English translation — שיחה ל"צבאות השם" שיחיו - יום ג' פ' נשא, ז"ך אייר התשד"מ - בבית הכנסת אחרי תפלת מנחה

They recited the twelve verses and the sayings of our Sages.

Afterwards they sang the melody "Vi vont Moshiach now".¹

Whenever Jews,

and especially when Jewish children, gather together — this is a joy because they all stand "all of us as one"²,

A joy here below,

among Jews and among the children.

And what is even more important — a joy to the One Above Himself,

as the Alter Rebbe related and transmitted,

and the Rebbe, the father-in-law, the Nasi of our generation, publicized it and ordered it to be printed³ — that when Jews gather together and the One Above sees that they are together,

He has a special joy and it is a special "time of favor",

and He then adds more in His blessings for each Jew and for all Jews,

beginning with those who have gathered together.

This is the very great achievement and very great blessing and success from the One Above in every gathering of "Tzivos Hashem"

(and Jews in general)

— when He sees how Jews,

the children of Avraham, Yitzchak and Yaakov and the children of Sarah, Rivkah, Rachel and Leah⁵,

have gathered together from different places,

from different homes,

from different houses,

and not looking at the difference — they gather together "as one man with one heart"⁶,

with the same desire,

to increase further in matters of Judaism,

in learning Torah and fulfilling mitzvos,

And to increase — in addition to oneself — also with other children. As you just said that "You shall love your fellow as yourself"⁸ is a "great principle in the Torah"⁹ — therefore one must also increase with other children,

a boy should influence another boy,

and a girl should influence another girl

(or more than one),

so that they too should unite "as one man with one heart",

with the same resolution,

to increase and rise further in all matters of Torah and His mitzvos⁷,

and to do this with joy and a good heart.

The great achievement of gathering together is further emphasized in "Tzivos Hashem",

who have the special mission

(special "mission")

from the "Commander-in-Chief",

our Father in Heaven,

the One Above Himself — that one should carry out what every army must carry out — to be victorious in the war they wage,

and regarding "Tzivos Hashem" this means — to be victorious in the war against the evil inclination.

And therefore,

when an even larger army gathers,

and with more strength,

vigor and vitality — it is understood,

that this then gives power that the victory over the evil inclination should be greater,

until the evil inclination becomes completely nullified.

And since there are the confusions of the evil inclination — one can add more in good resolutions to rise ever more and higher in all matters of Judaism.

The above applies to every gathering,

and to every gathering of "Tzivos Hashem" in particular.

In addition, there is also that which distinguishes one gathering from another.

And in particular a gathering that takes place in the days of preparation for the time of the Giving of our Torah,

on the festival of Shavuos,

when Jewish children have a special mission and role and a very great responsibility,

in addition to what they have all year and especially at every gathering:

Generally, at every gathering it is said that the children must first increase with themselves and then also with "your fellow as yourself";

When, however, a gathering of children takes place in these days that are a preparation for the Giving of the Torah — then a reversed order is emphasized,

that first of all they have a mission and a merit,

and consequently also a very great responsibility — to increase for the entire Jewish people,

and only then comes that which he does for himself.

The explanation of this:

At the first time of the giving of the Torah¹⁰

(through Moshe Rabbeinu)

the Almighty said,

that in order for Him to give the Torah to every Jew and to all Jews,

in all generations and in all places,

He needs to have a "guarantor" for this,

a "surety",

whom He

(the Almighty)

will trust,

and in whose merit He will give the Torah to every Jew and to all Jews,

in all generations and places,

beginning from the first time of the giving of the Torah to Moshe Rabbeinu and to the entire Jewish people.

Who were these "sureties" whom the Almighty accepted and because of whom there was the giving of the Torah — the Torah tells us,

that various sureties were proposed to the Almighty,

but the sureties whom the Almighty accepted and because of whom He then gave the Torah and the Jews received the Torah — were the Jewish children of that generation.

From this it is understood that the Jewish children in all generations,

until also in our generation and the generations after this,

are the "sureties" for the Torah,

that the Torah should be given to all Jews.

That is, that every year when Jews begin to prepare for the festival of Shavuos,

the time of the giving of our Torah — the preparation for this consists — first of all — of this, that Jewish children resolve,

that they will conduct themselves as the Almighty wants in their daily life,

the entire year,

beginning from learning Torah as the Almighty wants,

and fulfilling the mitzvos as the Almighty wants,

and "all your deeds shall be for the sake of Heaven"¹¹,

all their actions should be for the sake of Heaven,

As you just said "For this matter is very near to you, in your mouth and in your heart, to do it"¹²:

Both in your speech

("in your mouth"),

and even in your thoughts

("in your heart")

and all the more so in your actions

("to do it")

— "it is very near to you", all the things that the Almighty has commanded you,

it will be near,

and it will be seen upon each one of you that this is near to him.

