English translation — ש״פ תבא, ט״ז אאל

It is written* "Israel is holy to Hashem, the first of His harvest,"

Jews are the first of the entire world — as Chazal say: 'Bereishis,'

two reshis,

for Israel who are called 'first' and for the Torah which is called 'first'."

Until then

(the beginning of)

Israel is the first air of the Torah*⁷

(first of first)

Until then Jews are the masters of the air of Torah and have the power to renew in Torah⁷¹ until then the Torah is called by his name” — the Torah given from above

(the Written Torah given from the mouth of the Almighty)

And the Oral Torah from the Tannaim and Amoraim etc. — is called by the name of the Jew

("Ani")

What the Torah teaches.

And surely that he is "Reishis" and the master of the entire world.

And therefore a Jew has the power to make from the fruits of the land — Bikkurim for Hashem.

And on the contrary — specifically through the service of a Jew in this physical world, by which he makes the world into Bikkurim for Hashem,

the superiority and essence of a Jew — "Ani" — is revealed,

until the superiority of "Ani L'dodi V'dodi Li,"

Israel and the Holy One, blessed be He, are entirely one*⁷,

"The beginning* of all matters entirely,

even

in the study of Torah,

and as is known, specifically in the lower world*⁷ (where) a soul is in a body,

a Jew has the ability to decide a halacha in the Torah*⁷

(because in the upper realm one is "bound* by the ruling of the lower court⁷⁷")

The above-mentioned also has a connection to the matter of marriage

(And indeed, as stated above, in the seven days of the wedding feast of the wedding days, 11 and 13 Elul)

And the master of the house over the people of the state

(And all the more so over the living, vegetative, and inanimate species in his state)

Until the king said, uproot the mountain,

Today — the actual day,

before the L‑rd your G‑d — the innerness of the L‑rd your G‑d,

for Yisroel and the entire body are one — in the manner of 'I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me.'

And this concept is also hinted at in Parshas Haazinu

(which follows the continuation to Sefer Netzavim and Vayelech)

Haazinu, the heavens — that Moshe was close to the heavens,

and so it is with all Yisroel

(from the aspect of Moses within him)

that it is close to the heavens and above all matters of the earth

(also from the beginning of beginnings in the land)

; but on the other hand — specifically through his service down in the land,

the greatness of Israel is revealed also in heaven

(the soul above)

As hinted in the words of the prophet Isaiah — the prophet of redemption

(For then the superiority of the Land will be revealed,

to the extent that the soul is nourished by the body)

Hear, O heavens, and give ear, O earth — that he was close to the earth and far from heaven,

specifically because of the superiority in the earth,

that the created being is one with the true existence,

Thus the dwelling place is made in the lower realms,

Shai-z was elevated, also the heavens.

(The upper worlds that are from the Garden of Eden are a descent from the light of His countenance, blessed be He — Tanya ch. 6)

as above, as inside.

Sefer HaSichos - 5749

"I am my beloved's and my beloved is mine* is simply the union of bridegroom and bride,

in the manner of "and they shall become one flesh"⁷⁸.

And it is known that every Jewish wedding,

And, of course, a wedding of a general person, the Nasi HaDor,

Recalls and is connected and akin to the "wedding*

(marriage)

between Jews and the Almighty

[What Aryeh this is hinted,

as is known,

the content of Shir HaShirim,

including the aforementioned verse "Ani L'Dodi V'Dodi Li"]

As it will be in perfection in the future to come.

