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Likkutei Sichos
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Likkutei Sichos, lit. "Collected Talks," is an anthology of essays relating to the weekly portion of the Bible (TorahChumash) and special occasions in the Jewish and Hasidic calendar. These essays were informal lectures given by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in the context of Hasidic gatherings (Farbrengen) in the main Lubavitch synagogue in Brooklyn. During the course of a Farbrengen, talks, stories and discourses were given by the Rebbe, Hasidic melodies (Niggunim) were sung, visiting guests were welcomed, toasts were offered, etc.
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Likkutei Sichos, lit. "Collected Talks," is an anthology of essays relating to the weekly portion of the Bible (TorahChumash) and special occasions in the Jewish and Hasidic calendar. These essays were informal lectures given by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, in the context of Hasidic gatherings (Farbrengen) in the main Lubavitch synagogue in Brooklyn. During the course of a Farbrengen, talks, stories and discourses were given by the Rebbe, Hasidic melodies (Niggunim) were sung, visiting guests were welcomed, toasts were offered, etc. The Rebbe began public speaking after the passing of his predecessor, and father-in-law, the 6th Rebbe, in 1950. He formally assumed leadership by delivering his fist discourse (Maamar) on the first anniversary of the passing, in 1951. The public speaking continued until his illness in 1992. In many of the talks, it was the Rebbe's focus to connect the weekly Torah reading with current events throughout the world so that we can internalize and relate to these ideas in our contemporary experience. The volumes of Likkutei Sichos are published by the Lubavitch Publication House Kehot Publication Society.
The edited Sichos represent much of the Rebbe's central teachings, and unique spiritual voice for the generation, with other major works being the deeper, mystical Maamarim (Hasidic discourses), unedited talks, personal correspondence etc. Through his teachings, leadership, public campaigns, and private relationship with people from all walks of life, Jewish and non-Jewish, the Rebbe was the most influential Hasidic leader of recent times, with great impact upon the wider Jewish world. The nature of his leadership and thought marks a culminating fulfillment of Hasidic history, representing the fullest measure of the Hasidic ideal to disseminate the "wellsprings" of Hasidism in the widest and most accessible forms, and united with the other dimensions of Judaism. The many aspects of Likkutei Sichos present the most accessible form of the Rebbe's thought, and its practical outcomes.
Production
The talks were transcribed by redactors (meinichim), and then submitted to Rabbi Schneerson for editing. This traditional method was used, especially, because many of the talks were given on the Sabbath, when writing is not allowed in Jewish observance. Sometimes, Farbrengen were given on weekdays, to mark occasions like festivals. These were then available directly around the World by phone-link, and later broadcast across America on live television channels. They were then put in writing, like the Sabbath talks. After being edited personally by the Rebbe, they were distributed in booklet form worldwide. They were later compiled into books, of which there is a set of 39 volumes. Vols. 1-9 are in Yiddish; vols. 10-14, in Hebrew; vols. 15-29 are in Yiddish; and vols. 30-39, in Hebrew. In particular, Yoel Kahn is noteworthy for having prepared the first nine volumes of Likkutei Sichos. Other talks of the Rebbe were published in other formats, such as those of later years, collected into yearbooks, and the collections of unedited talks.