And through that which Jewish children take upon themselves their "suretyship",

and fulfill the "suretyship",

and out of joy and goodness of heart — this becomes the proper preparation for the time of the giving of our Torah for every Jew and all Jews.

From this is understood the uniqueness of this gathering — which takes place in the days before and as a preparation for the time of the giving of our Torah:

In this gathering of "Tzivos Hashem"

(which takes place before the time of the giving of our Torah)

there is first and foremost emphasized that which every Jewish child does on behalf of the entire Jewish people

(that they should all be able to receive the Torah from the Almighty),

and only afterwards comes that which he does for himself.

And from this we have the lesson of the gathering:

When one contemplates the undertaking of this gathering,

a gathering of Jewish children that comes as a preparation for the giving of the Torah,

that they are the "sureties" that all Jews should receive the Torah — it is therefore understood the mission and the greatness of the merit and the responsibility that every Jewish child has —

That it is expected from every Jewish child,

those who are here and those who are in all corners of the earth,

wherever it may be — that they must provide the true "suretyship",

that the entire year,

and the entire life,

they will conduct themselves as is proper,

in the way of the Torah and His mitzvos,

both "in your mouth",

and "in your heart" and "to do it"

(as above),

And then the entire Jewish people,

every Jew,

wherever he may be found, including

(including)

also — the children's parents,

teachers,

guides,

and all who belong to the Jewish people — can receive the Torah at the time of the giving of our Torah!

Through the fact that you,

Jewish children,

prepare yourselves as is proper for the Time of the Giving of our Torah — this becomes the proper preparation for the Time of the Giving of our Torah for every Jew,

and then the entire world also prepares,

and all things in the world,

both in "heaven" and in "earth" — all of which the Supreme One created,

"In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth" — that they should also "help" all those "guarantors"

(areivim)

so that they can fulfill their "areivus" to the fullest extent.

And then the "Tzivos Hashem",

and after them — all Jewish children,

together with all Jews in general — go to receive the Torah at the Time of the Giving of our Torah,

being certain that the true "areivim" have been provided with the true "areivus".

And then is also fulfilled that which was read two Shabbosos before Shavuos — "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and perform them"¹³,

then the Supreme One gives all the blessings as subsequently enumerated in the verse.

Until "and I will walk you upright"¹⁴:

Every Jew and all Jews,

beginning from very young children,

walk with a pride in that they are Jews,

and especially Jewish children — in that the Supreme One has accepted their "areivus",

and through this He will give the Torah to the entire world,

beginning with His Jewish people.

And this also becomes the preparation,

that very soon there will be "and I will walk you upright",

that the Supreme One leads each one of us,

and each one of the entire Jewish people in every place,

with a raised head¹⁵,

and "with an upraised arm"¹⁶ with a raised hand — to greet our righteous Moshiach,

"now",

with joy and a good heart,

in the true and complete redemption.

In every matter,

and especially a matter that encompasses so many

(without the evil eye)

Jewish children in this same gathering,

every detail

(peret)

thereof is with Divine Providence,

as emphasized by the Baal Shem Tov regarding the matter of Divine Providence¹⁷,

How every thing that occurs in the world,

and certainly in a very open and strong manner — things that connect and belong to and affect so many Jewish children together — every detail thereof contains within itself a content and a lesson as to how to serve the Supreme One even better,

and regarding those who belong to "Tzivos Hashem" — how to be an even better "soldier"

(chayal)

in "Tzivos Hashem",

to fulfill all the instructions and commands of the Supreme One,

Who is the "Commander-in-Chief".

The gathering takes place in the days when one prepares for the Time of the Giving of our Torah. This itself can be in many ways,

on different days of the week,

on different days of the month,

in different parts of the study of the weekly portion that is learned on that day

(which depends on which day of the week and which weekly portion is read that week),

and in different chapters of Tehillim that are recited on that day,

according to the enactment

(beginning from the Baal Shem Tov until transmitted by the father-in-law of the Nasi of our generation¹⁸)

to recite specific chapters of Tehillim each day of the month.

According to the above,

that Divine Providence determines all details in the world,

it is certain that Divine Providence determines and places a lesson in the details that are connected with Torah,

It is therefore understood that this is certainly so regarding the aforementioned details when the gathering takes place — in which part of the portion

(in the Torah),

which depends on the day of the week on which the gathering takes place;

and also — which chapters of Tehillim are recited on that day,

which depends on the day of the month on which the gathering takes place.

