Hayom Yom 23 Adar 1 - Rabbonim “the eyes of the community”

הָרַבָּנִים וּבַעֲלֵי תּוֹרָה נִקְרָאִים עֵינֵי הָעֵדָה

The rabbis and the Torah scholars are called “the eyes of the community”

וְרָאשֵׁי אַלְפֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל

and “the heads of the thousands of Israel.”

וּכְשֶׁהָרֹאשׁ הוּא בָּרִיא אַזַי גַּם הַגּוּף בָּרִיא

When the head is healthy, the body is also healthy.

Hayom Yom 23 Adar 2 - A Rabbi is standing on the threshold

אַאַמוּ"ר אָמַר לְרָב אֶחָד — בַּעַל עֲבוֹדָה וּמַתְמִיד בְּלִמּוּדוֹ

My revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], once told a certain rabbi who took his Divine service seriously and was a diligent scholar:

אַ רָב בּעֶדאַרף בְּכָל עֵת וּבְכָל רֶגַע געֶדֵיינקעֶן

“At all times and at every moment, a rabbi must remember

אַז תָּמִיד שְׁטֵייט עֶר אוֹיף דעֶם שְׁוועֶל

that he is standing on the threshold

וואָס צְווישׁעֶן מְזַכֵּי הָרַבִּים אוּן חַס וְשָׁלוֹם מַחְטִיאֵי הָרַבִּים

between those who bring merit to the people and those who lead them to sin, Heaven forbid

אוֹיף דעֶם שְׁוועֶל פוּן עוֹמֶק רוֹם אוּן עוֹמֶק תַּחַת

the threshold between the loftiest peaks and the lowest depths.

אוּן אַלעֶ עִנְיָנִים בּעֶדאַרף נוֹגֵעַ זַיין אִין פְּנִימִית נְקוּדַת הַנֶּפֶשׁ מַמָּשׁ

All their concerns must touch the innermost point of his soul,

וַוייל בְּנַפְשׁוֹ הוּא

for his very soul is at stake.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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Hayom Yom 21 Adar 1 - The title Chossid in Chabad

שֵׁם חָסִיד

The title “chassid”

הוּא שֵׁם קָדוּם הַנִּמְצָא בְּדִבְרֵי רַבּוֹתֵינוּ זִכְרוֹנָם לִבְרָכָה

is an ancient term found in the words of our Sages

גַּם עַל אָדָם הָרִאשׁוֹן (עֵרוּבִין יח בּ)

and refers even to Adam, the first man. (Eruvin 18b),

וְהוּא תּוֹאַר הַשְּׁלֵמוּת וְהַהַפְלָגָה אִם בְּשֵׂכֶל אוֹ בְּמִדּוֹת אוֹ בִּשְׁנֵיהֶם יַחְדָּיו

It denotes a person of perfection and distinction in his intellectual attainments or in his character attributes, or in both these qualities combined.

אָמְנָם בְּתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד תּוֹאַר חָסִיד הוּא

Within the teachings of Chabad Chassidus, the description “chassid” refers to

מִי שֶׁמַּכִּיר מְהוּתוֹ הָעַצְמִי

one who recognizes his essential nature,

וּמַעֲמָדוֹ בִּידִיעַת הַתּוֹרָה וְלִמּוּדָהּ

his level of Torah knowledge and study,

וּמַצָּבוֹ בְּקִיּוּם הַמִּצְוֹת

and his status in the observance of the mitzvos.

יוֹדֵעַ הוּא מַה שֶׁחָסֵר לוֹ וְנוֹתֵן לֵב וְדוֹאֵג לְמַלֹּאוֹת אֶת הֶחָסֵר

He knows what he is lacking and shows attention and concern to fulfill it.

וּמַרְבֶּה בְּמִשְׁמַעַת בְּדֶרֶךְ קַבָּלַת עוֹל

And he shows great discipline in yoking himself [to his mission].

Hayom Yom 21 Adar Sheni - The Alter Rebbe gave it to all who study Chassidus

הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק אָמַר בְּסִיּוּם סִפּוּר הַנִּזְכָּר לְעֵיל (כ' אֲדָר שֵׁנִי)

After relaying the narration that appears in the entry for 20 Adar II above, the Tzemach Tzedek said:

זְקֵנִי — רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן — הוּא מֹשֶׁה רַבֵּנוּ דְּתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד

“My grandfather, the Alter Rebbe, was the Moshe Rabbeinu of the teachings of Chabad Chassidus.

בְּמֹשֶׁה אָמְרוּ רַזַ"ל שֶׁהַתּוֹרָה נִתְּנָה לוֹ, אֶלָּא שֶׁנָּהַג בָּהּ טוּב עַיִן

With regard to Moshe, our Sages said: ‘The Torah was given to him, but he was generous [and gave it to the entire Jewish people].’

אֵשׁ תָּמִיד הָאֱלֹקִי הַנּוֹגֵעַ לְתוֹרַת חֲסִידוּת חַבַּ"ד נָתַן הָרַב הַמַּגִּיד לִזְקֵנִי

The Maggid [of Mezritch] gave my grandfather the constant Divine fire of the teachings of Chassidus Chabad.

