Introduction
On the Shabbos preceding every new month, we recite a special prayer to bless the coming month; such a Shabbos is called Shabbos Mevarchim. The exception to this universal custom is the Shabbos preceding the month of Tishrei, when we do not bless the coming seventh month. The Baal Shem Tov explained that the reason behind this blatant exception, is that Hashem Himself blesses the month of Tishrei and, in fact, it is through His doing so that the Jewish people receive the ability to subsequently bless the following eleven months of the year.
Teach Torah In Other Shuls
We should certainly make the effort, particularly on this Shabbos, to visit other Shuls and study halls in order to “gather congregations” for the purpose of Torah-study.
Explain Significance Of This Shabbos
In these gatherings, we should study topics which focus on timely themes, notably the teachings of the “three forefathers” of Chassidus concerning Hashem’s blessing on this Shabbos Mevarchim Tishrei, which is encapsulated in the opening phrase of this week’s Parshah, “You are all standing today.”
The Alter Rebbe related, “When I was in Mezeritch, I heard the following from my master and teacher, the Maggid [of Mezritch], in the name of his master and teacher, the Baal Shem Tov: [concerning] Tishrei, the seventh month, which is the first month from all the months of the year, Hashem Himself blesses it on Shabbos Mevarchim, which is the final Shabbos of the month of Elul. With this power, the Jewish people then bless the [subsequent] months, eleven times during the year.”
In that Sichah, the Rebbe explains that the content of Hashem’s blessing is to be found in the Torah portion for this week, Parshas Nitzavim, which is always read the Shabbos preceding Rosh Hashanah. Nitzavim begins, “You are all standing today”; the word “today” refers to Rosh Hashanah, the Day of Judgment – similar to the verse “And it was on the day,” which Targum Unkelos translates as, “It was on the Day of the Great Judgment.” The words “you stand” indicate that we stand firm and well-established, and are found meritorious in judgment. On the Shabbos we bless the seventh month. The Hebrew word Shevii, “Seventh,” is related to the word Musbah, “satiated” – indicating that the month “is itself satiated [with holiness] and satiates all Jewry with abundant goodness for all of the year.”
Through studying the Torah teachings of the “three forefathers” of Chassidus concerning the blessing that Hashem gives on Shabbos Mevarchim Tishrei, namely, “You are all standing today,” we increase this blessing itself. For these teachings include the great virtue that is associated with a universal Jewish custom, as well as the virtue of a teaching from Torah’s inner dimension. Further, our study of these teachings results in “today,” i.e., light and revelation – as in the verse, “And Hashem called the light: Day.” We further accomplish all this through studying the teachings of “the two great luminaries” ([the anniversary of whose births we recently celebrated,] i.e., the Baal Shem Tov and the Alter Rebbe – through the ‘mediation’ of the Maggid of Mezritch).
Promote The Providing Of Festival Needs
It is extremely worthwhile that one who visits other Shuls for the abovementioned purpose, should also utilize this opportunity to encourage the congregations regarding providing the needy with their festival requirements.
Av Harachamim
The Chabad custom is to recite Av Harachamim on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah. The bestowal of Hashem’s blessing at this juncture in the prayers is likewise emphasized in the prayer that follows [the recital of the two Yukan Purkan prayers]: Av Harachamim. For it is Chabad custom to recite Av Harachamim on the Shabbos before Rosh Hashanah [as opposed to almost every other Shabbos Mevarchim], as it is explained in numerous places that there is an immense virtue to the recital of Av Harachamim, and that it is far loftier than the level represented by our recital of Av Harachaman.
