Introduction

Likkutei Sichos (literally, "Collected Talks") contains both the scope and the core of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s teachings, and is the most authoritative source text for the Rebbe's unique, original, and often revolutionary explanation of Judaism.

The Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, is widely recognized as one of the foremost Jewish thinkers of the 20th century. His teachings include ideas in Jewish philosophy and theology, commentary on biblical, talmudical and kabbalistic texts, perspectives on world events, and moral and practical directives.

The Rebbe's primary vehicle for conveying his teachings were the farbrengens (chassidic gatherings) held on Shabbat, the festivals, special occasions and random weekdays, at which he would speak for many hours. These talks were transcribed and compiled in dozens of books that, together taken with his thousands of letters and maamarim (chassidic discourses), represent the legacy of the Rebbe’s teachings to the world.

Of the many of thousands of talks the Rebbe delivered, those that were the most basic to his weltanschauung and message were compiled in the Likkutei Sichot, which originally appeared in weekly pamphlets. The Rebbe reviewed and extensively edited each of these transcriptions before it went to press, making the Likkutei Sichot the authoritative medium with which to disseminate his teachings.

The thirty-nine volumes of Likkutei Sichot are organized according to the weekly Torah reading (Parshah) and the Jewish calendar. We present here the first Sections from the third volume, freely translated from the Yiddish by Rabbi Eliyahu Touger as published by Kehot Publication Society.