וּזְקֵנִי נָהַג בָּהּ טוּב עַיִן וַיִּתְּנָהּ לְכָל הָעוֹסְקִים בְּתוֹרַת הַחֲסִידוּת

My grandfather was generous with it and gave it to all those whose study Chassidus.

בָּרוּר לִי אֲשֶׁר כָּל הַלּוֹמֵד עִם חֲבֵרוֹ וּמְעוֹרֵר בּוֹ אֶת הָאֵשׁ תָּמִיד הָאֱלֹקִי

“It is clear to me that whoever teaches a fellow Jew and arouses in him the constant G‑dly fire

הִנֵּה שְׂכָרוֹ אִתּוֹ אֲשֶׁר זְכוּתוֹ זֶה לֹא תִכְבֶּה לָעַד

will receive his just reward; his merit will never be extinguished.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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Hayom Yom 19 Adar 1 - Thoroughly knowledgeable in the Tanach

הַחֲסִידִים, אֲפִילוּ הַבֵּינוּנִים, הָיוּ בְּקִיאִים בְּתַּנַ"ךְ

Chassidim, even those of average spiritual stature, used to be thoroughly knowledgeable in the Tanach.

וּמִנְהָג מְסוּדָּר הָיָה אֶצְלָם

it was their regular custom

אֲשֶׁר אַחַר לִמּוּד שִׁעוּר מִשְׁנָיוֹת שֶׁאַחֲרֵי תְּפִלַּת שַׁחֲרִית

After their [daily] study of Mishnayos following the Morning Service,

בְּשַׁעַת קְפִילַת הַטַּלִית וּתְפִילִין

while putting away their tallis and tefillin.

הָיוּ אוֹמְרִים שִׁעוּר בְּתַּנַ"ךְ

to read chapters of Tanach

בְּאוֹפֶן אֲשֶׁר בְּמֶשֶׁךְ שְׁלֹשָׁה חֳדָשִׁים הָיוּ גוֹמְרִים אֶת הַתַּנַ"ךְ

Their schedule enabled them to complete the entire Tanach in three months.

Hayom Yom 19 Adar 2 - The mind’s innate ability to rule the heart

ר' מֹשֶׁה מַייזְלִישׁ סִיפֵּר

R. Moshe Maizlish once related:

דעֶר רֶבִּי (רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן) האָט אוּנז געֶלעֶרעֶנט

“The [Alter] Rebbe taught us

אַז דעֶר אָלֶף פוּן חֲסִידוּת אִיז

that the starting-point of Chassidus is

אוֹיסצוּנִיצעֶן דִי טִבְעִיּוּת אִין עֲבוֹדָה

the utilization of one’s natural inclinations in his avodah.

אוּן רֵאשִׁית הָעֲבוֹדָה זאָל זַיין אוֹיסְצוּנִיצעֶן דִי טֶבַע הַכֹּחוֹת

And the beginning of avodah is the utilization of the innate nature of one’s faculties;

ווִי לְמָשָׁל דִי טֶבַע פוּן מוֹחַ שַׁלִּיט עַל הַלֵּב

for example, the mind’s innate ability to rule over the heart.”

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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Hayom Yom 18 Adar 1 - Blessing after wine and the seven fruits

בִּבְרָכָה מֵעֵין שָׁלֹשׁ

When reciting the threefold blessing

אִם שָׁתָה יַיִן וְאָכַל פֵּרוֹת מִז' הַמִּינִים

after drinking wine and partaking of any of the seven fruits [with which Eretz Yisrael was blessed],

חוֹתֵם: וְעַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן וְעַל הַפֵּרוֹת

one should conclude: …ve’al pri hagefen ve’al hapeiros.

בָּרוּךְ אַתָּה ה' עַל פְּרִי הַגֶּפֶן וְהַפֵּרוֹת (וְלֹא “וְעַל" הַפֵּרוֹת)

Baruch Atah Ado-nai, [al haaretz ve]al pri hagefen vehapeiros (rather than ve’al hapeiros).

Hayom Yom 18 Adar 2 - Torah with Rashi daily and a Tractate Talmud a year

אַאַזְמוּ"ר כּוֹתֵב בְּאֶחָד מִמַּאֲמָרָיו

My revered grandfather, the Rebbe [Maharash], writes in one of his maamarim:

צְרִיכִים לִלְמוֹד בְּכָל יוֹם תּוֹרָה שֶׁבִּכְתָב עִם פֵּרוּשׁ רַשִׁ"י

Every day, one should study the Written Law with the commentary of Rashi,

שֶׁזֶּהוּ תְּרוּמוֹת מִדְרְשֵׁי רַזַ"ל

because it contains the choicest parts of our Sages’ exegesis [on the Torah]….

