Lag B'omer: The Rebbe's Insights

00:02 Because at Lag BaOmer, we find in the later years that the Rebbe would, from time to time, occasionally write a letter that would contain directives how the day of Lag BaOmer should be fulfilled in a, in an auspicious way. The letter was written before Lag BaOmer in order that Hasidim, Yidden in general, Klal Yisroel should be able to fulfill these directives. We'll now discuss a letter from taf shin lamed, nineteen seventy, a letter from taf shin lamed daled, nineteen seventy-four, a letter from nineteen eighty-seven, taf shin mem zayin, and taf shin mem tes, nineteen eighty-nine. The letter from taf shin lamed, the Rebbe writes to the students and talmides, the boys and the girls that are preparing, um, involved in the pruhin activities for Lag BaOmer. And the Rebbe derives a lesson from the story of the students of Rabbi Akiva that passed away because they did not conduct themselves to each other with the appropriate respect. So the Rebbe says, what we need to derive from it is three points. One, there should be serving Hashem, learning Torah and doing mitzvahs with an excitement, with a chayus, and that should permeate the entire person and also the daily conduct. A second ikkar is loving a fellow Jew as yourself, and that also should be with a special chayus, a special excitement and liveliness. And the third point is that every Yid that we meet, a Yid that is observing Torah and mitzvahs, we should look at him, and we're obligated to look at him

02:07 with a favorable eye. Although he might be from another circle, might have different customs, but still it should be with a favorable eye. And then the Rebbe adds, even one who has not yet reached the standard of fulfilling Torah and mitzvahs in an appropriate way, he is still lacking the fulfillment of Torah and mitzvahs. We also need to look at him with a favorable eye and helping him reach the level of Torah and mitzvahs as desired. In taf shin lamed daled, nineteen seventy-four, Lag BaOmer was Friday. The Rebbe then wrote a letter to those that are involved in communal, community affairs in different cities, especially those that are involved in something that is at this time mitzvah Lag BaOmer, the mitzvah Lag BaOmer. And the Rebbe in this letter stresses two points that we find by Rab Shimon ben Yochai, that Rab Shimon ben Yochai's study of Torah was his profession. He was occupied with it the whole time, and therefore he was exempt from other matters of mitzvahs. Torah and mitzvahs, certainly in yomim, as it's mentioned in the Chazal and also in Halakha. And the second point, the Ahavas Yisroel, that he was ready to exempt the whole world from judgment. So the Rebbe says, although this is a very high standard, Rab Shimon ben Yochai and his colleagues' level of Torah shebe'al peh, Torah shebe'al peh, constantly occupied with Torah. So the Rebbe says everyone could do it at least to a certain extent, designating a time for learning on a daily

04:03 basis. And when something is set, it's a krias, it never, never fades. It never becomes batul. And the ma'aleh, the Rebbe says this means that from this auspicious day and with the kayach of this day, a person should set up time for learning every day. One who already has it should increase in learning. And all this should be permeated with Ahavas Yisroel, loving a fellow Jew without limitation, setting up times of learning also with Yidden around you in your environment. And the Rebbe says that this is basically in nigleh, the revealed part of Torah, and pnimis haTorah, the ingan of, uh, Chassidus, which is as the Razbi was the one that began teaching pnimis haTorah. And now to a letter from taf shin mem zayin. The letter is dated Erev Rosh Chodesh Shvat nineteen eighty-seven to all the children, to all the Jewish children. And the Rebbe speaks to them in this letter, writes them to remember Rab Shimon ben Yochai and his good deeds, and to learn from his lessons in Torah in making a strong resolution to fulfill it with joy and as appropriate, and also to influence others to do likewise. So therefore, the Rebbe says that every one of you, turning to the children, should prepare himself for this by learning the lessons and the good deeds that Rab Shimon ben Yochai did in his lifetime. And you should ask your parents and your educators that they should help you in all this. Interesting in this very same day, year, the

06:06 Rebbe is writing to all the Jewish parents and to all the educators, men and women, that they should help the children fulfill everything that he mentions in the letter-- the Rebbe mentions in the letter to the children. And then we go on to the letter from Taf Shin Mem Tes, nineteen eighty-nine, exactly thirty years ago. The Rebbe speaks about the Kriyas, the calendar setting of Lag BaOmer, which was then on a Tuesday. So the Rebbe says to increase in the three pillars on what the world stands on, Torah, Avoda, Gemilus Chasadim, and by giving Tzedakah in numerals of eighteen and Lag BaOmer, Lag BaOmer is the eighteenth day in a year. In Avoda, in Tequila, to recite chapter Lamed Gimel, the thirty-third chapter in Tehillim, and in Torah to learn the, uh, portion of the Torah that relates to that day's year in the Parsha, which is in the Chumash of the Shevuy Chitas. So that's basically the three Heros that the Rebbe gave us in Taf Shin Mem Tes. One, Tzedakah in the numerals of eighteen. In, in Avoda, in Tequila, to recite chapter Lamed Gimel in Tehillim. It's connected with Lag BaOmer, and in Torah, to learn the portion of Torah that relates and is studied on the day of Lag BaOmer. Im Yirtze Hashem, in the coming installment, we'll discuss additional Lag BaOmer. The to the earlier installment to Lag BaOmer and the Rebbe's letters prior to Lag BaOmer. Continuing now beEzras Hashem with installment number two, discussing various responses from the