These matters are certainly with Divine Providence,

in order that one may learn from them how to serve the Supreme One even better.

The gathering takes place on the 27th of the month

(Iyar),

the twenty-seventh day of the month Iyar;

and on the third day, which was doubled with "it was good"¹⁹ of Parshas Nasso,

when one then learns from the third aliyah until the fourth aliyah in Parshas Nasso.

The lesson from the chapters of Tehillim on the 27th of the month:

The chapters of the day in the month are the fifteen "Shir HaMaalos",

fifteen chapters each of which begins with the words "Shir HaMaalos"

(or similar words).

The meaning of "Shir HaMaalos" - from which one learns how to ascend further in serving the Most High:

"Shir" is a sign that shows that the person

(who sings)

is joyous,

which then comes out of him also in song. This teaches a Jew that his service must be with joy and a good heart.

And the "Shir"

(joy)

is connected with "HaMaalos":

"Maalos" means steps²⁰. That is, in the service of a Jew:

No matter how good and how high he has stood in being a good Jew and a good Jewish child and a good "soldier" of "Tzivos Hashem" - he is not satisfied with that, and he continues in "HaMaalos",

he continues going up steps,

ever higher and higher "from strength to strength"²¹.

And even if there are many steps,

nevertheless the ascent on the steps is connected with effort - he does it in the manner of "Shir HaMaalos",

with joy,

knowing that the effort is worthwhile,

because through this he brings special pleasure to our Father in Heaven.

And through this there is even more addition to the blessings of the Most High to every Jew and to all Jews,

beginning with those who caused the joy to the Most High through their "Shir HaMaalos".

When one prepares to ascend ever higher and higher in being a good Jewish child - one must make a reckoning with oneself,

that one conducts oneself and has conducted oneself as is fitting for this,

so that one can ascend ever higher and higher.

Because sometimes it happens that due to the confusions,

the turmoil of the evil inclination during the course of the year - there were things that were not done,

or that were done not in the proper way.

Regarding this the Torah says - in the portion of today's sedra,

from the third to the fourth aliyah in Parshas Nasso²² - "And they shall confess their sin":

The Most High gave every Jew,

beginning with very young children,

the mitzvah of teshuvah. And "teshuvah" means to return²³,

one turns around with one's face and one's heart,

and with joy,

to the Most High,

to Whom they do teshuvah.

It states in today's Chumash lesson that the Most High gave every Jew the power that when he confesses,

he makes a reckoning,

he acknowledges and resolves to rectify "their sin",

Which also has the meaning - that which he lacked²⁴,

that he fills what he lacks,

and fills in a manner of completion and perfection,

so that in addition to his conduct from now on and onward being in the fullest measure,

it will also be in perfection,

in a perfect manner -

Then the Most High says that He accepts the "vidui".

As brought and mentioned many times - that "nothing stands before teshuvah"²⁵,

teshuvah accomplishes everything,

Until, as the Rambam²⁶ writes,

that through teshuvah one becomes beloved to the Most High even more than before one did the teshuvah - "Before they call, I will answer"²⁷:

Even before one comes to the Most High with a request for a special blessing,

it is already "I will answer",

because the Most High knows what one wants to ask of Him,

He fulfills the request even before one asks it.

Which is actualized when a Jewish child or adult has "and they shall confess their sin",

they do teshuvah.

And then the Most High fulfills all their requests,

including also those mentioned earlier - that the preparations for Kabbalas HaTorah should be in the best way,

And - that one should succeed in the "Maalos",

to go ever higher,

in all these matters of goodness and Judaism,

and to do so with joy,

with a song.

And for that which the Most High fulfills all the requests of a Jew - one thanks Him for it. Which is connected with the lesson in the Rambam of today,

as further explained.

Recently, it was introduced that even children should learn a lesson in Rambam every day,

according to set lessons each day.

And since everything is with Divine Providence, it is understood that the lesson in Rambam of this day is with Divine Providence.

In today's lesson in Rambam,

in Sefer HaMitzvot and in the book "Yad HaChazakah," it discusses one single mitzvah. Since this is with Divine Providence

(that on this day it should discuss only one mitzvah),

it is understood how important the mitzvah is and how much it is relevant and takes hold of "in your mouth and in your heart to do it" of this day and of the days that come afterward, which are influenced and receive the influence from this day.

