹)

and both regarding the education of others,

And in this itself — both regarding the education of minors in years,

and both regarding the education of minors in knowledge

(although they are older in years)

And even regarding the education of adults in knowledge,

Indeed,

Matters of holiness,

Torah and its mitzvos,

They are in a manner of without limit,

And consequently,

they can and must always add even more,

from ascent to ascent.

And simply — establishing

(and expanding)

educational institutions for boys as well as educational institutions for girls,

in which they will receive kosher education,

up to education on the purity of holiness,

including influencing the parents regarding the great necessity and need for a true Jewish education in the spirit of the Torah and mitzvos; and likewise establishing

(and expanding)

Institutions that also educate adults,

Houses of Torah,

Houses of prayer and Houses of Gemach,

Such as "Chabad Houses" that include all three,

from which the light of holiness radiates to the entire surroundings

(as discussed at length many times over the last period⁴²)

Sefer HaSichos - 5747

And an additional emphasis in all this — that the action must be in the manner of “from the outset, over”⁴³

(as the saying and instruction of the Admu”r Maharash,

father of the birthday celebrant)

Establishment

(and expansion)

educational institutions,

Chabad Houses,

etc. — involves multiple financial expenses, etc.,

and accordingly,

there is room to suppose that first of all one must obtain the necessary amount of money,

and only then begin to establish and expand the institutions, etc.

To this comes the directive of "Lechatchila Ariber" — that first of all one must begin with the establishment and expansion of the institutions,

in a manner that is above calculations, etc.

(even though in the order of the world of rectification)

And as is known, the saying of the Rebbe, my father-in-law, the leader of our generation — that he was always in a state of financial deficit,

a debtor, etc.,

And together with this,

he did not remain a debtor,

since, in the end, G‑d helped to obtain the necessary money to pay the debts⁴⁴.

And the explanation of the necessity of work and action in such a manner

(to take a debt upon oneself,

and afterwards to return it,

and not to wait until he obtains the money)

— is understood simply:

A financial deficit causes discomfort for only a short time,

since,

in the end, G‑d gives the necessary money to pay all the debts; and in contrast,

delaying the action of spreading Judaism and the wellsprings to 'tomorrow',

and certainly 'tomorrow which is after some time'⁴⁵,

may cause loss,

G-d forbid,

in "souls of Israel",

which,

even "one soul of Israel" is a "full world"⁴⁴.

And since this is so,

there is no doubt that above all, one must act immediately to save souls of Israel,

"Give me the soul"⁴⁷,

by establishing and expanding educational institutions,

Chabad Houses,

and so forth — without considering the financial deficit, etc.,

in the manner of "lechatchila ariber."

And especially when we see in our generation the deeds of the side that is opposite,

to the extent that they strive to do everything in their power to educate the youth contrary to the Torah,

even to ways that are contrary to justice and righteousness,

and entirely contrary to humanity — to kidnap children from their parents in order to educate them contrary to the Torah,

May the Merciful One save us,

It is certainly and certainly necessary to add even more,

with greater strength and might,

in saving Jewish lives,

without any calculations etc.,

as stated,

"From the outset, over."

And fortunate is the portion of all those who engage in all this — whether in their bodies,

and with their money,

to help and assist in financing the activities in the aforementioned matters,

according to their ability,

and more than their ability,

in the manner of "lechatchila ariber".

*

and it should be added,

that the action in all the aforemen‐ tioned matters results from the arousal

Shin 3 Zira,

2 MarCheshvan

and 8

And the empowerment of this auspicious day is emphasized even more in this year⁴⁸.

And several details in the matter — both from the perspective of the general year,

the year of Shmita,

which is also a preparation for the year of Hakhel,

And from the standpoint of the establishment of the 20th of Marcheshvan on the day of Shabbat,

and from the standpoint of the weekly portion,

the portion of Vayeira,

which,

each one of the aforementioned matters constitutes an additional lesson and an additional imparting of strength in everything related to the activity of spreading Torah and Judaism and spreading the wellsprings outward,

as follows.

The Sabbatical year:

The concept of the Sabbatical year — "It shall be a Sabbath of rest for the land, a Sabbath to the Lord⁴⁹,"

"that also the workers of the land, when they rest in that year, will awaken to seek the Lord⁵⁰,

That is,

that also those who are not 'dwellers of the tent,'

but,

whose main occupation is working the land,

"Six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard" Hashem,

Behold,

In the seventh year,

in which they are free from working the land,

they can and must dedicate all their time to Torah study.

[And this matter is a preparation for the fulfillment of the mitzvah of Hakhel — “At the end of seven years.

Assemble the people, the men, the women, and the children.

So that they may hear and so that they may learn.

