מַתְחִילִין לוֹמַר לְדָוִד אוֹרִי. הַמִּנְהָג בְּבֵית רַבֵּנוּ שֶׁבְּמֶשֶׁךְ הַיוֹם תּוֹקְעִים לְהִתְלַמֵד, וּמַתְחִילִים לִתְקוֹעַ אַחַר הַתְּפִלָּה מִיּוֹם ב' דְראֹשׁ חֹדֶשׁ.

[On this day] we begin reciting [the psalm] LeDavid A-donai Ori [in the Morning and Afternoon Services].1

The custom in the household of the Rebbe [Rayatz] was to practice sounding the shofar in the course of the day.2 We begin sounding the shofar after [the morning] prayers from the second day of Rosh Chodesh.

אַדְמוּ"ר הַזָּקֵן הָיָה אוֹמֵר בַּתְּחִלָה מַאֲמָרִים קְצָרִים. וּלְדוּגְמָא: דִּבּוּר הַמַּתְחִיל זֶכֶר רַב טוּבְךָ — וּבֵאוּרוֹ — שֶׁבַּסִּדּוּר נֶאֶמְרוּ בְּשִׁשָּׁה הֶמְשֵׁכִים — בַּאֲרִיכוּת יוֹתֵר קְצָת מֵהַנִּדְפָּס.

At first, the Alter Rebbe would deliver short maamarim. For example, the maamar entitled Zecher Rav Tuvcha, with its commentary that appears in the Siddur [Im Dach], was delivered in six installments, [the total] being somewhat longer than the printed version.3

To Fill In the Background

When an idea is conceived in the mind, the initial, intuitive flash of inspiration is known as Chochmah. This first stage in the intellective process is called by the Kabbalists Abba (“father”). That seminal idea is then analyzed and its potential is developed in all its details like a fetus in the womb. This second stage in the intellective process, Binah, is called by the Kabbalists Imma (“mother”).

Accordingly, the Alter Rebbe’s concise style of presentation has been likened to the seminal input of a father, comprehensive but concise. This contrasts with the Mitteler Rebbe’s elaborate style of presentation, which has been likened to the lengthy gestation period within the mother.

Indeed, the Alter Rebbe’s own maamarim underwent a similar progression — originally concise, and later, expansive.4