The year the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested, was a fearful time in Lubavitch (1927, תרפ"ז). On Simchas Torah, at the Kiddush in the home of his mother Rebbitzin Shterna Sarah, he begged his chassidim to say the daily portion of Tehillim every day of the month. Later, when he was exiled in Kostrama, the Rebbe shared with the chassidim: "About the year תרפ"ז I was very much afraid, not for myself, but for the chassidim." That was until Simchas Torah, when he requested that the chassidim recite Tehillim.
The day the Frierdiker Rebbe was arrested, a penciled note in his handwriting was found on his table. It read, "Listen, chassidim and all Yidden who long for Moshiach. Pass the word on in my name to all chassidim around the world – that I have directed that in all chassidishe shuls, after Shacharis every day (including Shabbos), Tehillim should be recited together with a minyan according to the monthly division, and this reading should be followed by Kaddish. In addition, all Yidden who work in the market and all businessmen who cherish the homely warmth of earlier times should go to shul for davening and should be present [between Minchah and Maariv] to learn Ein Yaakov. And HaShem will help them with a comfortable parnasa.
"When you speak to chassidim, tell them that this comes from me as an order; when you speak to other Yidden, tell them that out of my love for them, and out of my concern for the welfare of a fellow Yid, I ask them to fulfil the above requests.
"May HaShem bensch us all with a happy year, spiritually and materially, and may we merit a complete redemption through Moshiach. Amen.”
Later, the Frierdiker Rebbe again emphasised that out of ahavas Yisroel, efforts should be made that all Yidden recite the daily Tehillim, as it is beneficial for children, health and parnassa.
(ממכתב ט"ו סיון תרפ"ח – קובץ מכתבים ע' 210, היום יום א' שבט)
