On this, the last day of the Chassidic calendar, Chassidim study the last portion of the last section of Sefer HaTanya, in which the Alter Rebbe pleads with us to value the davening connection. He used these words:
הוכח תוכיח את עמיתך, אפילו מאה פעמים
[It is written,] “You shall surely reprove your comrade” — “even one hundred times,”add our Sages, taking up the hint offered by the repetitive form of the Hebrew verb.
ולזאת לא אוכל להתאפק ולהחריש מלזעוק עוד, בקול ענות חלושה
Therefore, writes the Alter Rebbe, I cannot contain myself and cannot refrain from crying out yet again, in a voice betraying [pained] weakness.
במטותא מינייכו ברחמין נפישין
I plead with you out of deep compassion,
חוסו נא על נפשותיכם, והשמרו והזהרו מאד מאד על התורה ועל העבודה שבלב, זו תפלה בכוונה
have pity on your souls. Take care, be extremely vigilant, concerning the study of Torah and the service of the heart, which is prayer4 with proper intent.
להתחיל כולם יחד כאחד, מלה במלה, ולא זה בכה וזה בכה, וזה דומם וזה משיח שיחה בטלה, ה׳ ישמרנו
All should begin [the prayers] in unison, as one, word by word, not one person here and another elsewhere, one mute and the other idly chatting, may G‑d protect us.
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Not sure why the Frierdiker Rebbe's photo is featured in this video. Today is the Day of Redemption of the second Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber, known after his passing as The Mitteler (Middle) Rebbe.
I am prepared for the fallout of my TTTing someone's idol this morning. Track culled from BT Rock, a collection of "songs from the spiritual journey" by Sam Glaser.
*Now an acronym for Tunes we'll Talk about this Tuesday.