Overview of Contents
Some of the volumes of Likkutei Sichos are devoted to explaining mystical Hasidic philosophy, as it explains the weekly portion of Torah, Jewish festivals, or other ideas drawn from all aspects of traditional Jewish thought. Other talks are devoted to elucidating the "Revealed" dimensions of Judaism, such as Talmudic commentary. In this category are the celebrated "Rashi Sichos". The Medieval, French Rashi is the most important traditional Jewish commentator on the books of the Hebrew Bible, and the many volumes of Talmud. His commentary on the 5 Books of the Torah elucidates the Plain meaning (see Pardes), with some additional meanings from the Midrashic method, which initially appear to be utilised when the plain meaning still leaves questions. The essential nature of Rashi's explanations on the Torah has historically drawn many sub-commentaries from leading Rabbis, who explain why Rashi says what he does. It can be said that the Lubavitcher Rebbe's Rashi Sichos perhaps represent his personally most innovative contribution to Jewish thought, out of a complete mastery and innovative teaching in all areas of Judaism. In the Rashi Sichos, the Rebbe brings a new approach, that initially cites all previous sub-commentaries from earlier authorities, and then proceeds to explain why each of them falls short. Often these earlier explanations rely on Talmudic thought. The Rebbe elucidates a deceptively simple explanation of Rashi that he often culminates by additionally relating his conclusions to their spiritual, mystical parallels, and practical outcomes. It can be said that in all the Rebbe's many dimensional scholarship, he captures the simple essence of Hasidic mysticism, and unites it with the Revealed aspects of Judaism, always seeking to bring ideas into greatest tangibility, and above all practical outcomes ("The main thing is the deed"). This reflects the essential meaning of Hasidus (See Hasidic philosophy - as the Rebbe teaches in the discourse "On the essence of Chassidus"), which uncovers the inner spiritual meaning of Kabbalah, and seeks to bring this Divine essence down to the lowest levels. The talks of the Rebbe themselves represent this, as in contrast to the Rebbe's Maamarim (Hasidic discourses), the historically more traditional vehicle for Hasidic mysticism, in the informal Sichos (Talks), the Rebbe tends to avoid deep Kabbalistic terminology. The talks bring Hasidic thought into everyday language. This represents a culminating stage to the historical development of Hasidic thought.
Books for further reading
- In English the first few volumes of Likkutei Sichos are translated, and published by Kehot, though they presently appear to be out of print. There are many English books, available through Kehot, that summarise main ideas and discussions from Likkutei Sichos, but often the great qualities of the many threads of thought are diminished thereby, although these compilations can gain in accessibility and application. For alternative compilations drawn from the Sichos, see the English section of Kehot Publication Society online, under the heading of Rebbes: The Lubavitcher Rebbe (7th Rebbe). Some of the many works on this list are drawn from Likkutei Sichos.
- Perhaps the most accessible form of presentation of Likkutei Sichos is given in the 5 volumes of "The Gutnick Edition Chumash", compiled by Chaim Miller, published by Kol Menachem, which gives an English commentary on the Torah drawn from the Sichos of the Rebbe. This most handy format can sit alongside other classic editions of the Torah with commentary in English. In these volumes, devoted to each of the 5 Books of the Torah (Genesis to Deuteronomy, available individually or in a set), the commentary condenses especially the Rashi Sichos of the Rebbe, without overly compromising the beauty of their structure (see the insightful introduction of Chaim Miller to the Sichos of the Rebbe). A section of Classic Questions is given, that shows how previous authorities have explained Rashi, then in the Rebbe's commentary, his unique approach is presented. Additionally, many Hasidic ideas from these and other Sichos of the Rebbe are given, to offer a rounded encounter with many dimensions of the Rebbe's Talks. This presents a special Hasidic insight into the words of the Torah. The books are presented in their own attractive binding.
- For those seeking a scholarly investigation of the nature of the Rebbe's Talks, a doctoral thesis is presented on them, originally published by Jason Aronson (now subsumed into Rowman & Littlefield publishers) as "The Educational Teachings of Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson", by Aryeh Solomon (and Louis David Solomon).
- The Sichos are contrasted with the deeper mystical format of the Rebbe's Maamarim (Discourses), that utilise more Kabbalistic terminology. An accessible example of them is published by Kehot Publication Society, as "Basi LeGani: Chassidic Discourses" (translated into English by Eliyahu Touger). This gives the last discourse of the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe from 1950, and the first discourse of the 7th Rebbe from 1951, with which he assumed leadership. Both begin with the quotation from the Biblical Song of Songs "Basi legani.." ("I have come into My garden.."). The last discourse of the 6th Rebbe is seen by his successor to allude to his message for the subsequent generation. The first discourse of the 7th Rebbe directly addresses the spiritual meaning and task of our generation.
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