וּלְכָל הַפָּחוֹת צָרִיךְ כָּל אֶחָד לִלְמוֹד מַסֶּכֶת גְּמָרָא בְּשָׁנָה

Everyone should also study at least one Talmudic tractate every year.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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Hayom Yom 17 Adar 1 - Amen Yehei Shmei Rabba with fire

אַ סַךְ יאָהרעֶן נאָך פאַר פּעֶטעֶרְבּוּרג (הַמַּאֲסָר שָׁם בִּשְׁנַת תּקנ"ט)

One day, many years before his imprisonment in Petersburg in 5559 [1798],

אִיז דעֶר אַלְטעֶר רֶבִּי אַמאָל אַרוֹיס צוּם עוֹלָם אוּן האָט געֶזאָגְט

the Alter Rebbe stepped out of his study and addressed the chassidim present as follows:

אִין גַּן עֵדֶן דעֶרְהעֶרט מעֶן דִי טַייעֶרקַייט פוּן עוֹלָם הַזֶּה

“In Gan Eden, they appreciate the precious quality of this world.

לֹא מִיבָּעִי מַלְאֲכֵי הַשָּׁרֵת

Not only the ministering angels,

אֲפִילוּ נֶאֱצָלִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים

but even the exalted beings first emanated from the World of Atzilus,

וואָלטעֶן אַלץ אַוועֶק געֶגעֶבּעֶן פאַר אַ אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵי'הּ רַבָּא פוּן אַ אִידעֶן

would forego all [their blissful revelations of Divinity] in exchange for the Amen, yehei Shmei rabba…

אַז עֶר זאָגט בְּכָל כֹּחוֹ כְּפֵרוּשׁוֹ בְּכָל כַּוָּנָתוֹ

that a Jew recites with all his might — which is understood to mean, ‘with all his devout intent’;

הַיינוּ אַז עֶר אִיז אִינְגאַנְצעֶן אִין דעֶם

i.e., he is focused entirely on those words.”

דאָס אִיז געֶוועֶן דעֶר גאַנְצעֶר מַאֲמָר

That was the entire discourse.

אוּן עֶר האָט געֶפּוֹעֶלְט אַזאַ הִתְלַהֲבוּת וְהִתְלַהֲטוּת בַּא דִי העֶרעֶר

It generated such ardent enthusiasm among the listeners

אַז אַ גאַנְץ יאָהְר האָט מעֶן געֶזאָגְט אָמֵן יְהֵא שְׁמֵי'הּ רַבָּא מִיט אַ בְּרעֶן

that for a whole year they responded Amen, yehei Shmei rabba with fire.

Hayom Yom 17 Adar 2 - Vowels in Tehillim chapter 87,7 vs Benching

בַּאֲמִירַת תְּהִלִּים (פז. ז)

In the phrase kol mayanai bach (Tehillim 87:7), [the word כל may be vocalized in either of two ways].

אוֹמְרִים כָּל מַעְיָנַי הַכָּ"ף בְּקָמַץ

When one is reading Tehillim, this word should be pronounced as vocalized with a kamatz;

בְּסֵדֶר בִּרְכַּת הַמָּזוֹן — הַכָּ"ף בְּחוֹלָם

when it appears in [the readings that precede] the Grace after Meals, it should be pronounced as vocalized with a cholam.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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Hayom Yom 16 Adar 1 - The shinning mirrors donated by the women

רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן אָמַר

The Alter Rebbe once taught:

בִּתְרוּמַת הַמִּשְׁכָּן הָיוּ זָהָב וָכֶסֶף וּנְחוֹשֶׁת

The contributions toward the construction of the Sanctuary [in the wilderness] included gold, silver and copper,

וְלֹא הָיָה דָּבָר הַמַּבְרִיק זוּלַת מַרְאוֹת הַצּוֹבְאוֹת שֶׁמֵהֶן נַעֲשׂוּ הַכִּיּוֹר וְכַנּוֹ

but the only items that shone were the women’s [copper] mirrors, from which the basin and its stand were made.

הַכִּיּוֹר וְכַנּוֹ הֵם הַבָּאִים בָּאַחֲרוֹנָה מִכָּל כְּלֵי הַמִּשְׁכָּן

And though the basin and its stand are listed last among all the holy vessels,

וְתַשְׁמִישׁוֹ הוּא בְּרֹאשׁ כָּל עֲבוֹדוֹת הַמִּשְׁכָּן

they were used before all the services in the Sanctuary —

כִּי נָעוּץ תְּחִלָּתָן בְּסוֹפָן

for “the beginning is rooted in the end.”

Hayom Yom 16 Adar 2 - A businessman must have faith and trust

מֵעֲבוֹדַת בַּעַל עֵסֶק

As one of his spiritual tasks, a businessman

לְעוֹרֵר בְּעַצְמוֹ הָאֱמוּנָה וּבִטָּחוֹן גָּמוּר

should arouse within himself the faith and absolute trust

בְּהַזָּן וּמְפַרְנֵס לְכָל בָּשָׂר

that He Who nourishes and sustains all flesh

כִּי הוּא יִתְבָּרֵךְ יִתֵּן לוֹ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ בְּרֶיוַח

will grant him an ample living.

וְצָרִיךְ לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה וְטוּב לֵבָב בֶּאֱמֶת

He should be genuinely happy and glad of heart,

כְּאִלּוּ פַּרְנָסָתוֹ כְּבָר מְזוּמֶּנֶת לְפָנָיו

as if his livelihood had already been placed before him.

Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in English

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