English translation — חלק משיחת ש״פ בראשית, מבה״ח וער״ח מרחשון ה׳תש״ג

— regarding the “sale of mitzvos” -

It is known the custom in all the communities of Israel that on Shabbos Bereishis they “sell” the mitzvos that belong to the synagogue — aliyos to the Torah,

the lifting and rolling of the Sefer Torah,

opening the ark,

and also the rights of “ner l’maor” and “yayin l’kiddush v’havdalah”¹,

and so forth.

And the reason for the custom — simply — is that on Shabbos Bereishis the order of reading the Torah portions for the entire year begins anew.

that on every Shabbos we read one portion in the Torah,

until the completion of the entire Torah on Simchas Torah b''h²,

and therefore this is the appropriate time to sell the "mitzvos" that pertain to the reading of the Torah

(and likewise the other "mitzvos" that pertain to the synagogue and study hall)

for the entire year.

And in particular, according to the well-known saying⁵ "As one sets oneself up on Shabbos Bereishis, so goes the entire year,"

that is,

that Shabbos Bereishis is a general matter for the entire year.

And one must add in explaining the connection of this custom to Shabbos Bereishis:

Shabbos Bereishis is also connected with the renewal of the existence of the world⁴ — "In the beginning G-d created

the heavens and the earth"⁵,

that is,

that on it is infused the power for the service in the world throughout the entire year,

to bring about that it be noticeable in the world that "In the beginning G-d created",

"for the sake of the Torah and for the sake of Israel"⁶.

And it is also emphasized by the fact that Shabbos Bereishis is always also Shabbos Mevarchim the month of Mar-Cheshvan — because,

In the month of Mar-Cheshvan

(After the conclusion of the month of Tishrei, the one 'abundant in festivals')

the main service in the world begins,

And therefore,

the extension of blessing for this month is from Shabbos Bereishis,

to emphasize that the service in the world must be infused with the concept of 'Bereishis bara Elokim',

as above.

And it could be said,

that this matter is also expressed in the custom of the "Mitzvah Auction":

The procedure in the "Mitzvah Auction" – that the buyers compete among themselves who will give a larger sum for this mitzvah,

and the one who wins that mitzvah,

is

the one who gives from his money the largest amount for the needs of the synagogue and study hall.

And accordingly, one must explain the reason for the "Mitzvah Auction"

("Sale" specifically,

that its essence is to the Holy One)

On Shabbat Bereishit — in order to emphasize that the going out into the world,

to engage in business

Sefer HaSichos - 5750

and give, that through this he will profit money,

it is,

in order to "acquire mitzvahs",

that is,

so that he can increase giving silver and gold for the needs of the synagogue and study hall,

and through this this intention will be drawn to him throughout the entire year,

that his involvement in worldly matters will be permeated with the primary intention — to increase giving silver and gold for the needs of the synagogue and study hall

(and similarly for other matters of charity)

and in general — that his involvement in worldly matters is for the sake of holy matters,

Torah and its commandments,

for this is the content of the synagogue and study hall,

in which one increases prayer and increases Torah,

and likewise charity and acts of kindness,

which include all aspects of divine service.

And in greater detail — regarding the unique virtue of participation in the maintenance and needs of the synagogue and study hall:

The synagogue and study hall are called 'a small Sanctuary'¹⁰ — in the manner and likeness of the Holy Temple.

And from this it is understood,

that giving money for the synagogue and study hall is in the manner and likeness of the donation for the Tabernacle and the Temple,

"gold and silver, etc."

(all thirteen or fifteen items² that Bnei Yisrael donated for the Mishkan)

and further and primarily — the close preparation for the building of the Third Beis Hamikdash,

which,

although it is "the structure of the Holy One, Blessed be He,"

"the Sanctuary of Ad-n-ai, Your hands established"⁴,

is "the work of the righteous"¹⁵

("And Your people are all righteous"¹⁶)

since it comes

and is revealed through "our deeds and our service",

and especially in matters of service relating to the Holy Temple,

beginning from the maintenance of the "Minor Sanctuary".