And they shall keep to do all the words of the Torah⁵²,

For,

the engagement in Torah study throughout the entire year constitutes a proper preparation to bring about the guarding and fulfillment of Torah among the entire nation,

"the men and the women and the chil*",

for all the days afterward,

"all the days that you live upon the earth"⁵³]

And it is understood,

that the manner of action in Torah study should be in the manner of action in plowing and sowing, etc., during all the six years preceding — through effort,

vigor and vitality, etc.,

except that the effort is in plowing and sowing spiritually,

as is known⁵⁴ that the 39 forbidden labors include plowing and sowing, etc.,

as there is below so there is above,

Plowing

is the concept of the service of prayer,

Like plowing that softens the earth so that the seeds will sprout,

Meaning, to overcome his desires and cravings with further restraint,

And to break his heart for the sake of his desire

Sefer HaSichos - 5747

To cleave to Hashem, G‑d,

And the more he plows his body and breaks himself in this matter,

so it produces more etc."⁵⁵,

through the fulfillment of the mitzvos,

as it is written⁵⁶ "Sow for yourselves for charity,"

"Like, for example, one who sows, and his crop produces fruits with completeness, blessing

And one should add to this:

Also the labor of "six years you shall sow your field and six years you shall prune your vineyard" — is with the Torah's permission,

And not only that,

but rather it is permeated with faith in the level of G‑dliness that is above nature,

"Believes in the Eternal Life and sows"⁵⁷.

Nevertheless,

in the Sabbatical year, an incomparably higher service is required of him,

entirely above the reality of the world,

namely,

to change his nature and habit,

even though it concerns a nature and habit that is permitted by the Torah.

And from this it is also understood regarding those who sit in the tent [of Torah],

that also during the six years, their main occupation is in Torah study — that when the year of Shemittah arrives, they must increase in Torah study with greater vigor and greater strength,

to change their nature and their habit,

a nature and habit of holiness.

And it is simple,

that in matters such as these, he cannot rely on himself,

to know if he has already changed his nature and his habit, etc.,

and to what extent he must increase in this, etc.,

rather,

to ask someone greater than oneself,

as mentioned,

"Make for yourself a rav",

And regarding our matter:

the involvement in all matters of avodah related to 20 MarCheshvan,

as mentioned,

an addition

in the study of Chassidus,

And through this there is also an increase in the study of the revealed part of Torah⁵⁸,

including and especially the dissemination of Torah and Judaism and the spreading of the wellsprings outward — is done with greater vigor and strength in this year,

the Sabbatical year,

a year that is entirely holy for the study of Torah⁵⁹.

The fixed nature of the days of the week — on the day of Shabbat:

The day of Shabbat — entirely holy for the service of G‑d,

the service of prayer and the study of Torah,

Both the revealed aspect of Torah and especially the inner dimension of Torah⁶⁰.

And if these matters apply regarding every Shabbos — on the Shabbos of the Sabbatical year,

"a Shabbos unto G‑d,"

all the more so.

And it emerges,

that when the 20th of MarCheshvan falls on Shabbos,

and on the Shabbos of the Sabbatical year⁶ — there is an additional bestowal of strength regarding the work of spreading Torah and Judaism and disseminating the wellsprings outward,

including — that the work should be with rest and delight,

The essence of the day of Shabbat,

"All your work is done"⁶⁷,

"And call the Shabbat a delight"⁶³.

Parshas Vayeira,

20 Cheshvan

And we should add to this:

The fixture of 20 Cheshvan is always on the same day of the week as Rosh Hashanah⁶⁴ — after seven weeks⁸⁵.

And we find,

That in the fixed pattern of 20 Cheshvan falling on Shabbos, it is emphasized that Rosh Hashanah also occurs on Shabbos,

That is to say,

That in addition to this year being a shemittah year,

"Shabbos for Hashem,"

behold,

also its beginning and its start

("Rosh Hashanah,"

analogous to the "head,"

in which are included all the days of the year⁸⁸)

on the day of Shabbos.

And in the weekly Parsha — Parshas Vayeira:

In Parshas Vayeira

(in which one must "live" throughout all the days of the week⁸,

and, needless to say, on the day of Shabbos,

on which we read the entire Parsha)

— We find a special emphasis regarding the matters mentioned above,

both regarding the subject of education

(and more specifically — education of oneself and education of others)

and regarding the establishment of Chabad Houses,

through which the work of spreading Torah and Judaism and spreading the wellsprings outward is done,

as follows.

The subject of education:

For everyone, first and foremost — self-education,

by fulfilling the Mishnah's instruction 'Make for yourself a rabbi' — all the more so from the people of Sodom,

that despite being

"wicked and sinful, etc."⁶¹,

they also understood that they must appoint a judge over themselves,

as related in our Torah portion⁸⁹ 'And Lot sat in the gate of Sodom,'

"It is written 'sat,'

that very day they appointed him as a judge over them"⁷⁰,

and similarly — to distinguish with a thousand distinctions — regarding the children of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob,

and similarly after the giving of the Torah.

