Tishrei By The Rebbe 5716 (Late 1955) - Part VII: Shmini Atzeres &Simchas Torah

00:01 Behemshech, in continuation to the earlier installments in regards to Tishrei Tov Shintei Zayin, seventy years ago, and the events which took place during that month by the Rebbe. We continue now with installment number seven, discussing the night of Shemini Atzereth and the night of Simchas Torah. These two days, it felt as though a stormy cloud of joy hovered above the Beis Medrash, pouring gladness and song upon all those present in the surroundings of Lubavitch in Crown Heights. Thousands of Yidden flocked to behold the rejoicing of the festival in Lubavitch. As every year, towards evening, the Tmimim, Bocherim, and Anash went out to the local shuls in the area to bring joy to the Yidden with the dancing of Hakofes. Those who did not go out entered after Ma'ariv into the sukkah in the courtyard, referred to as the Shalash, which is also the large shalash used for the tefillahs during the Yomim Neruyim and the Farbrengens. As usual, already from the previous Rebbe's times, Rabbi Gurary, the Rashag, previous Rebbe's oldest son-in-law, distributed generously Kiddush Rabah, a Kiddush Rabah with cake to all of Anash. They said LeChayim and sang Nigunim. This serving came as a preparation for the first evening of Hakofes. After about two hours, nine p.m., the Rebbe appeared. By then, the organizers had already arranged the tables and moved them to the sides. They had also prepared a place for the women who yearned to behold with their own eyes the pure and radiant countenance so precious to everyone, for they

02:08 longed the entire year for that special moment to see the Rebbe during Hakofes. They recited Atah Chason three times. The Rebbe was honored with the recitation of the verses, and afterwards, several select individuals were also honored to say some of the psukim. By the Rebbe's instruction, the guests of Eretz Yisroel were honored to say the verse, "Ve'imru heshienu Elokei yeshenu." For the Rebbe's place, a small platform was built with three steps so that he could see and be seen by the entire minyan, elom, gathered in this joyous mitzvah celebration. As usual, during the first and seventh Hakofeh, the Rebbe was honored with holding the Sefer Torah and dancing Hakofes. During the Hakofes, the dancing, and the joyous melodies, the Rebbe encouraged the singing with the movements of joy, conducting with his hands, dancing in his place, thereby igniting a fiery enthusiasm amongst all the dancers who continued to dance tirelessly. The entire atmosphere was uplifted. The Hakofes concluded on that first evening of Shemini Atzereth around one a.m. Shabbos, Shemini Atzereth, Shacharis began at ten a.m. with the Rebbe seated in his regular place for Shabbos and Yom Tov in the corner, southeastern corner, which is dreimis mizrachis. Now we get to the second evening of Yom Tov, which is the evening of Simchas Torah. That night, too, bocherim and Anash went out and dispersed amongst the various shuls to celebrate with Yidden the joy of Torah with sing, song, and dance. According to Chabad custom, immediately after the conclusion of the Ma'ariv, a lengthy

04:24 farbrengen was held. At its beginning, the Rebbe and the entire elom made kiddush and havdalah over wine since it was mechador Shabbos, and everyone ate something in place of a meal, kiddush memakem seudah. After that, the Rebbe began to deliver long talks on subjects connected with the day. He mentioned that the theme of Shemini Atzereth and Simchas Torah is the same as that of Rosh Hashanah, except that on Rosh Hashanah it is expressed in the mode of seriousness and bitterness, whereas on Shemini Atzereth it is expressed in the mode of joy. After the sicha, some began singing loudly, while others felt their hearts broken within them for not having done teshuva properly during the earlier days of Tishrei. The Rebbe then spoke about the unity which is accomplished through the four minim, the arba minim, and said that this work must be brought into actual deed by the younger people, both because they are less burdened by livelihood and similar concerns, and because of the energy and vitality within them. And the Rebbe concluded, "And now that we are speaking about victory, victory in war comes specifically through a march song. The young men who are not yet married should now sing Napoleon's March, and the older ones, meaning the married ones, should clap their hands, but only the young ones should sing the march." And they sang the march loudly and with great joy. When the nigun was completed, they finished singing, the Rebbe then said to appease those who are already married, now

06:26 they should sing a song and the younger ones should clap their hands. At the conclusion of the singing, the Rebbe explained at length the subject of marriage and ended his words by asking that they sing a wedding melody by Yehi Bishura Melech. They sang for a long time and the Rebbe motioned with his hand, encouraging the singing until the entire Elam crowd was uplifted in joy and danced in their places. Afterwards, the Rebbe said, now we will go and arrange dark office. And the Rebbe explained the first verse, Ata Reza, saying that Ata, the essence of the infinite, grants us to know that Hashem is the God and the world is nothingness and void, that what truly exists is only godliness. Therefore, one must be completely subjugated to godliness every moment, whether it is understood or not. And the vessel for livelihood must be a pure vessel according to Teda. And likewise, in the giving of Tzdoka, one should give even more than his ability, knowing that Hashem is the one who directs the world. Meanwhile, multitudes of Yidden Jews began streaming in, having already finished their own Hakafes and Yom Tov meals in order to participate in the Fabringen of the Rebbe. And the Rebbe instructed that L'Chaim be given to all of them and he even spoke with several individuals. During the Fabringen, the Rebbe was in an exalted state of joy and his talks flowed like a gushing spring. The joyful Nigunim sung between the talks touched the very chords of the

08:26 soul. The inner content of the Sichas lifted the listeners above the confines of worldly limitations and raised them higher and higher. Chassidim of Lubavitch know that the revelations during this Fabringen are worth all the treasures in the world, more than the treasures in the world. Therefore, during the Fabringen, it was impossible to insert even a pin into the yard from the extreme crowding. Some even hung on the walls, literally standing one on top of another. Even the street and pathway were completely packed. One could see even people from the street with newspapers tucked under their arms, pushing among the throngs in order to take part in the celebration of Simcha and to hear every word emerging from Pekotche of the Rebbe, from the Rebbe's holy mouth. We will, im Yirtzachim, continue in the next installment.