L. Rebbe's annual Rosh Hashana address to women

Motek

Thu, Sep 22 2005, 2:57 pm

while we're at it, today is Chai Elul, quite a significant date

Birth of the Baal Shem Tov in 5458 (1698). The day his holy teacher and master [Achiya Ha'Shiloni] appeared to him in 5484 (1724). The day the Baal Shem Tov became revealed [as a tzadik, as opposed to being a tzadik nistar] in 5494 (1734).

12 days left to Rosh Hashana

each day corresponds to a month of the previous year and gives us an opportunity to think over the previous year one month at a time

today, 18 Elul corresponds to last Tishrei
tomorrow, 19 Elul corresponds to last Cheshvan

and so on

TzenaRena

Thu, Sep 22 2005, 6:21 pm

From Likutei Dibburim:

Chai Elul is the day which is destined for rejoicing and blessing for Chassidim in general and for Chabad in particular.

By Chassidim there is an old Chassidic vort in two expressions:
1) Chai Elul is the day which brought and brings a life into Elul
2) Chai Elul gives a chayus(enthusiasm) in the avodah of ani l'dodi v'dodi li.

Chai Elul Taf Nun Ches 5458 is the truly fortunate day by all chassidim of the entire world. Because this day is the bright day of all chassidim in the world, it is the day in which our master, the Baal Shem Tov was born.

Chai Elul Taf Pey Daled5484 is the great inestimably auspicious day, when our master, the Baal ShemTov became twenty six years old, and Above it was decreed that Achiya Hashiloni should become revealed to our master, the BaalShemTov, and should reveal the luminary of the revealed Torah and the Kabbalah, as it is learned in Gan Eden.

Chai Dlul Taf tzadik daled became 10 years that Achiya Hashiloni taught and guided our Teacher the Baal Shem Tov, , during these 10 years, the Baal Shem Tov led the group of hidden tzadikkim, and wandered from place to place amongst the simple folk, and would relate to them stories about the greatness of Jews, and good Midos, and fear of Heaven, and whem the ten years were completed - chai elul 5494, the Baal shem Tov, on the strict instruction and demand of his teacher Achiyah Hashiloni, became revealed as a Baal Shem Tov (Master of a Good Name), who performs miracles, and reveals the depths (of the Torah).

Chai Elul Taf Kuf Hey - 5505 the Alter Rebbe - was born to his father the tzaddik, chassid HoRav R. Baruch, the son of the Gaon R. Schneur Zalman and his mother the Tzidkonis, the Rebbetzin Rivka, daughter of the Gaon R. Avraham Nishmoso Eden.

TzenaRena

Thu, Sep 22 2005, 11:11 pm

more on Chai Elul from Likutei Dibburim

The Alter Rebbe's birth
Three years before the Alter Rebbe's birth the Baal Shem Tov knew that a new neshomo was due to descend, but did not know who would be zocheh to it. He eagerly sought the new neshomo in the heavenly chambers.

Before a neshomo comes down from heaven, it requires a preparation of one year. A new neshomo requires a preparation of three years.

Although the Baal Shem Tov knew about the affairs of Neshomos before they descend to this world and after they do, he was interested to know what would transpire with such an unusual neshomo.

[ed. a new neshomo is one that has never been upon earth as a previous gilgul. The overwhelming majority of neshomos have been here before. A new neshomo is of the highest level of holiness, and very rare]

He knew that it was due to descend in the coming year of 5505, but did not know to whom.

The Alter Rebbe's father, the tzaddik Reb Bauruch was a follower of the Baal Shem Tov, and one of the hidden tzaddikim. There was a time that amongst the nistarim(mystics), one did not know of the other, though at a later time they already did know each other, however there was a stern warning that the nistarim should not allow themselves to be revealed.

Thus, that the Gaon R. Yosef Yitzchok ( R. Baruch's brother in law, married to his sister Devorah Leah) was from the Baal Shem Tov's academy was known, but about R. Baruch no one knew, however, the Bubbe ( of the Chabad dynasty, R. Baruch's wife) Rebbetzin Rivkah knew.

When a year had passed since their wedding, and the Rebbetzin Rivka had still not conceived, R. Barucha dn his wife Rebbetzin Rivka traveled during the month of Elul to the Baal Shem Tov to ask to be appointed with a viable and healthy son.

The Baal Shem Tov blessed them and reassured that in the coming year 5505 they would be blessed with a healthy, viable son.

The fact that this child, which our master the Baal Shem Tov blessed the tzaddik R. Baruch and his wife the Rebbetzin Rivka has a connection to the new neshomo that was due to be born that year 5505, the Baal Shem Tov concealed .

Last edited by TzenaRena on Fri, Sep 23 2005, 1:06 am; edited 1 time in total

TzenaRena

Thu, Sep 22 2005, 11:55 pm

Rosh Hashana 5505, there was a difference in the customary practices of Rosh Hashana, by our master the Baal ShemTov n"e from all other years. As known, the Baal shem Tov followed a particular order in his behaviour the entire year, during weekdays, Shabbos or festivals.

The order of the month of Tishrei by the BeSHT began with the preparation during Elul in general, and especially in the days of Selichos. [These are] the 40 days which Moshe Rabbenu O"H was in heaven to pray (on behalf of the Jews) because of the sin of the golden calf, and to receive the Torah, which with this he aroused the revelation of the 13 attributes of Mercy,

Usually the avodah of the BSHT was that the mode of yirah is revealed during these days, and from motzoei Yom Kippur till after Simchas Torah, in the Avoda of our master the BSHT the mode of simcha was in a revealed state.

