First Words

From the Rebbe's words at a farbrengen on Shevat 10, 5711 (January 28, 1951) upon his formal acceptance of the leadership of Chabad-Lubavitch

Now, listen, my fellow Jews. Chabad has always demanded that a person toil and accomplish on his own rather than depend on the Rebbe. This is the primary difference between the "Polish" school of Chassidism and that of Chabad. Among other chassidic groups the approach is that "the tzaddik vitalizes (his followers) with his faith." Not so in Chabad. We must all do and accomplish on our own, with the 248 limbs and 365 sinews of our own bodies and the 248 limbs and 365 sinews of our own souls...

I am not declining to help, G-d forbid. I will assist you in every way that I can. But if you do not do on your own, nothing will be accomplished by sending me notes, singing songs or saying l'chayim. As the Rebbe used to say: Leigt zich nit kein foigelach in buzim (a Yiddish expression implying "Don't delude yourselves"). By our own initiative, we must transform the folly of evil and the drives of the 'animal soul' to holy ends... thereby fulfilling G-d's purpose in creationto transform our world into a home for Him...