08:15 Rebbe to Lag BaOmer, one relating to the Lag BaOmer parade, year Taf Shin Lamed, nineteen seventy, and the second response is relating to a project, a Lag BaOmer in Meron. The first response, the Rebbe writes, "Thank you. The the continuation of earlier Parsha, the Rebbe says, I enjoyed very much. It was-- Uh, it was-- I, I was very pleased with it. that they started this whole project . means with a broad scope . It should be the will of Hashem, that the desire of Hashem should be in the hands, It should be successful, much higher, higher and higher than calculated. and permeated with joy and good-hearted. it should bear good fruit for the whole year. and Rav Shimon is worthy that we can rely on him. and especially the day of his rejoicing. to all that relate to this. the Rebbe says, "I will mention it in the resting place of the previous Rebbe." And the Rebbe mentions a hundred dollars . He enclosed a hundred dollars as a participation in pr-preparing for the parade. In the second response, which was basically a, uh, question, using a plane Lag BaOmer in Meron, and it seemed like making publicity with it by throwing down leaflets. So the Rebbe says, Lag BaOmer be Me-be Meron, an airplane Lag BaOmer in Meron is not an Inyan at all. It does, does not make any sense, does not belong there. The also throwing announcements, leaflets, even from a car. I once heard as, as on a side note in

10:51 regards to another, um, event that took place that the Rebbe said in Israel, it is something that can really throw fear on people when things are being dropped from the air, and therefore to avoid it as much as possible. The Rebbe continues now in this, uh, response, the not to include side advertisement in these leaflets from this day, Lag BaOmer, which means the focus should be only on Lag BaOmer and no side things, which could also be, uh, could be the Rebbe's referring to advertisements or, or anything side outside of Lag BaOmer. there should be activities going on with the Yidden there. some movements it is understood, self-understood that it's ver-- it, it is necessary. The Rebbe says the protim of the program and who is in-- who, who-- and, and who's in charge this is- Is, is up to the Hanhalah, the management who will be in charge on the site. and simply that all this should be in a way that it should be it should negate any suspicion of anything that can result in a negative light. The Rebbe wants that it should be a positive light solely focusing on Lag BaOmer and The to the earlier installments Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe. We're continuing now, with installment number three, discussing Lag BaOmer nineteen fifty-seven. Rabbi in Morocco for over forty years describes it as such. "It was Lag BaOmer in the morning on a Sunday. The organizers were up early or, or up through the night, and all of a sudden

13:11 we see the rain is coming down. It really shook us up how every step is with difficulty. It's already six, seven, seven thirty AM, and the rain is coming down. The children are supposed to arrive already with the bus. It's nine thirty, and telephones seven seventy from all corners are ringing. Parents, and bus company, 'What's gonna be if it's gonna rain? Is the program still on?' We called up Rabbi Khadikov, and Rabbi Khadikov said in a half hour he will give a response. We understood that he is gonna contact the Rebbe immediately who can move on, uh, as understood that the answer that the Rebbe relayed was not to worry. It-- The day will be a nice weather, and there won't be rain. Can move on about seven forty-five AM, the rain stopped till twelve at night, the next evening. A whole day there were black clouds, but the rain did not come down. As Yidden that stood from the side watching said, If the Rebbe is standing outside, rain will not come down. You can be sure about it," he said. After the buses arrived with the children and the music began, and Rabbi Yankel Hecht described in English for the children who the Rebbe is, announced that all the four thousand children and more than five hundred organizers and thousands of people that came to see, to view this event, they should all remain standing silent when the Rebbe comes out. The music played the Nimamim without words. And during the Nigun, the

15:26 Rebbe came out to the Elam, went up on the bimah, and the Rebbe asked they should sing the Nigun Mitzrayim . And the Rebbe added that the boys should sing, and the girls should clap with their hands. The Rebbe spoke a Sicha for about ten minutes, that we find ourself between Pesach and Shavuot. Yitzius Mitzrayim and Kabbalis HaTorah, and both Yom and Tevim have this common denominator that the children have a very great part in what took place then, Yitzius Mitzrayim and Kabbalas HaTorah. Then started the Halucha, the march. The children went by the Rebbe, and they went onto the Parkway of Eastern Parkway. They walked to Troy Avenue. The Rebbe stood the whole time till the children all passed the review stand. And, uh, at Troy Avenue, they went on the bus to go to the park. And the Rebbe came out again when the buses were coming by seven seventy on the way to the park. The Rebbe came out and clapped with his hands for the children. The Shabbos after Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe stressed that we're still under the impression of Lag BaOmer, and on Lag BaOmer, the Mesivah Shabbos has gathered Jewish children. This was actually the first parade that had children from public schools and all institutions, not only from Yeshivas as it was the year earlier in nineteen fifty-six. To tell them the children about Torah mitzvahs, Shabbos which weighs out all other mitzvahs and c-- and also Therefore, the Rebbe says everyone that took part in the

