Maamor Lo Sehya etc 5712 (1952) - 70 years ago

00:00 This past Shabbos, Shabbos Parshat Mishpatim, the twenty-seventh of Shevat, marked seventy years since the Rebbe delivered the ma'amar on Shabbos Parshat Mishpatim in the year of nineteen fifty-two. As Hasidim refer to it that this was an historic event, the ma'amar, the discourse, was longer than usual. It was for fifty-five minutes, and there are a few Hasidim who notated in diaries or in a letter to family members who were not local, describing to them what took place that Shabbos. First, we'll discuss a letter that Rab Yael Kahn, wrote to his parents, elaborating on the events of that Shabbos. It was Shabbos Parshat Mishpatim, the Rebbe delivered a ma'amar beginning with the words, "Lehiyyot meshakeilah," which is a verse of the Parshat Mishpatim. The ma'amar was without introductions. Rab Yael was referring to the fact that up till that Shabbos, or up to the, uh, date prior to that Shabbos, the Rebbe would usually say a few words before the ma'amar, and then there would be the ma'amar. This time, the Rebbe immediately began the farbrengen with the ma'amar. as soon as the Rebbe entered into the shul, into the zal upstairs, the Rebbe asked to sing the niggun before the ma'amar, and the Rebbe began delivering the ma'amar. In the ma'amar, the Rebbe explained the terms meshakeilah and akorah. The Rebbe spoke about the satisfaction that a person has from love of Hashem and fear of Hashem, and the lack of satisfaction that needs to be by a person when a person meditates about the number

02:19 of days that he was given to fulfill his mission here as a neshamah in eguf. And at that point, the Rebbe cried very much. When the Rebbe spoke about yom yutzadu, that every day is designated for a purpose in life, it was awesome. The Rebbe then placed his head on the table and cried. And in particular, when it came to the words, "Meded bemelech malchi hamlachim hakadosh baruch hu," that when one does not fulfill his mission, he is rebelling against the King of Kings, Hashem. And that's when the Rebbe, as soon as he reached the word bemelech malchi hamlachim, he stopped and, and cried very much for a few minutes and then continued, melech malchi hamlachim hakadosh baruch hu. The ma'amar, as mentioned, was fifty-five minutes, and as Rab Yael describes it, that up till now, we did not have such a long ma'amar from the Rebbe. And now we go on to the diary of Rab Tzvi Hirsch Gantzberg, who also wrote up that Shabbos, and as it was translated in his biography in the book Portrait of a Hasid, or in Hebrew, Ish Hasid, which is the life of Rab Tzvi Hirsch Gantzberg. And he was the one that would begin singing the nigunim at the farbrengen and was also in publishing, uh, Sifrei Chasidis. He writes as follows: "Last Shabbos, Shabbos Modi'r, Shabbos Parshat Mishpatim, the Rebbe left his room at, at twelve thirty-five PM and entered the study hall, the zal, through the back door, passing through the cheder sheini adjoining

04:23 room, taking his place at the head of the table, which is positioned in the southwest portion of the room. This is where the Rebbe sits every Shabbos . In contrast, when a farbrengen is held on other occasions, a special platform is set up and his table positioned on it. Upon his entrance, a special chair was brought for him, a blue padded chair. In response, he made a motion with his hand as if to express surprise at something new, but he still sat at his place. After several moments, he began delivering the ma'amar lehiyyot meshakeilah ve'akorah, which means there shall be no women who loses her young or, and who is barren. As on occasions before delivering the ma'amar, the Rebbe's deep and intense feeling was noticeable, and his face was white. From the last yahrtzeit of the previous Rebbe onward, the Rebbe began a new practice. From Shevat of last year until Shabbos Shevat of this year, when he delivered a ma'amar , he would say a few words before delivering the ma'amar. On Shevat this year, he ceased that. The ma'amar lasted fifty-five minutes. While delivering the ma'amar, he cried very much. On several occasions, he could not hold himself back and cried loudly. At one point, he explained as follows: It is written, 'I shall fulfill the number of your days.' Hashem grants every person a fixed amount of days to complete his divine service. The amount of days granted a person is defined." This applies not only to the days, even the

06:19 hours and minutes are accounted for. Any person must perform the divine service necessary to use every moment to the fullest. This point should constantly be gnawing any person. He should feel under strain and under pressure, contemplating what he could be doing to use this moment fully. When the Rebbe said these words, we could see that he was living them. He spoke them from the depth of his heart and could not continue speaking. He placed his head on his right hand and cried for several moments. It is impossible for a pen to capture those moments. Heski Gansburg continues, "I ask Hashem to allow that picture to remain in my mind for my entire life." When the Rebbe completed the minor, those present said l'chaim to the Rebbe as is customary, and the Rebbe answered each one l'chaim u'levrachah as is his custom. The vintage Hasid, Rabbi Yisroel Garezman, who is called Yisroel Baal Shem, said several words to the Rebbe with his l'chaim. The Rebbe answered him, "The promise I shall fulfill, the number of your days will be fulfilled, and it is necessary that the charge, and you shall serve Hashem your Lord, be fulfilled." Afterwards, the Rebbe delivered a sicha on the same subject, completing with a blessing. The quote here is not exact. "May Hashem help that those who still have not had children will this year be blessed with healthy children, will be blessed with healthy children. May those who are lacking health be blessed with good health. May Hashem help that

08:32 those who are lacking sustenance be granted abundant sustenance, abundant sustenance as can be granted from Hashem's full, open, holy, and generous hand. And may we merit the coming of Mashiach here on this earthly plane speedily in our days. Amen."