Preparations

Preparations

Organized Preparation

It is self-understood that when preparing for an occasion of extreme importance, one organizes his activities in the most orderly manner – this certainly applies to all of our preparations that are associated with the “great and sanctified day” of Yud Shevat.

Thirty Days in Advance

We should begin preparing for Yud Shevat thirty days in advance, i.e., from the 10th of Teves. By the 15th, our preparations should certainly have taken off, and we should steadily step up our activities the closer we get to Yud Shevat.

Farbrengens

We should hold special Farbrengens 1) on Shabbos Mevarchim Shevat; 2) all the more so during Rosh Chodesh; and 3) on the Shabbos before Yud Shevat.

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1. Forty years have passed – greater service required This year is the 40th anniversary of the Yahrtzait. We therefore receive the virtue expressed in the verse, “Hashem has given you a heart to understand, eyes to see and ears to hear,” regarding all matters of divine service that are based on the directives, teachings, etc., of the Previous Rebbe. [This verse was said by Moshe to the Jewish people at the conclusion of their fortieth year in the desert – exactly forty years after receiving the Torah. As our Sages explain, “After forty years one can finally reach the true meaning of his master’s teachings.”] In conjunction with this new stage, we should further increase our actual implementation of the Previous Rebbe’s instructions. After all, “The main thing is the deed. (15th of Teves 5750; Hisva’aduyos p.126)
2. Shabbos Torah gatherings In addition to the Farbrengen that is held each Shabbos in fulfillment of the practice instituted by Moshe to hold gatherings each Shabbos [for the purpose of studying Torah]. (Parshas Va’era 5752; Hisva’aduyos p.120) Mesibos Shabbos is not just for kids We could say that these weekly gatherings should be extended to include men, women and children – in the spirit of the verse, “And Moshe gathered, etc.,” which speaks of the command to donate towards the construction of the Mishkan; a command which was issued to men and women – and even children. (ibid, footnote 91)
3. Rosh Chodesh Farbrengens In addition to the more recent practice to hold Farbrengens every Rosh Chodesh (ibid.) In addition to making resolutions regarding the farbrengens of the actual Yahrtzait, we should also make resolutions regarding the farbrengen of Rosh Chodesh Shevat. (Va’era 5752; Sichos Kodesh p.543)
4. ... Arranging the Farbrengens that serve as a preface to the Yahrtzait – particularly