17:34 Lag BaOmer parade, especially those that who invested a great effort with body and soul should say l'chaim for themselves and the children. And we should reach the stage that we will be proud and able to say, Just look at the children that we have brought up. They are the children blessed from Hashem. It's interesting to note that when reading the letters of the Rebbe at the time, we observe that the Rebbe in correspondence with Hasidim over the world- Encouraged Tzach in Israel to utilize the Lag B'Omer parade appropriately with activities in Iran and Yerushalayim. Also, after Lag B'Omer, the Rebbe made mention in a letter to Australia inquiring and assuming that the day was utilized in its fullest capacity. The to the earlier installments by the Rebbe will continue and now installment number four, discussing the extension of Lag B'Omer nineteen eighty. On Lag B'Omer, before five o'clock, the Rebbe went to the El and the Rebbe returned shortly before nine, about ten to nine in the evening. After Mincha, a little after nine, the Rebbe was there would be a short farbrengen at nine thirty. The Rebbe came into the farbrengen after Ma'ariv and said that although it's already after Lag B'Omer, but because of sacred matters and the night follows the day, so therefore it is an extension, a of Lag B'Omer. The Rebbe mentioned the story of the Arizal, that the Arizal visited once, uh... Times of the, uh, occasions that he visited the tomb of the Rashbi and stayed there for

19:35 three days, stayed, uh, and, um, was there with his family in Meron. So the Rebbe explained that this is the reason why there were three farbrengens. The farbrengen of Shabbos, the day before Lag B'Omer, and during the parade on Lag B'Omer, and the Mitzoi Lag B'Omer farbrengen, which is when the Rebbe was speaking about it, farbrengen after the El. the Rebbe gave a roh to continue the with the children, activities with the children as it took place till now, and whoever will increase more than three, three days, should be . At the conclusion of the farbrengen, the Rebbe asked to sing the preparation before the Alter Rebbe's and the Alter Rebbe's in the . And after that, the Rebbe mentioned in the that after the that we did with the children, by the we can now request from the . The Rebbe after told Rabbi Yankel have to say l'chaim on a full kos and also to his helper. Now, Yankel said l'chaim on a small kos. So the Rebbe said, "this is a full kos he spoke longer than that." Then the Rebbe added that everybody wants to participate to say l'chaim could join Mashiach. Seemed like this was a to make it quicker, the, um, l'chaims. The Rebbe began singing the and before leaving the farbrengen the Rebbe began the . on Monday, the from the Rebbe about a farbrengen Lag B'Omer wrote, uh... The wrote to the Rebbe a rally for the children and when to make it. Should they make

21:47 it Monday or Tuesday? So the Rebbe answered, it's hardly short notice, short time that they have to prepare, it could result there's a suspicion that it might not be done in an orderler-- orderly manner, they should, uh, leave it for the next day, Tuesday, which is the when the Tev was mentioned twice in the creation on the Tuesday of the six days of creation. And the Rebbe adds, enclosed is the my participation in the expenses, and I will mention it at the resting place. for a great success. The Rebbe sent out a, a, a one hundred dollar bill. The to that, the Rebbe was asked if they should also notify and broadcast on the radio that the Rebbe is gonna have a rally, and the Rebbe answered, "Yes." The Rebbe again went to the El it's the second day in a row on Monday, . on Tuesday after Mincha the Rebbe spoke a sicha with short to, to the children at the rally. The Rebbe mentioned the fact about the Arizal, that the Arizal was accustomed to come to Meron Lag B'Omer, and he left . The Rebbe also connected the with a in Parashat Balak, which speaks about Yidden after a long stay, the in the area. So then after that, they left. That was the first move away, leaving from . The Rebbe took out lessons, for the children. The Rebbe also expressed himself in a to this, uh, rally that is considered a farbrengen, referred to it as a farbrengen. The Rebbe

24:12 spoke about Lag B'Omer and he spoke about at the conclusion. The Rebbe asked they should sing . in the story of the Arizal visiting Meron, somebody wrote to the Rebbe that they saw in the Sefer Hilot HaAri, that the Arizal traveled to Meron once in Lag B'Omer, who he and his whole family, and they sat there the first three days of that week. So the Rebbe commented, number one, that this is where it says . And then the Rebbe continues that if the is that he came there Lag B'Omer, and he stayed an additional two days, so it is not like it's mentioned here that he stayed first three days of the week. It doesn't seem to be the same thing. One hand, he was there Lag B'Omer another two days, but then the continuation of it, the Rebbe says that seem to be the same idea that he stayed the first of the which, which in the continuation it says, he stayed the first three days of the week, which I can't till here is the comment, the answer of the Rebbe . The of the earlier installments been geared to Lag B'Omer by the Rebbe. Continuing now, Be'ezras Hashem, with installment number five, discussing Lag B'Omer taf shin chaf vav nineteen sixty-six. It was Mechayai Shabbos, the evening before Lag B'Omer, which was on a Sunday. It became known then that the Rebbe is coming out to the parade, and the joy by Chassidim b'cholal, and especially by Bochurim, broke all limitations. That