And this is the preparation for going out to work in worldly matters throughout the entire year — that it be permeated with the primary intention to make for Him a dwelling place in the lower realms¹⁸,

in the manner and likeness of the indwelling of the Shechinah in the Mishkan and Temple,

from which light goes out to the entire world".

Based on this, there is an additional reason for the custom of selling the mitzvos on Shabbos Bereishis,

which is also the Shabbos Mevorchim for Mar-Cheshvan — in connection and relation to the building of the Beis HaMikdosh HaShlishi:

The building of the Beis HaMikdosh HaShlishi is particularly connected to the month of Mar-Cheshvan

(which is blessed from Shabbos Bereishis²⁰)

— as explained in Midrash Chazal²¹ that the first Beis HaMikdosh was completed in the month of Mar-Cheshvan but was not inaugurated until the following Tishrei

("When the House was built in the month of Bul, it was locked up for twelve months, etc.")

And therefore, "The Holy One, blessed be He, will repay him,"

That the dedication of the Third Beis HaMikdash will be in the month of MarCheshvan²².

Shabbos Parshas Bereishis, Mevorchim HaChodesh, and Erev Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan

And we can say,

That this matter is also alluded to in the custom of selling the mitzvos on the Shabbos when we bless the month of MarCheshvan — since the upkeep of the synagogue and study hall

(the important part of which comes through "the selling of the mitzvos")

is a close preparation for the building and dedication of the Third Beis HaMikdash in the month of MarCheshvan.

And the deed is the main thing²³:

As is customary every year — they will now sell the mitzvos of this synagogue and study hall,

which,

being the synagogue and study hall of the Rebbe, my father-in-law, the Rebbe, leader of our generation,

where he studied and prayed and engaged in charity and acts of kindness,

and from it he disseminated all matters of Torah and its commandments,

until the spreading of the wellsprings outward,

In the entire world,

During the last ten years of his life in this world,

And 'holiness does not move from its place'"²,

And on the contrary,

It continues to increase with greater intensity and greater strength until this very day — it is understood,

That all that was said above is with extra emphasis regarding the "selling of mitzvos" of this synagogue and this study hall.

And as usual — the selling of mitzvos will be done by the 'gabbai',

And wearing a "shtreimel",

To emphasize the superiority and importance of the appointment to the position of "Gabbai" — all the more so from that which "even the head of a threshing floor is appointed from heaven"²³,

And all the more so the appointment as "Gabbai" in the synagogue and the study hall

(and especially in the synagogue and study hall of the Nasi of our generation)

And as is known, "Gabbai" is an acronym.

Ana b'koach, greatness of Your right hand—\

that receives,

"strength" from "Your right hand's greatness",

And therefore,

The "gabbai" has the power to arouse the congregation to give from their funds for the needs of the synagogue and the study hall.

And among the ways through which they arouse the congregation — the public announcement,

According to the directive "It is a mitzvah to publicize those who perform a mitzvah",

Through this is added also the advantage of "the envy of scribes"²⁷,

That each one will endeavor to increase and multiply the giving of silver and gold to the synagogue and study hall even more than what he resolved previously,

And whoever increases is praiseworthy.

And may it be His will — and this is the main point — that even before the "sale of the mitzvos," our righteous Moshiach will already come,

And immediately and at once the prophecy will be fulfilled, "The time for judgment: the synagogues and study halls that are in Bavel

(and all the more so the shul and beis medrash of the Nasi of our generation)

will be established in Eretz Yisrael."•²,

- together with the gabbaim and all the congregants,

the men, women, and children,

"with our youth and our elders, etc., with our sons and our daughters"²,

and "their silver and their gold with them""³,

They are in the spiritual realm

(love and awe³¹,

which include all matters of Torah and mitzvos³²)

And they are in the physical realm literally,

including also the private homes that have become houses of Torah, prayer and charity, in the manner and example of "Mikdash Me'at" –

And the continuation of the "sale of the mitzvos" of "Mikdash Me'at" will be in the main "Mikdash" – the Third Beis HaMikdash

(which will be built speedily in our very days,

even before Rosh Chodesh MarCheshvan/ and in total perfection,

Like all matters of the commandments that are "according to the commandment of Your will"³³,

And as mentioned,

Immediately and speedily, literally.

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