מְבָרְכִים רֹאשׁ חֹדֶשׁ אָב. אֲמִירַת כָּל הַתְּהִלִּים בְּהַשְׁכָּמָה. יוֹם הִתְוַעֲדוּת. הפטורה: שִׁמְעוּ - אֱלֹקֶיךָ יְהוּדָה. אִם תָּשׁוּב... וּבוֹ יִתְהַלָלוּ.
1 [On Shabbos Mevarchim, it is our custom] to recite the entire Book of Tehillim early in the morning and to hold a farbrengen on that day.
We read the haftarah beginning Shimu dvar A-donai (Yirmeyahu 2:4-28 and 4:1-2).2
לְכָל אֶחָד מֵהָרַבֵּיִים הָיוּ מַאֲמָרִים קְבוּעִים בְּיִחוּד בִּשְׁבִיל זֶה (לְטַהֵר אֲוִיר הָעוֹלָם), אֲשֶׁר פַּעַם בִּשְׁתַּיִם אוֹ בְּשָׁלֹשׁ שָׁנִים הָיוּ חוֹזְרִים עֲלֵיהֶם בָּרַבִּים. אֶחָד מִמַּאֲמָרֵי רַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן — הֵחָלְצוּ שֶׁבְּלִקּוּטֵי תּוֹרָה בְּלִי הַהַגָּהוֹת. אֶחָד מִמַּאֲמָרֵי אַדְמוּ"ר הָאֶמְצָעִי — יָפָה שָׁעָה אַחַת, וְתּוֹכְנוֹ עֲשָׂרָה פְּרָקִים הָרִאשׁוֹנִים דְדִבּוּר הַמַּתְחִיל הִנֵּה כָּל אֶחָד וְאֶחָד אוֹמֵר אֱלֹקַי נְשָׁמָה, בְּדֶרֶךְ הַחַיִּים. אֶחָד מִמַּאֲמָרֵי הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶק — מַה טוֹבוּ שֶׁבְּלִקּוּטֵי תּוֹרָה. אֶחָד מִמַּאֲמָרֵי אַאַזְמוּ"ר — מִי כָמוֹכָה בָּאֵלִים. אֶחָד מִמַאֲמָרֵי אַאַמוּ"ר — וְיָדַעְתָּ הַיּוֹם מאָסקוואָ רנ"ז.
Each of the Rebbeim assigned certain maamarim for the specific purpose (of purifying the atmosphere), and these they would review publicly once every two or three years. One of the maamarim that the Alter Rebbe would deliver is the one beginning Heichaltzu that appears in Likkutei Torah, without the emendations. One of the maamarim of the Mitteler Rebbe is Yafah Shaah Achas, which comprises the first ten chapters of the maamar entitled Hinei Kol Echad VeEchad Omer Elokai Neshamah that appears in Derech HaChayim. One of the maamarim of the Tzemach Tzedek is the one beginning Mah Tovu that is to be found in Likkutei Torah. One of the maamarim that my revered grandfather, the Rebbe Maharash, would deliver is Mi Chamocha BaEilim. And one of the maamarim of my revered father, the Rebbe Rashab, is VeYadaata HaYom (Moscow, 5657/1897).3
To Fill In the Background
When the Rebbe Rayatz spoke of purifying the atmosphere, he meant changing the spiritual climate. Every society is built upon certain fundamental beliefs. In non-Torah societies, however, these are often materialistic and narcissistic. By delivering these teachings, the Rebbeim made a dent in these basic thrusts, changing the spiritual climate by shining the light of spirituality into the fog of materialism, and generating a fresh spirit of selflessness.
Furthermore, it seems that this was accomplished by the delivery of the maamarim alone, regardless of its effect on its listeners. This demonstrates the unique power of speech to change the spiritual quality of our environment. In the letter above, as well as in numerous other places, the Rebbe Rayatz asks his chassidim to emulate this conduct by reviewing chassidic teachings publicly, and by heart.
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