And the education of others — as explained in our portion regarding the virtue of our forefather Abraham,

the first Jew,

"For I have known him, so that he will command his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord, to do righteousness and justice."׳⁷,

Education of sons and daughters

(including "your children are these students"⁷²)

in 'the way of the Lord',

The study of Torah — "judgment"⁷⁵,

and the observance of the commandments — "charity",

the entirety of all the commandments⁷⁴.

And likewise regarding the establishment of Chabad houses:

It is related in our parshah⁷⁵: "And he planted an eshel in Be'er Sheva, and there he called in the name of the L‑rd, G‑d of the world",

"Through that eshel, the name of the Holy One, blessed be He, was made known as G‑d of the entire world,

"After they ate and drank, he said to them: bless the One of Whose [food] you have eaten,

"Do you think that you have eaten of mine? You have eaten of that of Him Who spoke and brought the world into being"⁷⁸,

And our Sages of blessed memory said⁷⁷ "Do not read 'Vayikra' but

Sefer HaSichos — 5747

'Vayikria,'

this teaches that our father Abraham caused the Name of the Holy One, blessed be He, to be proclaimed by the mouth of every passerby."

That is to say,

the work of our father Abraham was to reveal and publicize G‑dliness in the world,

to such an extent

that not only did Abraham bring about the matter of "the G‑d of the land"⁷⁸

("Now He is the God of the heavens and the God of the earth,

that I made accustomed in the mouths of creatures

(including — Arabs who bow down to the dust on their feet⁷⁹)

But when He took me from my father's house, He was the God of the heavens and not the God of the earth,

that the people of the world did not recognize Him and His name was not common in the land"⁸⁰)

But moreover,

that he revealed and publicized the matter of "El Olam"

"El Olam" and not "El haOlam"

(like "Elohei haAretz")

that is,

that the world is not an independent entity but rather it is G-dliness⁸¹.

And thus,

that the content of "And he planted a tamarisk tree⁸² in Beersheba, and there he called in the name of Hashem, El Olam"

This is the essence of establishing Chabad Houses⁸³,

A house of Torah,

prayer and charity,

to the literal house that also includes eating, drinking and sleeping or eating

drinking and accompanying⁸⁴ — the acronym 'Eshel'⁸⁵,

which,

in and through which the light of holiness is revealed,

Judaism,

Torah and His mitzvos,

even to the wellsprings of Chassidus,

in the entire environment,

also among "beriahs",

including also the Noachides,

in the manner and example of the work of our Patriarch Avraham,

who,

since he is "our father" of every single Jew,

What is His conduct? Instruction of the way to every Jew.

*

May it be His will that through the addition in all the aforementioned matters from the empowerment of the 20th of Marcheshvan,

And especially in this year

(as mentioned above at length)

— we will merit very soon to the matter of 'And the L‑rd appeared to him'⁸⁶,

a revelation of G‑dliness to every single Jew,

In ultimate perfection — with the coming of our righteous Moshiach,

that then the prophecy will be fulfilled 'for eye to eye they will see etc.'⁸⁷,

until the revelation of G-dliness throughout the entire world,

"for the earth will be filled with knowledge of

Parshat Vayeira,

20 Marcheshvan

Hashem as waters cover the sea",

and as mentioned,

In the manner of "And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see" etc."².

And particularly as we stand in the year of Shemittah,

which,

its observance hastens the true and complete Redemption,

as stated in the Midrashim on the verse⁸² "You have been favorable, Lord, to Your land; You have brought back the captivity of Jacob,"

"You have been favorable, Lord, to Your land,

this is what the verse says⁸³ 'a land which the Lord your God cares for.'

Until her deeds are pleasing to the Holy One, blessed be He.

They made the Sabbatical years.

At that hour she appeases the Holy One, blessed be He, with her deeds.

Therefore it is said: "You have shown favor, Hashem, to Your land."

And so it will be for us — "immediately they are redeemed"⁸⁴,

Immediately and right away literally,

So,

who are careful to fulfill the mitzvah of Shemittah in Eretz Yisrael according to the Torah,

And consequently,

we will fulfill afterwards also the mitzvah of Hakhel,

"At the end of seven years, at the appointed time of the Shemittah year

(In the first year of Shemittah

which is the eighth year⁸⁵)

When all Israel comes to see the face of the L-rd your G-d in the place that He will choose",

in Jerusalem the holy city,

"City of David"⁸⁶,

on the holy mountain and in the Third Beis HaMikdash,

when then will be the "House"

(Beis HaMikdash)

and the "City"

(Jerusalem)

in eternal existence,

"The Sanctuary of the L-rd, Your hands established"⁸⁷,

for Hashem will build kiyach,

guard the city⁸⁸,

dwell,

"to His beloved"⁸⁹,

"He is King Moshiach",

"May G-d give him etc." the "House" and the "City" in utmost perfection."

Speedily in our actual days,

And in our time, immediately.

Sefer HaSichos - 5747