The one and only mitzvah in today's lesson in Rambam - which you have certainly already learned today

(or will learn)

- is "a positive commandment from the Torah to bless after eating a meal, as it is said: 'And you shall eat and be satisfied and bless the L-rd your G-d.'" When one eats a meal and the meal is in a manner of "and you shall be satisfied,"

that one is satiated - then there must be "and you shall bless the L-rd your G-d,"

one recites Grace After Meals and thanks the Almighty for it.

From this one must derive a directive in the service of each individual,

for although this mitzvah is stated specifically regarding eating and regarding Grace After Meals - it was discussed earlier,

that from every thing,

all the more so a thing in Torah,

a "positive commandment from the Torah,"

one must learn from it "in your mouth and in your heart to do it."

The directive from this:

The mitzvah,

which is a "positive commandment from the Torah," each of us learns,

each one of you and each one of the entire world,

and learns it specifically on this day when your lesson and our lesson in this book of legal rulings

("Halachot Halachot")

that the Rambam wrote,

and afterwards requested and implemented that it be studied -

That when the Almighty fulfills his request and gives him his needs

(necessities)

to the extent of a manner of "and you shall be satisfied,"

that he is generally healthy physically and spiritually,

and he has success in all matters,

and also brings blessings into his house, to his parents, and to the entire family - he must recognize from Whom this comes and Who gave it to him,

and he must immediately express his thanks,

through a blessing to the Almighty Who has fulfilled all his needs.

Starting from this, that when one begins the day,

one begins it by saying "I give thanks before You, living and eternal King, for You have returned my soul within me with compassion,

great is Your faithfulness,"

one thanks the Almighty for that He returned the soul in a good manner,

And one then has a living day,

and "Who graces man with knowledge,"

one has a clear mind to study the Almighty's Torah,

and a healthy body to fulfill His mitzvot,

Through the Almighty fulfilling all these needs of man,

including also - removing all things that are confusing to this.

And then one can do the "Song of Ascents" - ascend higher and higher,

and do it with joy and a good heart,

And do it in a manner that "before they call, I will answer,"

that when the Almighty sees that one calls to Him and thanks Him and recognizes the truth,

that He is the source of all blessings - then "I will answer" even before one calls

("before they call").

Including also,

that this hastens even more that which one has just requested from the Almighty,

and with a "song,"

a melody,

that one wants Mashiach "now" - that very soon one will go in the true and complete redemption "with our youths and with our elders, with our sons and with our daughters,"

every Jew and all Jews,

the completeness of the nation,

Together with "if you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments and perform them,"

And it will be "and I will grant peace in the land,"

that one finds a whole land and a peaceful land,

"a land which the L-rd your G-d cares for; the eyes of the L-rd your G-d are always upon it, from the beginning of the year to the end of the year,"

our holy land,

the Land of Israel,

And there is peace even before Moshiach comes,

and immediately Moshiach comes,

"From Zion shall redemption come,"

Moshiach comes "now,"

and they have already settled the land in its completeness,

and moreover - "Hashem your G-d will expand your border,"

And all this comes before "now" literally,

speedily in our days, literally.

In every gathering of "Tzivos Hashem" one conducts that after they all daven Minchah together,

and they also review the thirteen principles and sayings of Chazal from the Oral Torah,

which these two things are the two pillars of Torah and avodah

(this is prayer)

- they conclude with acts of kindness,

by fulfilling the mitzvah of tzedakah,

by giving each of you several "coins"

(coins),

a portion of which you should give for tzedakah.

Thus they have already established all the three pillars upon which the world stands and the world exists,

the three things and supports upon which the entire world holds

(simply),

and the "small world,"

every person.

The matter of tzedakah has a special connection with what was said previously:

Since one must see that every I and all Jews should be able to prepare themselves to receive the Torah,

and Jewish children should prepare their "areivus" as it needs to be - one must therefore see that all Jews should have peace of mind and peace of body to be able to carry this out.

There are, however, unfortunately houses where there is lacking, G-d forbid,

for whatever reason it may be

(for whatever cause it may be),

in peace of mind or in peace of body,

they do not have enough money so that everything should be in a manner of "and you shall eat and be satisfied,"

or not enough money for other needs of a person,

or of the children, G-d forbid,

consequently they do not have full peace of mind and body so that there should be "Shir HaMaalos,"

that one should ascend higher and higher in Judaism,

without any confusions,

troubles and worries,

and on the contrary - specifically with a song.

So what must each of you and each of us do in order to rectify and complete this in the best way?

