Some of what the Rebbe spoke about during this farbrengen:

Three of our greatest leaders are connected to Shavuos: Moshe Rabeinu (our teacher), Dovid Hamelech (King David) and the Baal Shem Tov.

Our sages teach that everything Moshe Rabeinu did is eternal. The Torah (which Moshe conveyed to the Jewish people) is referred to as “Toras Emes” (the Torah of truth) and truth is permanent. The mishkan (Tabernacle), whose construction was initiated and directed by Moshe, was never destroyed. The Midrash tells of how it sank and was buried, thus sparing it from destruction. Had Moshe just entered Eretz Yisroel, we would never have gone into exile after that.

Similarly, we find permanence associated with King David, as we say monthly in the kiddush levonah service: “Dovid Melech Yisroel, Chai V’kayam” (David, the King of Israel, lives and exists.) “Chai v’kayam,” is only conferred upon King David. Additionally, though he passed away thousands of years ago, we still actually refer to him as the “King” of Israel.

We have a teaching that was publicized and repeated by the Baal Shem Tov: “Wherever the will of a person is, that is where he indeed is.” We also know that the inner will of every single Jewish person is to always follow G‑d’s will and it is only because of various mitigating factors that deficiencies in observance are apparent. This unchanging “will,” underscores the immense power of permanence.


This “permanence” is applicable to each and every Jew even today; as the Zohar states: “The Jewish people, the Torah and Hashem are one.” Every Jew can reach the level of “king” and similarly, every Jewish person’s true will is always with G‑d.

Therefore, good hachlotos (resolutions) one makes on Shavuos connected to fulfillment of mitzvos or learning Torah carry with it this permanence.

[In a later sicha the Rebbe spoke about] a teaching of the Alter Rebbe on the posuk [verse] that refers to Moshe Rabeinu as the most humble person that ever lived. The Alter Rebbe explains that Moshe was most humbled when G‑d showed him a glimpse into the future and he saw the remarkable capacity of mesiras nefesh of our generation.

The Rebbe began talking about the following theme at this farbrengen and expounded further upon it on the following Shabbos.

Moshe Rabeinu, King David and the Baal Shem Tov are all connected with the yom tov of Shavuos.

There is a connection between the three Shavuos leaders and the five mitzvah campaigns [that the Rebbe has been promoting]: (1) Torah study, (2) Tefillin, (3) Tzedokah, (4) Mezuzah, and (5) a house filled with Judaic books:

Moshe:

Torah: The Torah is referred to as Moshe’s Torah.

Tefillin: Moshe asked to be shown G‑d’s face and Hashem agreed only to show Moshe His back (Shemos 33:23). Rashi explains (quoting the Talmud): Hashem showed Moshe the knot of His tefillin.

Tzedokah: G‑d gave Moshe a personal gift: the method of Pilpulah D’oraisa (expounding on the Torah). With his immense kindness, and entirely on his own accord, Moshe performed charity by sharing this gift with the Jewish people.

Mezuzah: The two paragraphs written in the mezuzah are direct quotes from “Moshe’s Torah.”

Books: All seforim are comprised of Torah, Moshe’s Torah.

King David:

Torah: King David’s principal mission in life was martial: the battles he waged. The Talmud relates that his general, Yoav, won the battles when King David would study Torah. King David vanquished his enemies through diligent Torah study.

Tefillin: The Talmud teaches that the verse “And all the nations of the earth shall see that the name of G‑d is called upon you, and they shall fear you,” refers to the tefillin shel rosh (the head tefillin). King David’s wearing of tefillin invoked in his enemies dread and fear and caused their submission in battle.

Tzedokah: There is a saying that “a satiated person can never entirely empathize with a hungry person.” The Talmud relates that David was destined to die on the very day of his birth. The seventy years he ultimately did live were through Adam’s generous charity, who – upon learning of King David’s fate – bequeathed him seventy of his 1,000 allotted years. David was always cognizant that every moment of his physical existence came about because of charity.

Mezuzah: The letters of the Hebrew word “mezuzos” (rearranged) spell zoz-mohves (removed death), something King David specifically appreciated, as mentioned above.

Books: King David’s studying books of Torah is what wrought him – through his generals – the military victories.

Baal Shem Tov:

Torah: The Baal Shem Tov concentrated his energies on teaching Torah to children. Additionally, he revealed that the inner dimension of Torah (chassidus) is attainable to everyone.

Tefillin: A primary theme in the Baal Shem Tov’s teachings was to love every Jew unconditionally. “We are constantly mindful of this important commandment,” teaches the Baal Shem Tov, “by placing the tefillin on our left upper arm in proximity to the heart (the seat of love).”

Tzedokah: The Baal Shem Tov taught that one must help someone physically (charity) before tending to his spiritual needs.

Mezuzah: A crucial mission of the Baal Shem Tov’s chassidic movement was experiencing joy in all aspects of Judaism. This joyous “revival” began the process of removing melancholy and the “dead” style of Judaism. As mentioned, the letters of the Hebrew word “mezuzos” (rearranged) spell zoz-mohves (removed death).

Books: The Baal Shem Tov’s name, Yisroel, embodies his mission in life and accomplishments: to inspire, remind and awaken every person of Am Yisroel (the Jewish people) of his or her heritage. Judaic books in the home serve as a constant reminder that we all belong to Am Yisroel.