בְּמִנְחָה אֵין אוֹמְרִים הוֹדוּ, אַבָל אוֹמְרִים פָּתַח אֵלִיָּהוּ

The psalm beginning Hodu is not recited before the Afternoon Service, but the passage beginning Pasach Eliyahu is recited.

שְׁנַת תּר"ח אָמַר הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק מַאֲמָר עַל פָּסוּק אִם כֶּסֶף תַּלְוֶה גו

In the year 5608 (1848), the Tzemach Tzedek delivered the maamar entitled Im Kesef Talveh — “When you will lend money (lit., ‘silver’)….”

כֶּסֶף הוּא הַנְּשָׁמָה

There he explained that kesef (“silver”) alludes to the soul,

עַל שֵׁם שֶׁהִיא תָּמִיד בְּכוֹסֶף וּתְשׁוּקָה לַעֲלוֹת לְמַעְלָה

for it constantly yearns to ascend,

וּכְדִכְתִיב רוּחַ הָאָדָם הִיא הָעוֹלָה לְמַעְלָה

as it is written, “The spirit of man ascends upward.”

דְּאָדָם הֵם נִשְׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל, אַתֶּם קְרוּיִם אָדָם

The word adam (“man”) refers to the Jewish people, of whom it is said, “You are called man.”

וְהַנְּשָׁמָה נְתוּנָה בְּהַלְוָאָה לְהָאָדָם

Now, the soul is given to a person on loan,

וּכְתִיב יָמִים יוּצָּרוּ גו

as it is written, “Days are created.”

דְּיֵשׁ מִסְפָּר קָבוּעַ כו

[Every individual is allotted] a fixed number of days,

וְחָסֵר יוֹמָא חָדָא חָסֵר לְבוּשָׁא חָדָא

and if one day is lacking [in the mitzvos with which it should have been filled], a garment is lacking [for the soul in Gan Eden].

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

Day 2 of the Omer

הֲרֵי זֶה מְשׁוּבָּח

[The Haggadah states: Vechol harmarbeh lesaper biyetzias Mitzrayim, harei zeh meshubach — lit., “Whoever relates the story of the Exodus from Egypt at length, this [person] is praiseworthy.”]

זֶה, מוֹרֶה עַל מַדְרֵגָה דִקְדוּשָּׁה, הִנֵה אֱלֹקֵינוּ זֶה

[The word] zeh (“this”) denotes a distinct level of holiness, as implied by the phrase, Hinei Elokeinu zeh — “Behold, this is our G‑d.”

וְכָל הַמַּרְבֶּה כו' זֶה שֶׁלּוֹ הוּא מְשׁוּבָּח

When a person tells the story of the Exodus at length, his capacity to perceive G‑dliness [so that he can say “This is it!”] is praiseworthy.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

The 2nd day of the Festival of Matzos, Day 1 of the Omer

לֵיל בּ דְּחַג הַמַּצּוֹת, קְרִיאַת שְׁמַע שֶׁעַל הַמִּטָּה כְּמוֹ בְּכָל יוֹם טוֹב

On the second night of Pesach, the Prayer before Retiring at Night is recited as on other festivals.

גַּם מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אָב, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן

Even a person whose father is (G‑d forbid) no longer alive

אוֹמֵר לִפְנֵי מַה נִּשְׁתַּנָּה

should introduce the Four Questions by saying:

טאַטעֶ אִיךְ וועֶל בּאַ דִיר פְרעֶגעֶן פִיר קַשְׁיוֹת

Tatte, ich vel ba dir fregn fir kashes — “Father, I’m going to ask you four questions.”

וְסְמוּכוֹת לָזֶה

Support for this practice can be found

שֶׁגַּם מִי שֶׁאֵין לוֹ אָב וְאֵם, רַחֲמָנָא לִצְלָן

Even a person whose parents are (G‑d forbid) no longer alive

צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר בְּבִרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן

should say, in the Grace after Meals.

הָרַחֲמָן הוּא יְבָרֵךְ אֶת אָבִי מוֹרִי כו' אִמִּי מוֹרָתִי כו

“May the Merciful One bless my father and teacher…, and my mother and teacher….”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

The 1st day of the Festival of Matzos

לְמָרוֹר וַחֲזֶרֶת - הֵן חְרֵיין וְהֵן סאַלאַט

Horseradish and romaine lettuce are both used for both the maror and the chazeres.

קִדּוּשׁ בַּעֲמִידָה

Kiddush is recited while standing.

