The Day of Yud Shevat
The Previous Rebbe would first pen Chassidic discourses and then designate their future release dates. Before his passing in 5710 (1950), he authored a series entitled “Basi LeGani,” and instructed that the first discourse of the series be published on the approaching day of the 10th of Shevat. It subsequently become clear that he had timed its release to coincide exactly with the day of his own passing. This series is therefore highly significant: Traditionally, each Chabad Rebbe in turn, tailors his final Chassidic discourse to serve as a preparation and cornerstone of his successor’s mission – it specifies the goal of the new generation.
Basi LeGani expounds the central theme of our spiritual service, i.e., to draw the Shechinah (Divine Presence) back into this physical world, so that it be manifested in the Third Beis HaMikdash – and from there, to the entire universe. However, in order to accomplish this, we need to first draw the Shechinah into ourselves, our homes and our buildings [such as the Chabad Houses that serve as centers for activities that draw the Shechinah into the furthest reaches of the world]. For in fact, every Jew – or his home, etc. – constitutes a mini-Beis HaMikdash.
The Rebbe instituted the practice of studying and focusing particular attention to another of the twenty sections of Basi LeGani each year. Each year, the Rebbe would deliver a discourse explaining the current year’s section (“Ois”) of Basi LeGani. After twenty years elapse, we begin the cycle afresh – but on a higher level.