[And based on this, one should add an explanation to what is stated in the Acharonim⁸⁰ that the month of Elul is like

(the air of its second part)

and if one's mazal is Virgo,

it is auspicious for making a wedding]

And in particular, the kiddushin become

("I am my Beloved's and my Beloved is mine")

performed "by money, by deed, and by intercourse"⁸¹,

corresponding to the three lines: Torah, service, and acts of kindness⁸²,

until the inner unification

(along the lines of "When you come to the land and possess it and dwell in it,"

and you bring "of the first of all the fruit of the ground,"

the very first — along the lines of the superiority of marriage over betrothal)

And in this there is also the aspect of repentance and redemption — as is known that the wedding day is analogous to Yom Kippur,

"A time of repentance for all, etc., and it is the end of forgiveness and pardon for Israel"⁸³,

And every wedding is analogous to the marriage of the future — as we say in the "Seven Blessings*:

"Soon may be heard in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, etc., the voice of the groom and the voice of the bride, etc.*⁸⁴.

[And to add that the five voices in the verse correspond to the five levels mentioned above

(the three lines and repentance and redemption,

corresponding to Nefesh, Ruach, Neshamah, Chayah, Yechidah)

And the elevation of "Ani l'Dodi v'Dodi li"* that arouses a marriage — is specifically accomplished through souls in bodies in this physical world,

as explained in the discourse Samach Tisamach the great⁸⁵

(which was said at the wedding of his father-in-law, the Rebbe)

The greatness of the elevation of the physical union in marriage,

And therefore it is expressed in a physical joy through the work of man,

which specifically brings the essential joy of the Infinite One,

Which breaks through all boundaries,

over the boundaries

(spiritual)

that are above.

And subsequently• to the wedding

(on 15 Elul — during the seven days of the wedding feast*⁸⁶ of the wedding)

of the Rebbe, my father-in-law, on 13 Elul, the Rebbe, of blessed memory, founded

(on the 15th of Elul)

Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, and serving as its active director was the Rebbe, my father-in-law, the Admor [of blessed memory],

And one of the reasons for this is — because the purpose of marriage is — "Be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it"⁸⁷,

the birth of sons and daughters

[Like fruits that grow specifically through planting in the earth — analogous to the descent of the soul into the body — and

Parshas Tavo,

16 Elul

From these one brings bikkurim to the Beis HaMikdash."]

And when it is opened especially through 8 yeshiva

("וישבתה בה")

as our sages said, students are called sons⁸⁸",

And whoever teaches his friend's son Torah, Scripture considers it as if he gave birth to him." Thus through this is carried out in perfection in the physical world the unification of "I am to my Beloved and my Beloved is to me" through the marriage.

And in particular — through the founding of the Tomchei Temimim yeshiva, a novelty came in all the lines of service: Torah, prayer, and acts of kindness,

and the line of repentance and the line of redemption:

Torah: In the yeshivah, the fixed order of study of the revealed part of Torah and study of the inner dimension of Torah was established,

the Torah of Chassidus

(first fruits in Torah)

and as one Torah

(complete Torah)

'*,

that through them one comes to both parts of Torah

(as discussed several times)

Tefillah — as known, the emphasis and innovation that was added through the yeshiva in the service of prayer

[But preparation for Torah study,

and also in contemplation and kavanos of prayer as a result of studying Chassidus — and as written²* 'Know the G-d of your father and serve Him with a whole heart,'

'And which is the service of the heart?'

This is prayer.']

And as explained at length in the Kuntres HaTefillah and Kuntres HaAvodah of the Rebbe zt"l.

Gemilut Chasadim — as the founder of the yeshiva emphasized several times,

that the students of the yeshiva must be "nerot leha'ir" throughout the entire world,

and through the yeshiva it was carried out even more strongly — and a new stage was added in the avodah of — "yafutzu ma'aynotecha chutzah"⁹⁰.

Teshuvah: In addition to the completeness of teshuvah

(teshuvah ila'ah)

is through the study of Torah⁵*

(and especially the inner dimension of Torah)

— It is known the talk of the Rebbe N"E to the yeshiva students titled "Every one who goes out to the war of the house of David⁴* — that the yeshiva students are "the soldiers of the house of David" who will "save the situation of the Jewish people from the enemies of G-d and those who mock the footsteps of your Moshiach through spreading Torah with fear of Heaven and through awakening for thoughtfulness".