26:34 morning was very rainy and as a result of that, before the parade, many kids were taken into the shul to stay out of the rain, and some were asked to stay in the buses w-with which they came to seven seventy. Already earlier, when the Rebbe came from the mikveh, Rabbi Hecht went over to the Rebbe and told the Rebbe that in his program for Lag B'Omer, rain is not on the schedule. The Rebbe commented on that and said, "Also in my program, rain is not listed in the program." B'eil when the Rebbe came out to the parade, the rain stopped and it was then a beautiful day. After the sicha that the Rebbe spoke, about ten minutes, Rabbi Yankel Hecht translated the sicha. And while he was translating the sicha, the Rebbe made two comments. One, when the Rebbe spoke about the reward for Torah mitzvahs, Parsha Bechukosai, the Rebbe just mentioned the word venasati, which is from the context in the pasuk, venasati gishmeicham be'itam, I will give rain in their time. The Rebbe just mentioned the word venasati. Rabbi Yankel Hecht mentioned venasati gishmeicham be'itam. So the Rebbe said the reason that I did not mention the continuation of the pasuk gishmeicham be'itam that there will be rain because this was a time that we did not want rain. A second comment, when the Rebbe said Bechukosai telechu, which is the beginning of this week's parsha, the Rebbe did not say im, if. The Rebbe said Bechukosai telechu, that Yidden will follow the

28:50 chukim of the Aibishter. Rabbi Yankel Hecht said im. So the Rebbe said, "I intentionally omitted the word im, if. It's not an if. It's definite that Yidden will follow the, the directives, the mitzvahs of the Aibishter, Bechukosai telechu." The, the of the earlier installments been geared to Lag B'Omer by the Rebbe. We're continuing now, Be'ezras Hashem, with installment number six, discussing Lag B'Omer taf shin lamed vav nineteen seventy-six. The Lag B'Omer taf shin lamed vav was on a Tuesday, and despite that it was not on a Sunday, as funny and as communal people, uh, um, activists decided that it would be appropriate to make a parade, this being the to what the Rebbe spoke Shabbos Mevarchim year a few weeks earlier, declaring the year as Shnas Hachinuch, stressing that every child should receive a Jewish education. And in addition to that, the Rebbe also introduced the twelve Psukim Maimonides Ral in the beginning of year. At a farbrengen the Rebbe introduced the first six of the twelve Psukim Maimonides Ral. And therefore, great efforts were put in to, uh, make a parade happen that year, Lag B'Omer, on a Tuesday. It wasn't easy because it wasn't the usual Sunday that a permit is issued a little easier than on a Tuesday when they need to close the parkway. But Be'ezras Hashem, they accomplished it and a parade took place on the Tuesday The Rebbe came out to the parade. It was the first time the Rebbe came out wearing his Gartel. It was also the

31:10 first time that the Rebbe stopped a few times during the Sicha in order that Rabbi Yankel Hecht should translate the Sicha in English. Generally, the Rebbe up till then would say the Sicha all as one continuation, and later Rabbi Hecht would translate it. From then on, it became a new format that the Rebbe would make some breaks in the Sicha, and Rabbi Yankel Hecht would translate it. At this parade, Tav Shalamed Vav, the Rebbe added the second part of the twelve Psukim in Tanya, which are basically the la-- the, the six of the twelve. With this, the Rebbe completed the twelve Psukim in Tanya. Of Tanya, the Rebbe chose connected it with Lag BaOmer, the thirty-third chapter, the thirty-third day of the Omer. After the parade, they sang the of the Rebbe's father, and the Rebbe motioned that Rabbi Moshe Hecht, the brother of Rabbi Yankel Hecht, Shliach in Connecticut, should dance. After he began dancing with, with additional people, a group joined them, and the Rebbe then announced, " '" In the Shabbos after Lag BaOmer, during the nigun after a Sicha about Chinuch, the Rebbe turned to Rabbi Yankel Hecht and told him that he should say L'Chaim on a Bikas. And after that, the Rebbe told him that he should change his place from where he would usually be standing at the Farbrengen to go in. This was right in front of the Rebbe, uh, amongst the tables, and he should sit there during the Farbrengens. From then on, this became his

33:31 his steady place. The the earlier installments by the Rebbe. We're continuing now installment number seven, discussing the various Lag BaOmer Farbrengens by the Rebbe. In the year and , those two years, the Rebbe Farbrengen Lag BaOmer. Likewise, nineteen sixty-two, there was a Farbrengen that took place by the Rebbe on Lag BaOmer. nineteen seventy was the first time there was a Farbrengen after a parade that took place in the morning. In nineteen seventy-three was a different setting. Lag BaOmer was Sunday and, and Shabbos. A day earlier, there was a Farbrengen, and the Rebbe spoke lessons that we derive from Rabba Kiova and Rab Shimon Ben Yochai. Later on in the Farbrengen, the Rebbe said that the reason that he spoke about these topics at the Farbrengen was in order to relay it to the children the next day at the parade. The Rebbe did not come out to that parade. nineteen seventy-five, there was a Farbrengen, and the Rebbe washed for Hametzi. and , nineteen seventy-seven and 1978, there were Farbrengens respectively on Lag BaOmer. 1980, there was a Farbrengen on Lag BaOmer. The Rebbe did not say a Maamer at that Farbrengen. 1985, and 1986, the Rebbe Farbrenged both years on Lag BaOmer. In at the Farbrengen, between the Sichas started to sing the nigun, We Want Moshiach Now, very special enthusiasm, a long time, an hour and a half. And after that, the Rebbe said that's cus-- it's customary by Hakafos to announce till now, And the Rebbe quotes from the previous Rebbe that