In the direction of Avodah of our master the BSHT on Rosh Hashana 5505, during Maariv the holy disciples saw a great departure from the BSHT's usual custom. The BSHT was in a great simcha which was felt in the service of davening of the first night of Rosh hashana, and was apparent in the unusually expansive saying the greeting of "May you be inscribed and sealed for a good year", in the words of Torah spoken during the repast and also in the routine of Tekios, and Musaf prayers.

Motzaoei Yom Kippur, 5505 the BSHT was in an especially holy mood, which kept up till after Simchas Torah.

The holy disciples understood that in this month of Tishrei, something extraordinarily good transpired, which caused a great joy for the BaSHT, fwhich caused him to change the manner of the order of the avodah from the Yomim Noraim, that the mode of simcha should be revealed.
All were curious to know what this joy was about, but they did not succeed in finding out.

TzenaRena

Fri, Sep 23 2005, 12:23 am

Before the Tzadik the Gaon R. Baruch and his wife the Rebbentzin Rivka n"e had to leave Mezibuzh, they both came to the BSHT to receive the blessing of departure.

The righteous Rebbetzin Rivka was in a deeply inspired mood and said to the BSHT that when Hashem Yisborech will fulfill the bracha of the BSHT with a viable son, she will consecrate him to Torah and Avodah in the path of the Baal Shem Tov.

The BaSHT saw the great hisorerus of the tzaddik R. Baruch and the Rebbetzin Rivka, and blessed them , and they left in happy spirits.

As known, the Rebbetzin Rivkah was a learned woman and kept a steady seder of shiurim daily, but unpretentiously so that noone, except her husband the tzaddik R. Baruch knew about it.

When the Rebbetzin Rivka came home from the trip to the BaSHT, she traveled to her sisterin law the Rebbetzin in Vitebsk, transmitted everything which the BaSHT told them, also that which she heard and saw in the ways and custom of the BaSHT, also that which she heard that the holy disciples were astonished at the seder avodah and behaviour of the BASHT iduring that particular month of Tishrei, which was different from every other year.

The Rebbetzin Rivka asked her sister-in-law, the Rebbetzin to give her a special seder for learning which she should integrate into her shiurim, and since she is sure in the BaShT's brocho that it will surely be fulfilled, she would really wish to have a set practice in davening and learning during the time of pregnancy.

TzenaRena

Fri, Sep 23 2005, 12:37 am

The Rebbetzin Rivka trusted in the blessing and promise that the BaSHT blessed them, and how happy she was to inform her husband the tzaddik R. Baruch that the brocho of the BHT is becoming fulfilled, for a good mazal.

The Tzaddik R. Baruch, and Tzidkonis, the Rebbetzin Rivka both decided that although it is certain that the BaSHT knows that his brocho was fulfilled, still, they must inform him, and in the beginning of Adar ii the tzadik R. Baruch went to the BASHT.

The Tzaddik R. Baruch told the BaSHT that the brocho succeeded and his Rebbetzin had conceived.

The BaSHT rejoiced greatly upon the good news, and inquired thoroughly about the time since the beginning of conceptoion and the tzaddik R. Baruch told him that the Basht told him to make the brocho Shehechiyanu without the Divine name and malchus, he should immediately travel home, and say in his name to the Rebbetzin a brocho of mazal Tov and told him several things to take heed of. R. Baruch traveled home in happy spirits.

TzenaRena

Fri, Sep 23 2005, 1:00 am

Wednesday, Chai Elul, when the BaSHT came from tevilah in the mikvah, he was in an extraordinarily joyous mood, which caused everyone to wonder, but doone dared to ask.

The BaSHT himself davened at the amud, and everyone was amazed at the freiliche yomtov niggunim with which the BSHT davened. Even more everyone wondered why the BaSHT did not say Tachnun, then everyone understood that it must be aan extraordinarily happy day.

After davening the BASHT invited the talmidim to a seudas mitzvah and was in an exalted mood.

The BaSHT said that that day,the fourth day, on which, the luminaries were hung in the firmament, ,on the wednesday of "Arise my light" ( the haftarah of the parsha of the week of chai Elul, ki Savo) A NEW NESHOMO HAS DESCENDED WHICH WILL ILLUMINATE THE WORLD IN THE REVEALED TORAH AND CHASSIDUS, AND WILL HAVE MESIRUS NEFESH FOR THE PATH OF CHASSIDUS AND WILL SUCCEED TILL THE COMING OF MOSHIACH.

The tzaddik R.Baruch traveled for Yom Kippur 5506 to the BaSHt. When he went into the Basht, he warned him he should not tell anyone that a son was born to him, or the name which was given to him

When the tzaddik R"B was going to leave, the BashT gave him a seder how to conduct himself, how to raise the child, and generally to watch him, and during his waking times, to be with him in the field, the BASHT strongly warned him to watch the child from the eye of observers, and particularly from chattering women.

The BaSHT mentioned the child, the Alter Rebbe, during each tefillah, three times a day.

For continuation see Likuttei Diburrim vol.3 page 481

And A Gut YomTov!! ( see sefer hasichos 5703, chai Elul)