This week’s Chassidishe Parsha
18 Tishrei 5787שמיני עצרת ושמחת תורה
18 maamarim of Likkutei Torah, in seven daily portions: the Alter Rebbe’s Hebrew, a faithful English translation and a short explanation of every section.
Sukkos 4Shemini Atzeres 8V’Zos HaBerachah 6
The Rebbe’s brachaA segulah for abundant parnasahFor those who learn the Chassidishe Parsha · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598Read the Rebbe’s wordsCalendar: Hebcal.com · Diaspora · change it in settings
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A taste of this week’s maamar
Parshas Shemini Atzeres · Maamar 1ביום השמיני עצרת תהיה לכם
A created being can move its Creator only because G‑d bound Himself, by an oath above reason, to the love hidden in every Jew; the festivals and daily Torah study draw that power down, and on Shemini Atzeres the encompassing light of Sukkos is gathered inward to empower every mitzvah of the year.
ביום השמיני עצרת תהיה לכם. הנה כתיב שמאלו תחת לראשי וימינו תחבקני. להבין מהו תחת לראשי.
“On the eighth day, there shall be an atzeres (assembly) for you.” Now, it is written, “His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me.” [We need] to understand what “under my head” means.
The maamar opens with the Torah’s verse on Shemini Atzeres, the eighth day that follows the seven days of Sukkos. It pairs it with a verse from the Song of Songs, which Chassidus reads as the embrace between G‑d and the Jewish people, and asks what it means that the left hand is “under my head.”
Why learn it · the Rebbe’s words
די חסידישע פרשה
The Rebbe called the maamarim of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah on the week’s parsha the Chassidishe Parsha: a fixed portion of Chassidus each week that gives life to the whole Shabbos and the whole week. And he promised great blessings to those who learn it.
קוב״ה אסתכל באורייתא וברא עלמא… בר נש מסתכל בה באורייתא ומקיים עלמא
Learning the Chassidishe Parsha is a vessel for a livelihood with ease, so that one can learn with peace of mind. As the Holy One looked into the Torah and created the world, so a person who looks into the Torah sustains the world.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev 5716 · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598
אם בחוקותי תלכו… ונתתי גשמיכם בעתם
It is meant for every Jew in every corner of the world, and with it comes the promise: walk in My statutes, and I will give your rains in their time — blessing in material things, each in its proper time.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev 5716 · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598
בני, חיי ומזוני רויחי
When one completes all of Likkutei Torah, through V’Zos HaBerachah, the blessing and success reach back to the past year too, like teshuvah, which works retroactively: children, health and ample sustenance, in material and in spiritual things.
Sichos of Vayakhel and Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309, 315–316
יפוצו מעינותיך חוצה… אתי מר
The Tzemach Tzedek chose the maamarim of Likkutei Torah from about two thousand, and together they hold all of pnimiyus haTorah. Completing them fulfils “your wellsprings shall spread outward,” and then “the Master comes”: Moshiach.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309
סיום ספר שמות
When the maamarim of Pekudei completed Sefer Shemos, the Rebbe said l’chaim, stood, and danced in his place with great joy together with the whole gathering.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 315–316
אני המתחיל
Everyone should take it on, without a neder, and whoever hears should pass it on. Begin yourself, and bring others with you, until the world is filled with the study of Chassidus.
The Rebbe’s call in these sichos (Likkutei Sichos vol. 2; Toras Menachem vol. 42)
The Hebrew lines are the words the sichos quote; the English is our translation and summary. Each source is given in full on the next page.
Read all of the Rebbe’s encouragement
תר״ח5608 · 1848 · Zhitomir The year Likkutei Torah was printedWhen 5608 ended without Moshiach, the Tzemach Tzedek’s young son asked why. His father answered: “But Likkutei Torah was printed this year!”The story, and what it means for us“Everyone should take it on, without a neder, and whoever hears should pass it on.” The week’s maamarim, a portion a day.
You’re in. May it bring every bracha. The Rebbe asked that whoever hears pass it on: send it to one friend.
Where am I holding?
Each section is marked as you learn it. The week comes in seven daily portions, the year fills toward the siyum, and the site opens where you stopped.
Your week
Seven portions, Sunday to Shabbos. Today’s is one tap away.
Your year
Both books by Shabbos Bereishis; the gold mark is Pekudei, the siyum of Torah Ohr.
Your place
Close the page anywhere; it opens where you were.
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The year
Torah Ohr in the winter, Likkutei Torah in the summer, and all of it, Shir HaShirim included, finished by V’Zos HaBerachah.
When the maamarim of Pekudei completed Sefer Shemos, the Rebbe said l’chaim, stood, and danced in his place with great joy together with the whole gathering.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 315–316
How it works
The Alter Rebbe’s words are set like a fine sefer, broken into short sections. Under each one: a faithful English translation, then a short explanation. Every source he quotes opens in place.
Section by section, with layers you can switch: Hebrew, English, explanation and a deeper note, side by side on a wide screen.
Tap a small number to see the verse, Gemara or Midrash the Alter Rebbe quotes, what it says around it, the Kehot note, and how it connects.
Sections are marked as you learn them. The week is split into seven daily portions, and your siyum grows through the year.
The books
The Alter Rebbe’s maamarim on Bereishis and Shemos, and on Megillas Esther. Printed in Kopust, 1837.
Open Torah OhrOn Vayikra, Bamidbar, Devarim, the festivals and Shir HaShirim. Printed in Zhitomir, 1848.
In preparation · after Torah Ohr
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