36:13 if they're not gonna announce, that till here is and it ends, they won't know where to stop. And the they won't be able to go to the next Hakafa, the Hakafa Beis. if they don't stop the Hakafa, the, the Hakafa Beis, they won't be able to go to Hakafa Gimel. So therefore, the Rebbe says if there will be a somebody that's, uh, running the structure, the Gabbai or Shamesh should, uh, sh-should pick someone. And the Rebbe says it doesn't have to be with meetings and with the whole, uh, writing down all the details or voting, who they should vote for and so on. And he will be the one that should announce . then we can think about the Hakafa after that till the seventh Hakafa. In Bechol Ei, from the Rebbe concludes the sicha, there should be a, a, uh, preparation to go and greet Mashiach Tzidkeinu together with all the shuls, all the Ɣbadim and Roshim. And, uh, the yechidus that we should already announce when we are going Ɣrad zeinu hagdasha. In regards to the times of the farbrengen, in Taf Shin Yud and in Taf Shin Lamed Zayin, the Rebbe farbrenged the night before Lag BaOmer. That's nineteen fifty and nineteen seventy-seven. In Taf Shin Chaf Beis, Lamed, and Taf Shin, Taf Shin Lamed He and Taf Shin Mem He, which means nineteen sixty-two, nineteen seventy, nineteen seventy-five, and nineteen eighty-five, the Rebbe farbrenged on the day of Lag BaOmer between Mincha and Ma'ariv. In Taf Shin Lamed He, the Rebbe

38:18 explained halakhically what the conditions are when a person sits down to eat, to farbreng, between Mincha and Ma'ariv. The Rebbe quoted from a sicha of the previous Rebbe from Taf Shin Daled from nineteen forty-four. The hemsek to the earlier installments Bineguer to Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe, we're continuing now Be'ezras Hashem with installment number eight, discussing the various ma'amarim that the Rebbe chose to deliver on Lag BaOmer. Generally, the ma'amarim were said within the setting of a farbrengen during the farbrengen. There was one exception, Taf Shin Chaf Tes, fifty years ago, nineteen sixty-nine. The ma'amar, the Rebbe delivered upon returning from the AOL after the trillas, the Ma'ariv. The ma'amar was said upstairs in the zal, in the shul, and it was only a ma'amar. The beginnings of some of the ma'amarim from the Rebbe on Lag BaOmer, some began with a pasuk, and some began with a quote from the Ze'a. Ma'amarim that began with a pasuk, uh, one was, "Usfartem lachem lemacharas hashabbos." Another, uh, pasuk was, "Gal einai va'abitan nefelois metei rosecha." Gal einai, open up my eyes, reveal, and gal is the letters like lamed gimel, lamed gimel, be'emer. And another pasuk was, "Hineh mateiv ha'manoyim shevesachan kam yochad." Actually, that was the ma'amar of Taf Shin Chaf Tes, nineteen sixty-nine, mentioned earlier. In addition, as mentioned, the Rebbe would at times begin the ma'amar with a quote from the Ze'a. On several occasions, there was a beginning, the story in the Ze'a that there was a time, uh, zim nachod

40:40 is the halma de mitra, the world needed rain, and they came to Rashbi, and Rashbi said the pasuk, "Hineh mateiv ha'manoyim," and the rain came down. So, and, uh, so this is how the Rebbe would begin, the zim nachod is the halma de mitra, the world needed rain. Another, um, occasion, the Rebbe said, "Divrei hamazkal lahovin inyan hilula de Rashbi," to understand the hilula de Rashbi. And another occasion is an interesting divrei hamazkal lahovin inyan Rashbi, to understand the inyan of the Rashbi. Another occasion, the Rebbe said, "Alila dei diva alai chukase," which is a part of the Ze'a, which goes on to describe the, uh, elevation, the aliyah that took place for the Rashbi when he went up at the time of the stalkers. He said then, "Bechat kitira," with one, uh, knot, I became connected with Hashem. Generally, when there was a ma'amar during a weekday farbrengen, at least up to a certain point where the Rebbe would say a ma'amar with the tune of a ma'amar and a nigun before the Elul would get up. So Lag BaOmer likewise was a ma'amar with a nigun. But we do find, interestingly, a few exceptions. One is Taf Shin Lamed Zayin, nineteen seventy-seven, when the Rebbe said the ma'amar, "Gal einai va'abitan nefelois metei rosecha." It was a ma'amar in the format of a sicha. Another occasion was Taf Shin Mem Vav, nineteen eighty-six. The ma'amar during that farbrengen was also in the format of a sicha. Im yirtze Hashem, in the next installment,

