מְבָרְכִים רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ טֵבֵת. אֲמִירַת כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים בְּהַשְׁכָּמָה. יוֹם הִתְוַעֲדוּת. טַל וּמָטָר. נֵר חֲנוּכָּה אַחַר הַבְדָלָה וְקוֹדֶם אֲמִירַת וְיִתֶּן לְךָ. בְּבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת נֵר חֲנוּכָּה קוֹדֶם הַבְדָלָה.

[On Shabbos Mevarchim,1 it is our custom] to recite the entire Book of Tehillim early in the morning and to hold a farbrengen on that day.

[From this date2 forward, we begin requesting] tal u’matar (“dew and rain”) [in the weekday Shemoneh Esreh].3

[On Saturday night, at home,] we kindle the Chanukah lights after Havdalah, before reciting VeYiten Lecha. In the synagogue, the Chanukah lights are kindled before Havdalah.4

בְּיוֹם שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ שֶׁמְּבָרְכִים הַחֹדֶשׁ, הַשְׁכֵּם בַּבֹּקֶר יִתְקַבְּצוּ אַנְשֵׁי שְׁלוֹמֵינוּ לְבֵית הַכְּנֶסֶת לְהַגִּיד כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים. אַחַר הָאֲמִירָה יִלְמְדוּ כְּשָׁעָה מַאֲמָר שֶׁל חֲסִידוּת שֶׁיִּהְיֶה מוּבָן לַכֹּל, וְאַחַר כַּךְ תְּפִלָּה. מוֹעֵד הִתְוַועֲדוּת כְּפִי הַזְּמַן שֶׁיַּגְבִּילוּ מַתְאִים לִתְנָאֵי הַמָּקוֹם, מְקוֹם דִּירָתָם לְהַצְלָחָה בְּגַשְׁמִיּוּת וּבְרוּחָנִיוּת.

אַחַר אֲמִירַת כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים בְּשַׁבָּת מְבָרְכִים יֹאמְרוּ קַדִּישׁ יָתוֹם. וְאִם יֵשׁ חִיּוּב — יָאהרצַייט אוֹ אָבֵל — אוֹמְרִים קַדִּישׁ יָתוֹם אַחַר כָּל סֵפֶר.

On Shabbos Mevarchim, the members of the chassidic brotherhood should rise early in the morning and gather in the synagogue to recite the entire Book of Tehillim. Following that, for about an hour, they should study a maamar of Chassidus that everyone can understand, and then [begin the morning] prayers. The farbrengen [held in honor of Shabbos Mevarchim] should be scheduled to suit the conditions of the place in which they live — and may they enjoy success there, both materially and spiritually.5

After reciting the entire Book of Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim, the Mourners’ Kaddish should be recited. If one of those present is obligated to recite the Mourners’ Kaddish, either because he is observing a yahrzeit or because he is within the period of mourning after a close relative, he should recite itafter each of the five component books [of Tehillim].6

A Story with an Echo

The Shabbos preceding the new month generates blessings for that month both materially and spiritually. The three activities mentioned above — the collective recitation of Tehillim, the group study of Chassidus, and a chassidic farbrengen — help draw down these blessings.

A classic story of the Baal Shem Tov sheds light on the value of reciting Tehillim.7 One Friday evening,the Baal Shem Tov showered considerable attention upon the simple folk who had come to join him at his table. The next day, during the Shabbos midday meal, he devoted his time to his disciples. Some of them, however, silently wondered why the Baal Shem Tov had shown so much attention to the common people the night before. Sensing their questions, the tzaddik asked them to rest their arms on each other’s shoulders and close their eyes. He closed the circle by placing his arms on the shoulders of the disciples sitting beside him. At that moment, they were carried away by the most beautiful and melodious voices. These were the voices of the common people reciting Tehillim — but as the angels hear them in the spiritual realms. Overwhelmed by these heartfelt requests, each one of the learned disciples humbly prayed that he himself be able one day to serve G‑d with such sincerity.

With regard to the value of a chassidic farbrengen, there is a renowned adage of the Alter Rebbe:8 “[The brotherly blessings exchanged at] a chassidic farbrengen can accomplish what even the Archangel Michael cannot.”