Living Torah Archives

Just days before his passing on the tenth of Shevat in 1950, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson, the Rebbe’s father-in-law and predecessor, published a discourse titled “Basi L’gani”. The discourse expounds on many ideas from the Torah that highlight the importance of making this world a dwelling place for the Divine Presence of the Almighty.

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d.

The last discourse that Rabbi Yosef Yitzchok Schneersohn, the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, published before his passing commences with the verse “I have come into My garden.” The Previous Rebbe explains that this refers to our world, the innermost dwelling place of G-d.

The sages state that “all sevenths are cherished.” This is the reason, they explain, why Moses was the one who merited to bring G-d’s Presence into this world—because he was the seventh from Abraham.

One might think that he must first perfect himself before he can try to perfect the world. But Torah commands us to transform this world into a beautiful garden for G-d, and this is a top priority. There is no conflict here: G-d empowers every person with the ability to simultaneously elevate himself as well as others - as my father-in-law, the Rebbe, proved in his own life, and through those who follow in his footsteps.

The Chassidic discourse entitled "Bosi L'Gani" opens with a quote from Song of Songs, where G-d exclaims: "I have come to My garden…" G-d's Divine Essence originally dwelled in our world. But a series of unfortunate events caused a decline in the world's spiritual state. It was through the righteous deeds of Abraham and his descendants, that G-d’s Divine Presence was finally restored to this world.

A chassidic discourse based on the Previous Rebbe’s discourse of the same title.