For this comes the mitzvah of tzedakah:

When one sees someone who lacks something,

and that one has a worry,

a "worry,"

or an incompleteness in his eating,

clothing or in the other needs which he requires - one must help him out by giving him tzedakah,

and also influence another child

(by showing him a living example)

that he too should give tzedakah,

and do this with a song and joy and with a pleasant countenance,

And when the tzedakah reaches him

(immediately,

or a little later)

- this helps him out to nullify that he should not have any worries,

and for him there should be able to be "Shir HaMaalos" in "If you walk in My statutes and keep My commandments,"

because for him and for his children and for his entire household - there is the "and you shall eat and be satisfied,"

he has what to eat,

until becoming satiated.

And through that one gives him tzedakah and he sees that he receives all his needs - this also brings that he thanks the Almighty for having helped him out,

and this strengthens his trust in the Almighty,

and this strengthens even more his joy and his vitality in blessing the Almighty and fulfilling the Almighty's directives,

because he sees that another Jew,

another child,

a third child,

has helped him out

(through the mitzvah of tzedakah)

to remove from him a worry,

or an incompleteness in his needs.

From this is understood the greatness of the matter of tzedakah,

and certainly one must fulfill it himself actually with a song and joy and with a pleasant countenance.

And especially when one will participate in this mitzvah of tzedakah

(participate)

by receiving the coins

(a portion of which will be used for tzedakah)

in a holy place,

in a place where Jews pray and a place where Jews learn,

and a place where Jews resolve to ascend further in all good things,

in matters of Judaism,

as I have now resolved to ascend

("Maalos")

in all good things -

The stone demolishes the coins and charity a special merit and special success that it should reach whom it needs to reach,

and should accomplish in the fullest measure what charity accomplishes.

And in addition to all this, charity accomplishes another essential thing - "Great is charity that brings the redemption closer",

that our righteous Moshiach and the true and complete redemption comes "now",

even earlier than it would have been before performing the mitzvah of charity and mitzvos in general.

Therefore we will now,

as is customary at the conclusion of every gathering,

give each of you three coins:

one to give to charity,

and the other two - to use and do with them in matters of Judaism and good things in general.

In order that this be even more with joy - we will also connect it with joyous melodies.

As is customary at every gathering,

and especially at today's gathering - to sing the melody on the words that we just concluded in the Minchah prayer - "But the righteous will give thanks to Your Name, the upright will dwell in Your presence".

And in order to also connect this with "Love your fellow as yourself" - we will

(before saying "But the righteous")

repeat again

(although we already said it today in the morning)

- that which the Alter Rebbe wrote in the Siddur so that everyone who is connected to a Siddur should begin his day with it - "I hereby accept upon myself the positive commandment of 'Love your fellow as yourself'".

And afterwards we will

(again)

sing that we want Moshiach "now",

which will then be the "He will build the Holy Temple speedily in our days",

speedily in our days, literally.

We will now mention another matter

(which also follows from the above discussion regarding the preparations for the time of the giving of our Torah):

In the preparations for the holiday of Shavuos there should also be a resolution,

and one should prepare for it in a fitting manner - that every child and all children,

even very small children,

or older children,

should be on the first day of Shavuos in the synagogue

("Mikdash Me'at" - minor sanctuary)

at the public Torah reading during the reading of the Ten Commandments.

And especially according to the above that the children are the "guarantors" for that which at the time of the giving of our Torah the Almighty gives the Ten Commandments and the entire Torah anew with renewed vitality to every Jew and all Jews,

for the entire year and also to bring this into the years thereafter,

So it is even more understandable,

that when the children will be at the reading of the Ten Commandments,

this will remind them even more of their "guarantorship",

because a Jewish soul,

even when it is found in a child who has just been born,

is literally "a part of G-d from above",

and when it hears the Ten Commandments it understands it and it becomes engraved and it affects it,

and through it - upon the body - all the entire year.

Therefore every mother and every father,

or an older brother or sister - must see that every child from every Jewish home should be on the first day of Shavuos in the synagogue at the public reading during the reading of the Ten Commandments.

And this should further hasten and further add to the success in all the preparations for Shavuos

(in addition to the preparation of bringing the children to the synagogue for the reading of the Ten Commandments).

And this should also hasten all the blessings from the Almighty which the acceptance of the Torah brings with it.

Until "And I will lead you upright" - the true and complete redemption,

speedily in our days, literally.

[They sang "But the righteous". "We want Moshiach now".

The chazzan sheyichyeh began the melody "May it be His will that the Holy Temple be built speedily in our days and give us our portion in Your Torah".

His Holy Honor the Rebbe shlita gave to the male and female counselors sheyichyu ten-cent coins - to distribute to each and every boy and girl sheyichyu three coins,

one to give to charity,

and the rest - to do with them as they see fit].