Redemption: Through the addition in 'Your wellsprings shall spread outward' which was added through the yeshiva

(as above)

— is added⁹³* in the fulfillment and hastening of the promise of Moshiach

Sefer HaSichos - 5749

To the Baal Shem Tov: When will the Master come,

When your wellsprings will spread outward.

Based on this, we can also understand the connection with Chai Elul

(which is blessed from this Shabbos)

— as known, then was the first day of studies in the yeshivah,

and the founder of the yeshivah

(in his opening discourse in connection with the beginning of the yeshivah on Chai Elul)

connected the establishment of the yeshivah with the birthday of the two great luminaries on Chai Elul,

the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe,

and said that "with the beginning in the yeshivah"

(on the 18th of Elul)

etc. I kindle the eternal light from the luminaries,

which the Baal Shem Tov and the Rebbes bequeathed to us."

And of course simply,

that the birthday of the two great luminaries,

the Baal Shem Tov

(founder of Chassidut in general)

and the Alter Rebbe

(Founder of Chabad Chassidus)

— When their mazal prevails —¹ — it gives strength in the establishment of the yeshiva and the operation of the yeshiva.

And especially as known⁰² that,

18 Elul gives a vitality in the service of "I am for my Beloved and my Beloved is for me"

(Service with one's own strength — which was especially initiated by the Alter Rebbe, the founder

of Chassidus Chabad"")

and in the service of the month of Elul in general — in all three lines,

And in repentance and redemption.

And one should connect this also with the current chapters of Pirkei Avos —

Chapter 3 and 4: 3 and 4 allude to the unity of the influencer and the recipient

(Gemol Dalim)

"I am to my beloved and my beloved is to me" which is opened through the wedding.

And it is sweetened thereby that Gimmel and Reish are letters,

Gad,

That our mazal⁹⁶ — and that which shines especially on the day of the wedding

(Mazel Tov)

And so on the birthday of 18 Elul.

And the purpose of the unification of Gimmel Daled is — a new birth,

the birth of the fifth aspect of Pharaoh

(which is above the 3rd and 4th)

As hinted in chapter five,

Which begins: With ten utterances the world was created,

And the teaching of the Baal Shem Tov is known

(brought at the beginning of Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah)

on the verse,

“Forever, O G‑d, Your word stands firm in the heavens,”

that the creation of the world from nothing is renewed every single moment,

And it can be said in a more elevated manner, when it is seen that the birth is through the union of the bestower and receiver,

Including — through a novelty that comes about through the service of man in

(the fulfillment of)

the Ten Utterances in the Torah

(through the founding of a new yeshiva)

that through them a unique novelty comes about in this,

the world was created.

as the saying⁰⁷ 'He looked'

Parshas Tavo,

the 16th of Elul

With the Torah He created the world; so too, a person who engages in Torah sustains the world.

Starting from the innovation that can

(learn Torah — and consequently)

becomes from this 'one saying'

(that)

can be created* — according to the explanation of the sefirah of Keter•⁹⁸,

which is above the ten utterances,

it is then drawn into the ten utterances,

until in "one utterance* in its explanation the sefirah of Malchut",

the order of all the ten utterances,

and that "the supernal crown is the crown of Malchut"⁹⁹.

and this is drawn both in the line of the service of "tzaddikim*

(to give good reward to the tzaddikim who sustain the world that was created with ten utterances)

And also "to break, etc." — the service of repentance.

Until we reach the conclusion of the sixth chapter — "The arrogant one will reign forever and ever.*"

And it can be said: the lesson from the above regarding action:

Standing in the seven festive days of the wedding days

(11 Elul and 13 Elul)

And in continuation of the day of the founding of Tomchei Temimim Yeshiva,

— which this year marks 100 years since the founding of the yeshiva,

and a jubilee of years

(fifty years)

since the yeshiva was transplanted into the lower hemisphere

(in the United States)

In addition to the fact that it is the month of Elul,

And this itself — the eve of 18 Elul,

which infuses vitality into the service of the month of Elul —

it is most fitting and appropriate that each person should increase in his service in the three pillars: Torah, service, and acts of kindness.

