What the Rebbe asked of us, and what he promised: a summary of the sichos, each with its exact source. The English is our translation and summary.
What is “the Chassidishe Parsha”?
די חסידישע פרשה
The Rebbe called the maamarim of Torah Ohr and Likkutei Torah on the week’s parsha “the Chassidishe Parsha.” Just as the weekly parsha is read in public, Chassidim have a fixed Chassidishe Parsha each Shabbos, and it gives life to everything of that Shabbos and of the whole week.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev 5716 · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598
A segulah for abundant parnasah
פרנסה בהרחבה
The Rebbe explained that learning the Chassidishe Parsha is a vessel for parnasah b’harchavah, a livelihood with ease, so that one can learn with peace of mind: “the Holy One looked into the Torah and created the world… a person looks into the Torah and sustains the world.” It is meant for every Jew in every corner of the world, and with it comes the promise “if you walk in My statutes… I will give your rains in their time”: blessing in material things, each in its proper time.
Business people especially, the Rebbe said, should learn Chassidus regularly; it brings blessing and harchavah in their livelihood.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev 5716 · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598; Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309
All of the week’s maamarim, in the week
Learn all the maamarim of the week’s parsha during that week, spread over its seven days, and do not push part of them to the next week.
The Tzemach Tzedek chose the maamarim of Likkutei Torah from about two thousand maamarim, like the “two thousand levels” of pnimiyus haTorah. Completing them all brings the promise of Moshiach: “when your wellsprings spread outward.”
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309
Blessing for the whole year, even the year before
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: in “children, life and ample sustenance,” in material and in spiritual things.
Sichos of Vayakhel and Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309, 315–316
Both books, by Shabbos Bereishis
The goal is to complete both books in the year, by the next Shabbos Bereishis: the winter Shabbosim are Torah Ohr and the summer ones Likkutei Torah, with the Shir HaShirim maamarim spread over the year’s Shabbosim and Yamim Tovim, so that all of Likkutei Torah, Shir HaShirim included, is finished by V’Zos HaBerachah.
When Pekudei completes Sefer Shemos, a siyum is made. At that siyum the Rebbe said l’chaim and danced in his place with great joy together with everyone present.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 315–316
From what age?
The obligation is mainly from the age of twenty, but learning it earlier is praiseworthy, and many learned it together with their families, even with children around bar-mitzvah age.
Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha 5749 · Sefer HaSichos 5749 vol. 1, p. 41, note 29
Take it on, and pass it on
Everyone should take it on, without a neder, and whoever hears about it should pass it on to others.
The Rebbe’s call in these sichos (Likkutei Sichos vol. 2; Toras Menachem vol. 42)
תר״ח5608 · 1848 · Zhitomir
5608: the year Likkutei Torah was printed
The Tzemach Tzedek had pointed to the year 5608 (1848) as a time when the redemption could come. That year he printed Likkutei Torah, the Alter Rebbe’s maamarim, in Zhitomir, with his own notes and references.
When the year ended, his son, then fourteen years old and later the Rebbe Maharash, asked him why Moshiach had not come. The Tzemach Tzedek answered: “But Likkutei Torah was printed this year!”
The printing was the inner side of that year’s redemption: the wellsprings of Chassidus spreading outward, “yafutzu maayanosecha chutzah,” a foretaste of Moshiach that brings him closer. Every maamar learned here carries it on, and the Rebbe said that completing all the maamarim fulfils “your wellsprings shall spread outward.”
Likkutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 80, note 70; and Toras Menachem vol. 42 (Vayakhel 5725) on “yafutzu”
See also: The Rebbe’s maamar of Zos Chanukah 5746, at its end; Printed at the back of the Tehillim.
The brachos
01 · The Rebbe’s bracha
Parnasah b’harchavah
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
02 · The Rebbe’s bracha
For every Jew, everywhere
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
03 · The Rebbe’s bracha
A blessing for the whole year, even retroactively
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
04 · The Rebbe’s bracha
Your wellsprings, spread outward
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
05 · The Rebbe’s bracha
The Rebbe’s joy at the siyum
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
06 · The Rebbe’s bracha
Whoever hears should pass it on
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)
Take it on, and pass it on
Learn this week’s maamarim, a portion a day from Sunday to Shabbos, and share this page with one friend.
Sources as recorded from the printed volumes: Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayeishev 5716 · Likkutei Sichos vol. 2, p. 598; Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Vayakhel 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309; Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 315–316; Sichos of Vayakhel and Pekudei 5725 · Toras Menachem vol. 42, pp. 306–309, 315–316; Sichah of Shabbos Parshas Lech Lecha 5749 · Sefer HaSichos 5749 vol. 1, p. 41, note 29; Likkutei Sichos vol. 6, p. 80, note 70.
