It was the custom amongst Chassidim (of old, and even of quite recent times) to maintain the Yud Tes Kislev Farbrengens all the way into Chanukah.
Prepare for Chanukah
We should commence our preparations for Chanukah; both the activities that concern ourselves (including studying the Laws of Chanukah), as well as those that concern others.
Begin the Spiritual Service of Chanukah Now
This week concludes with the first day of Chanukah. Therefore, we should all begin today with the spiritual service of “raising the seven branches of our Menorah” – our seven emotional attributes, ensuring that they all become “beaten from gold” and form “an entirely golden menorah.” Moreover, they should all “illuminate facing the central stem.” (There is an alternative opinion which holds that the lamps faced the “westernmost lamp.” As we have discussed on numerous occasions, in divine service it is possible to fulfill the directives alluded to by both opinions.)
This service applies to each one of us, regardless of whether these matters have been fully absorbed in our faculties of wisdom, understanding and knowledge – or whether we perhaps still need to study the explanations found in Chassidus…
As far as actual implementation is concerned, we should now make all the necessary preparations and required activities for the coming days of Chanukah, so that we will illuminate our seven emotional attributes.
Even one who is personally unprepared for such matters, nevertheless, the very fact that he finds himself in the Shul and study hall of the Previous Rebbe [770] – a building that nurtures Torah study, prayer, acts of kindness and so forth – imbues him with the ability to serve Hashem in the proper way. He may not understand the explanation of these matters nor sense the heartfelt feelings associated with them; nevertheless, as far as action (which is the main thing) is concerned, his entire service on this first day of this week [that precedes Chanukah] will be accomplished in a most complete manner.