הֵא לַחְמָא - הַהֵא בְּצֵירֵי

The first word in the phrase Hei lachma anya is vocalized with a tzeirei [rather than a kamatz].

בְּבִרְכַּת אֲכִילַת מָרוֹר מְכַוְנִים גַּם עַל מָרוֹר שֶׁבַּכּוֹרֵךְ

When reciting the blessing al achilas maror, one should also have in mind the maror in the korech.

בַּסֵּדֶר הָרִאשׁוֹן הָיָה אַאַמוּ"ר מְקַצֵר בִּכְדֵי לֶאֱכוֹל הָאֲפִיקוֹמָן לִפְנֵי חֲצוֹת

During the first Seder, my revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], would limit [his oral commentary on the Haggadah], so that the Afikoman could be eaten before midnight.

אֲבָל בַּשֵּׁנִי הָיָה מַאֲרִיךְ

On the second night, by contrast, he would elaborate.

מַתְחִיל לִפְנֵי שָׁעָה ט וְגוֹמְרוֹ בְּשָׁעָה ג-ד אַחַר חֲצוֹת

[The second Seder] would begin before 9 p.m. and conclude between 3 and 4 a.m.

וְהָיָה מַאֲרִיךְ בְּבֵיאוּר הַהַגָּדָה

He would explain the Haggadah at length.

אַדְמוּ"ר הַזָּקֵן אָמַר

The Alter Rebbe once said:

מֵיכְלָא דִמְהֵימְנוּתָא — לַיְלָה הָרִאשׁוֹן

“On the first night, matzah is ‘the bread of faith.’

מֵיכְלָא דְאַסְוָתָא — לַיְלָה הַשֵּׁנִי

On the second night, it is ‘the bread of healing.’

אַז דִי רְפוּאָה בְּרֵיינְגט דִי אֱמוּנָה

When healing leads to faith,

וואָס עֶר זאָגט אַ דאַנק דִיר ג-ט פאַר מַיין רְפוּאָה

in that a person says, ‘I thank You, G‑d, for my recovery,’

אִיז עֶר דאָך געֶוועֶן קראַנק

he was, nevertheless, sick.

אָבּעֶר אַז דִי אֱמוּנָה בְּרֵיינְגט דִי רְפוּאָה

But when faith generates healing,

אִיז מעֶן לְכַתְּחִלָּה נִיט קְראַנק

a person is not sick in the first place.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

בְּדִיקַת חָמֵץ אַחַר תְּפִלַּת עַרְבִית

The search for chametz takes place after the Evening Service.

בְּבֵית רַבֵּנוּ נוֹהֲגִים שֶׁלֹּא לַעֲשׂוֹת אֶת הָרַב לְמוּרְשֶׁה

In the household of the Rebbe, it was customary not to appoint the rav as an agent to sell the chametz,

אֶלָּא לִמְכּוֹר לוֹ אֶת הֶחָמֵץ וּבְעָרֵב קַבְּלָן

but rather to sell him the chametz, [confirming the transaction even in such a case by] a fully-responsible guarantor.

בַּאֲפִיַּת הַשְּׁמוּרָה עֶרֶב פֶּסַח אַחַר חֲצוֹת, הָיָה אַאַמוּ"ר נוֹכֵחַ

My revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], used to be present when the shemurah-matzah was baked after midday on the eve of Pesach.

וְאוֹמֵר גַּם כֵּן הַלֵּל

He would join in the Hallel [that is customarily recited at that time],

וְהָיָה מַפְסִיק — גַּם בְּאֶמְצַע פֶּרֶק

but would interrupt his recitation — even in the midst of a chapter —

לְהוֹרוֹת בְּהַנּוֹגֵעַ לְהַלִּישָׁה, אֲפִיָּה וּכְהַאי גַּוְנָא

to give directions regarding the kneading, the baking, and the like.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

הִלּוּלָא שֶׁל כְּבוֹד קְדוּשַּׁת הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק.

[This date is] the anniversary of the passing of the Rebbe, the Tzemach Tzedek,

נִסְתַּלֵּק שְׁנַת תּרכ"ו בְּליוּבּאַוִויטְש, וְשָׁם מְנוּחָתוֹ כָּבוֹד

who passed away in 5626 (1866) in Lubavitch and was brought to rest there.

