There is much that we owe to Yud Shvat. Of course there is the obvious–our generation’s unique mission, responsibility and calling, which has its’ origins on Yud Shvat. This final stage of the transformation of the world into G-dliness began on Yud Shvat. And soon.
But there are more technical things as well, for which we need to be thankful to Yud Shvat: Every year the Rebbe would say a maamar Bosi leGani that related specifically to the ois in the Frierdige Rebbe’s maamar that that year corresponded with. In all there are about 50 distinct maamorim of Bosi leGani (considering that the last few years the Rebbe didn’t say a new one, and there were years in which the Rebbe said more than one). And it is thanks to the Yud Shvat of this year that we end up learning the particular maamorim for this year, that we (perhaps/probably) would otherwise never have learned.
Now, I know that that statement is blasphemous. After all, if we were talking–this year–only about the maamar of 5717 (which is one of the maamorim connected with the ois of this year), then perhaps. But–the 2nd maamar of this year, the maamar Bosi leGani 5737, is after all mugah! And isn’t it a fact that–since there are only 6 volumes of maamorei melukat (less in the newer set), it is expected of every chosid to at least be fluent in these maamorim? How can I suggest, then, that, if not for Yud Shvat, we could have remained ignorant of one of these?!
Nevertheless, I must confess that, in my case at least, even though there are ONLY 6 volumes of melukat, all the same I wouldn’t have learned the very beautiful maamar of Bosi leGani 5737 were it not for Yud Shvat of this year (and what I did 20 years ago I don’t recall, but I definitely don’t remember the maamar from then in any case). So, being one of things that we need to be thankful to Yud Shvat for, I thought it only fitting that we farbreng a bit about this maamar. So, here’s one of the points in the maamar, that–sure enough-begins with a story (that comes from Pesachim 56A):
Our patriarch, Yaakov Avinu, was nearing the end of his days, and he gathered his children around him. It had been his intent to impart to them profound secrets and prophecies, but he suddenly sensed the Divine spirit leaving him. Yaakov was alarmed. ‘Could it be’, he wondered, ‘that my children are not all holy and pure? Could it be that I am being deceived, that I have an unworthy offspring,