42:51 we'll continue discussing the ma'amarim in the season of Lag BaOmer. The hemsek to the earlier installments Bineguer Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe and in completion of this series on Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe, wanted to make note of some points that were discussed in an earlier audio file number three fifteen In regard to the Maamer on Lag BaOmer taf shin lamed zayin forty-two years ago, the Rebbe then said a Maamer lahov lingin hilula derashbi with a nigun before the Maamer, a regular, uh, uh, tune of a Maamer. The Shabbos after Lag BaOmer, during the Shabbos farbrengen, the Rebbe said another Maamer beginning with the passage Gal einai va'abita neflos mitirascha. Gal einai being the letters of lamed gimel, Lag BaOmer, and this Maamer was in the format of a sicha, Maamer ke-ein sicha. In addition, in taf shin mem hei, the Rebbe at the farbrengen Lag BaOmer said a Maamer ke-ein sicha. A Maamer in the tune of a sicha, not a Maamer with a nigun before as a regular Maamer. In general, a Maamer ke-ein sicha was said by the Rebbe quite often, especially in the chafs, in the lameds, and the mems, and it was discussed in the audio number sixty-four and sixty-five. With this, we're concluding the series on Lag BaOmer, and im yirtze Hashem, we'll be discussing Chag HaShavuos. The hemsekhe to the earlier installment has been a gift to Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe. We're continuing now, be'ezras Hashem, with installment number nine, discussing the Maamarim of the Rebbe Lechvaye

45:06 in honor of Lag BaOmer and the different timings. Lag BaOmer can never fall on Shabbos. Me'ale if there was no farbrengen taking place on the day of Lag BaOmer itself, as is i-in the middle of the week. We find that in the Maamer that the Rebbe delivered during the farbrengen on the Shabbos prior to Lag BaOmer or the Maamer, uh, uh, on the Shabbos after Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe makes mention been geah to Lag BaOmer. We mention a few different categories and various years what actually took place. Been geah to the mention of Lag BaOmer in the Maamer. Firstly, the Maamer that was delivered on the Shabbos before Lag BaOmer, although that Shabbos had a designated Parsha and usually the Rabbeim would focus on a pasuk of that Parsha, and this is how the Maamer would usually begin, yet we find a few exceptions. In taf shin giotes nineteen fifty-nine, it was three days before Lag BaOmer, fifteenth of Iyar, and the Rebbe began the Maamer then lahov lingin hilula derashbi, to understand the hilula of derashbi. In taf shin lamed gimel nineteen seventy-three, it was a day before Lag BaOmer, and the Maamer of that Shabbos right before Lag BaOmer related to Lag BaOmer. In taf shin mem beis nineteen eighty-two, again was the fifteenth of Iyar, three days before Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe then delivered the Maamer, uh, uh, beginning from a quote of the Zohar which the Zohar it's told that there was a time they needed rain, and they came to

47:20 Rashbi for rain. Zim'nachod ve'islech am ha-lemitra. Likewise, in taf shin mem zayin nineteen eighty-seven, the Rebbe before Lag BaOmer, a day before Lag BaOmer, mentions the concept of Lag BaOmer within the Maamer of that Shabbos Parsha V'nikdashti b'seh be'nei Yisrael. And now continuing where the Rebbe made mention of Lag BaOmer hilula derashbi in the Maamer, in the farbrengen that took place the Shabbos after Lag BaOmer. The Maamer began with a pasuk of the Parsha, but the Rebbe added also a point been geah to Lag BaOmer as a hemsekhe to Lag BaOmer. This was in taf shin chaf hei, taf shin chaf vav, which is nineteen sixty-five, nineteen sixty-six, taf shin mem alef, nineteen eighty-one, and taf shin mem Ches, which was quite more than a week later in the Maamer of Bechukosai. Speaking about the Shabbos after, we find that although the Shabbos after has had its own Parsha, still the Rebbe makes mention in a very obvious way by beginning the Maamer on the topic of Lag BaOmer. This took place in taf shin chaf zayin. Lag BaOmer was Sunday, and this was the Shabbos after the Rebbe begins the Maamer in a quote of the Zohar been geah to the need for rain at that time. It's nineteen sixty-seven. This was two days before the Six-Day War. In taf shin lamed daled nineteen seventy-four, Lag BaOmer was Friday. On Shabbos, the Rebbe began the Maamer with a, a quote from the Zohar, and the Maamer is also edited by the Rebbe as we

49:44 have it today, uh, in Muge in the Maamarim that are edited by the Rebbe. Another feature that we find been geah to the Maamarim of Lag BaOmer, few of them at least, is a continuation. In taf shin lamed, for example, nineteen seventy, the Rebbe said a Maamer on Lag BaOmer, and the Shabbos after the Rebbe continued speaking about the topic that he discussed earlier. So there were two Maamarim sort of when it get to Lag BaOmer. In taf shin lamed zayin, farbrengen was Thursday night, so the Rebbe then said a ma'amar, and the Shabbos after continued. In taf shin mem nineteen eighty, interesting, uh, what took place then. There was a ma'amar the Shabbos before and the Shabbos after, and although the Rebbe farbrenged on the day of Lag BaOmer, there was no ma'amar during the farbrengen on Lag BaOmer. Another interesting, uh, fact which was observed that we find certain years that the Shabbos after Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe would explain something from the Ze'ah. We find it in three years, taf shin yud dalet nineteen fifty-four, taf shin chof alef nineteen sixty-one, and taf shin chof dalet nineteen sixty-four. That right after Lag BaOmer, the ma'amar right after, uh, which sometimes was mamash a few days later, there's a whole bier on the Ze'ah that relates to that time, that Parsha. Im yirtze Hashem, in the coming installment, we'll discuss, uh, uh, ma'asim from the Rebbe, personal stories that people told with their personal experience that they were zecher to receive berachos on