מִסִּפּוּרֵי אַאַזְמוּ"ר

My revered grandfather, [the Rebbe Maharash,] related

הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק הִתְחִיל לִכְתּוֹב נִגְלָה וְדִבְרֵי אֱלֹקִים חַיִּים בִּהְיוֹתוֹ בֶּן שְׁתֵּים עֶשְׂרֵה שָׁנָה

that [his father,] the Tzemach Tzedek, began writing [his novellae on] nigleh and Chassidus when he was twelve years old.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com

הפטורה: וְאַרְבָּעָה אֲנָשִׁים

[On Shabbos Parshas Metzora], the haftarah begins Ve’arbaah anashim (II Melachim 7:3-20).

בְּמִנְחָה: עֲבָדִים הָיִינוּ

[On Shabbos HaGadol, after] Minchah, [we read part of the Haggadah, from] Avadim hayinu [until lechaper al kol avonoseinu].

מִזְּמַן יְצִיאַת מִצְרַיִם נִקְרְאוּ בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל צִבְאוֹת ה

Ever since the time of the Exodus from Egypt, the Jewish people have been called Tzivos HaShem, “G‑d’s army.”

הַהֶפְרֵשׁ בֵּין עֲבָדִים — שֶׁנִּקְרְאוּ כֵן בְּנֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל — וּצְבָאוֹת הוּא

The Jewish people are [also] called servants. The difference between servants and an army [can be explained as follows]:

עֶבֶד עוֹשֶׂה עֲבוֹדַת רַבּוֹ — וּבָזֶה כַּמָּה דַּרְגוֹת

A servant performs work for his master on various levels —

נוֹקֵב מַרְגָּלִיּוֹת, עוֹשֶׂה שְׁאָר מְלָאכוֹת, עוֹשֶׂה מְלָאכוֹת פְּשׁוּטוֹת

one pierces pearls, one works in other crafts, another carries out unskilled tasks.

וְיֵשׁ בָּזֶה יְגִיעָה וְעָמָל רַב, אֲבָל אֵין זֶה עִנְיָן שֶׁל מְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ

These involve considerable labor and effort, but no element of self-sacrifice.

צָבָא הֵם עֲבָדִים שֶׁעוֹבְדִים בִּיגִיעָה רַבָּה וְעָמָל וּבִמְסִירַת נֶפֶשׁ

An army, by contrast, is comprised of subjects who expend toil and exertion and self-sacrifice,

הֵן בְּמִלְחֶמֶת הֲגָנָה וְהֵן בְּמִלְחֶמֶת תְּנוּפָה

whether in a defensive war or an offensive one.

וְעוֹמְדִים עַל מִשְׁמַרְתָּם בְּתַכְלִית הַתּוֹקֶף מִבְּלִי הִתְפָּעֵל מֵהַמְּנַגֵּד וְשׂוֹנֵא

[Soldiers] discharge their duties with utter resoluteness, unperturbed by their opponents and enemies.

וַעֲבוֹדָתָם זוֹ אֵינָהּ עִנְיָן שֶׁל הֲשָּׂגָה, כִּי הֵם מִתְנַהֲגִים עַל פִּי הוֹרָאַת מַצְבִּיאָם

Their service does not depend on [their] understanding, for they follow the orders of their commanders.

וְהִנֵּה נִשְׁמוֹת יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּמִצְרַיִם הָיוּ בְּתַכְלִית הַשִּׁפְלוּת בְּעִינּוּיִם קָשִׁים וּמָרִים

In Egypt, the souls of the Jewish people were on the lowest of levels, [due to] the harsh and bitter afflictions.

וְעִם זֶה לֹא שִׁנּוּ שְׁמָם וּלְשׁוֹנָם וּלְבוּשֵׁיהֶם

Nevertheless, they did not change their names, language, or dress.

וְעָמְדוּ עַל מִשְׁמַרְתָּם בְּתַכְלִית הַחוֹזֶק

On the contrary, they held their ground with the utmost tenacity,

כִּי יָדְעוּ שֶׁהַקָּדוֹשׁ בָּרוּךְ הוּא הִבְטִיחַ לִגְאוֹל אוֹתָם

for they knew that G‑d had promised to redeem them.

וְהַמִּתְנַהֵג כָּזֶה בְּמַצָּב זֶה הוּא מִצְּבָא ה

A person who conducts himself thus in a similar situation is a member of G‑d’s army.

דְּה' עוֹזְרוֹ בְּדֶרֶךְ מִלְמַעְלָה מִן הַטֶּבַע בַּטֶבַע

G‑d helps him in a way that transcends nature, but [that is vested] within nature.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

For questions and follow-up: cablejew@gmail.com