And in particular: to increase in the study of Torah in general,

and in particular in Chassidus,

which has a special connection to these days specifically

[in addition to the connection of the month of Elul in general to the study of the inner dimensions of Torah — because then is the revelation of "the light of the King's countenance life,"

"Seek My face, Your face, Hashem, do I seek"¹⁰⁰

(בחי¹⁰¹ יחידה)

And if the vessel to receive is specifically through the study of the inner dimension of the Torah

(סתים דאורייתא)

Which through this one attains the hidden aspect of the Holy One, blessed be He²",

And especially through the teachings of Chassidus — the aspect of yechidah¹⁰⁴]

An addition in the study of Chassidus of our Rabbis, the Nesi'im in general,

and in particular — in the Torah of Chassidus of the Baal Shem Tov and of the Alter Rebbe,

and of the Rebbe n''e,

including — studying his above-mentioned sicha beginning with "All who go out to the war of the House of David,"

and especially — in the Chassidic discourses of His Holiness, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, Nasi of our generation,

including and particularly — in connection with the wedding — studying the wedding discourses of our Rabbis, the Nesi'im, which explain the concept of the wedding,

and in particular — the wedding discourses that were said in connection with the wedding of His Holiness, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, may his merit protect us,

700 Sefer HaSichos

Admor,

Beginning with the well-known series "Sameach Tismach" the great.

And how good — that in addition to one's own increase in the study of Chassidus,

One should introduce, wherever possible, new public classes in the study of Chassidus

(In addition to strengthening and adding to the previously established classes)

In this comes additional vitality — from the new book that has just been printed

(And arrived from the binder on erev Shabbos).

— It is human nature that a new thing evokes special vitality and affection — Sefer Drushei Chassidus of the Middle Rebbe, of blessed memory.

And with Divine Providence — it speaks immediately at the beginning of the book about a matter of a wedding: In explaining the subject of the kindling of the Menorah — he explains that regarding this it stands "Vayikchu eilecha"

(to Moshe)

Although the kindling was done by Aharon — because for this one needed Moshe and Aharon,

the groomsman of the King and the groomsman of the Matronita⁶.

"And the explanation is, for example, the groomsmen who bring and unite the groom and bride,

and there is one groomsman who is designated to bring the bride to the groom's room for yichud,

And the second groomsman who brings the groom to the bride.

And this is only at the time and moment of the wedding day,

And it is like the matter of lighting candles, etc.".

And in addition to the increase in Torah study,

And especially in Chassidus — one should also increase in the service of prayer,

- 5749

As explained in the later authorities, that in the month of Elul it is a time suitable to increase in prayers and supplications,

And especially in connection with the teachings of Chassidus and the founding of the yeshivah — which is particularly connected with the service of prayer,

As above.

And also — to increase in charity,

as is the custom of Israel to increase charity in the month of Elul•״,

And particularly in these days,

Including — the spiritual charity of his "candles to illuminate" and to illuminate the world,

"to cause His name to dwell there",

to publicize G‑dliness in the world",

through the dissemination of Torah and Judaism and in particular — the dissemination of the wellsprings outward.

In connection with the Seven Days of Feasting and the establishment of the yeshiva — it would also be appropriate that during these days one should make celebrations — Chassidic farbrengens,

In every place where Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim is located,

Starting from the main yeshiva location here in Brooklyn, New York,

And likewise in Eretz Yisrael and in every place where there is a branch of the yeshiva

(Called by the name "Tomchei Temimim" or "Achei Temimim" and the like)

And make the celebrations with a multitude of people and the majesty of the King,

And with the participation of all those who studied in the yeshivah in the past

(That holiness does not move from its place — once one enters the yeshivah, the influence remains forever and ever,

throughout the