51:47 Lag BaOmer. The hemshech to the earlier installments when it get to Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe, we're continuing, and now, be'ezras Hashem, with installment number ten, discussing sipurem, stories of berachos that the Rebbe gave for children on Lag BaOmer. It was Lag BaOmer, the end of the mems, the end of the eighties. And Rebbe Berl Weiss, alav hashalom, came from California together with his son, yibadel lechaim tovim, Rabbi Moshe Aron. And straight from the, uh, flight coming in from Los Angeles, they came to seven seventy, where the Rebbe was distributing dollars after ma'ariv. Rebbe Berl approached the Rebbe and asked the Rebbe for a berachah for his son, was waiting for children many years, and they didn't have any children yet. The Rebbe immediately said, "Mir haben doch haynt mit uns Rab Shimon bar Yochai." We have today with, with us Rab Shimon bar Yochai. Rebbe Berl immediately, uh, said, requesting from the Rebbe and pointing at the Rebbe, "Mir viln a berachah fun dem Rab Shimon bar Yochai." We want a berachah from this Rab Shimon bar Yochai, pointing at the Rebbe. The Rebbe became serious, and the Rebbe answered, "Tzu sein bonim u'bonos." Will be boys and girls. And Hashem, he was geventched with children, boys and girls, sons and daughters. Another occasion, a lady asked the Rebbe for a aftochah for children. She was one of the shluchas, and she didn't let go. She didn't give up till the Rebbe responded. And she said to the Rebbe, she finds herself on shlichus,

53:56 which is l'maalah m'derech hateva, higher than nature. So therefore, she wants to have also a berachah higher than derech hateva. The Rebbe promised. Her husband wanted that it should also be b'derech hateva. So the meilah, after a while, she went to check herself out by a doctor, and the doctor told her that she is expecting. The hemshech to the earlier installments when it get to Lag BaOmer, we're continuing now, be'ezras Hashem, with installment number eleven. Story that happened in taf shin mem. As customary by the Rebbe that on the day of Lag BaOmer, people would approach the Rebbe. Couples who waited for children for years would approach the Rebbe in front of the house, front of the Rebbe's house, while the Rebbe was leaving the house, in front of the mikveh building on Albany and Union, in front of seven seventy, anxiously waiting to be zecher to receive a berachah from the Rebbe. Many people were helped with the berachos that the Rebbe gave the couples. In taf shin mem, the Rebbe told one of the maskirim that all the letters that are coming in as requests for children should be kept in a separate envelope together. After Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe went to the AL on an occasion close to after Lag BaOmer. The Rebbe took along all the names. A few months after Lag BaOmer- The Rebbe asked of the Maskir that he should contact these families, these couples who wrote in a request for a bracha and ask what is happening. This

56:21 was about thirty, forty couples. All of them were already expecting a child. It was that year, Taf Shin Mem, Lag BaOmer, interesting to note that the Rebbe spoke about the connection of brachos for children with Lag BaOmer, that we find it also by Rashbi that there was a couple that were married for m-many years, and they didn't have children. Rashbi gave them a netzer what they should do. She should take the most, uh, precious thing she has in the house and bring it to her parents' house, and soon after that, they were gibensched with children. The Rebbe spoke about it be'alichos at that fabrengen, and after Lag BaOmer, the Rebbe told the Maskir to keep all these names separate in a separate envelope, and as mentioned, they were all gibensched within a few months. The hemsechte of the early installments min hagear Lag BaOmer by the Rebbe, we're continuing now, Be'ezras Hashem, with installment number twelve, discussing Lag BaOmer, Taf Shin Daled Mem, thirty-five years ago. It was Lag BaOmer morning, as was customary by Chassidim, those that needed brachos for children, the couples would approach the Rebbe on different occasions that day, asking, begging for a bracha for children. Av Zalmish Imendwarkin, the Rav in Crown Heights, instructed that for the sake of privacy, these couples should wait at the Rebbe's house instead of waiting at seven seventy. For this morning at the Rebbe's house, there were a few younger lights from the kaleel who were appointed to keep order. Rav Alter Bukit, who

58:29 also learned in the kaleel that year, was appointed to make sure to be right near the Rebbe's car, and as soon as the Rebbe gets to the car, he should open the door, and as soon as the Rebbe settles, sits down in the car, he should close the door. And this will allow that the Rebbe should be able to leave to seven seventy without delay. Rabbi Bukit describes the scene as follows. There were many couples there, younger light of Anash, Chassidim, some not from Chassidim. There were many couples of Chassidisha, um, circles, Satmar, etcetera. The Rebbe walked out of his house ten AM, and he got to the car ten twenty, which means twenty minutes it took the Rebbe to walk from his house to the car. Many people approached the Rebbe, and then finally, Rabbi Bukit says, his moment came. The Rebbe got to the car, the door was open, he held the handle of the door, and the pressure was great. Everybody was pushing towards the car, and he was holding with great force the door of the car in order that it shouldn't bump into Chalila to the Rebbe. The Rebbe came into the car, the Rebbe sat down, and Rabbi Bukit was ready to close the door. Suddenly, a younger man is pushing in, pushing in, sticking his head in to the car, and he tells the Rebbe that he's married many years, he doesn't have any children. He relays to the Rebbe his name, his mother's name, his wife's name,

1:00:36 and her mother's name. Rabbi Bukit says, "I see that this is a younger man of Satmar, and he's asking a bracha from the Rebbe." The pressure was growing, and I'm holding on with all my energy in order that they shouldn't squeeze this younger man that is standing and speaking to the Rebbe. The Rebbe gave him a bracha, and suddenly I hear the Rebbe continues, and the Rebbe says to him, "Der kind vet darfn hobn mit vem tsu shpiln zikh." The child will need who to play with. The younger man didn't understand what the Rebbe's telling him. The Rebbe told him, "Say amen." He immediately answered amen loudly, and he left. I closed the door, and the Rebbe went to seven seventy. Years passed. I went out on shlichas to Boston. Fifteen years later, Chof Daled Menachem Av Taf Shin Nun Tes, it was the yom ha'eilev es of my father, Rabbon HaChassid Rab Chai Meir Bukit, and Rav Alter Bukit decided to visit the tziyun of his father, which was not far from Berio. He decided- To come in the early hours of the day, 4 or 5 AM, to say minor loshen and to go back to Boston in order to be back in the city 9 AM for the workday. Rav Alter is standing in the AL, he's reading minor loshen, and he sees a young man, a Satmar Hasid, walking in with his two sons. It looked strange, such an early hour in the morning. What are they doing here, bachlal? And

1:02:41 why in such an hour? His puzzle grew even greater when after they read their pidion, the father tells the two sons, take out the maimer. And both of them take out the maimer, the bar mitzvah maimer, which is recited at a bar mitzvah of Hasidim Chabad. And they're reading the maimer on its own. Rav Alter realizes that this Hasid, this Satmar young man, is looking at him and with an interesting focus. Something is not clear. After they all walk out, Rav Alter couldn't hold himself back, and he comes over to the father and he says, what is this and what's happening here? The Satmar young man told him, these children are children from the Rebbe. They were born in the schuss of the bracha of the Rebbe. And he begins his story. I was married many years. I did not have children. One day, I went over to the Rebbe to ask for a bracha and the Rebbe benched me. And after that, the Rebbe told me, der kind, der darf in halben mit vemen tze spieln dach. The child will need someone with whom to play with. And the Rebbe instructed me, I should say yomen. And in this merit, the schuss of this bracha, I have these two twins that you're seeing in front of your eyes. Rabbi Bukit, all shaken up, says, tell me, when did that happen? Was that not like Beimer Tov Shem Dalet Mem, which was 15 years earlier at the Rebbe's house? He says, yeah, like Beimer Tov

1:04:42 Shem Dalet Mem at the Rebbe's house in the Rebbe's car. Now, Rabbi Bukit says, I can't believe it. I am the one that held up the door of the Rebbe's car that they shouldn't squeeze you from the pressure that was gathering on the door. The Satmar Hasid answered, yes, now I understand. Your face looked familiar to me, but I was not matzliach to remember from where. Now I have a clear picture. And this Hasid tells Rabbi Bukit, as you see, these are two children, the twins that were born in the schuss, the bracha of the Rebbe about two years after like Beimer. And today is their bar mitzvah. Imirt Hashem, in the next installment, we'll discuss different quotes that the Rebbe said about like Beimer. The hemsach of the earlier installments been a gear to like Beimer. We're continuing now in conclusion with installment number 13, discussing various responses that the Rebbe gave or the Rebbe told individual people and also an interesting story in regards to preparing for a like Beimer parade. The tmimim bachadim in Montreal relate a story that they heard from Harav Gringlas, Alav HaShalom, who was mashpia in Temche Timim, Montreal, that he was once waiting upstairs in the hallway, 770, when in the years when the Rebbe would pick up his mail from the maskiro's office and take it to his room. On the way, the Rebbe read one of the letters. And before the Rebbe entered his room, the Rebbe tore the letter into four pieces and threw

1:06:54 it into the garbage. Rabbi Gringlas rushed to get this letter and he saw that this letter is full of complaints against floats that are being built for the parade and bikkeltayda that it causes with talmidim. And Rabbi Gringlas saw it factually that the Rebbe did not even see a need to respond to this letter, but Pasha tore it. From then on, Rabbi Gringlas, Alav HaShalom, traditionally would visit the place where the bachadim would prepare for the parade and he would also participate in painting and preparing for the parade. And now we're going to gear to an inyan that the Rebbe told Rabbi Elchan. This was in the early 60s. The Rebbe told him that like Beimer is an auspicious day for these inyanim, for inyanim of chassidus. As heitcha chasdan, it just begins. As we say, Pasach Rab Shimon opened, Rab Shbi opened up all the channels. The melech, this is an auspicious day to learn and to write v'chulo. It seems like this was in regards to the Sefer Erkin Chabad encyclopedia that Rabbi El began working at that point. And the Rebbe gave him an encouragement v'chulo. On another occasion, the Rebbe once gave over to Rabbi Chadikov like Beimer, early 60s, that like Beimer is an auspicious time to begin a new inyan. And the Rebbe told him, iz ot men ish vrengen fun vant ich veis das. You shouldn't ask me from where do I take this, do I know this, in the same sense that I also didn't ask when

1:08:48 I was told. Imirt Hashem, in the next installment, we're going to clarify some details that were discussed in the earlier installments.