Basha'ah Shehikdimu 5672 (1912)

Basha'ah Shehikdimu is a maamar (Chassidic discourse) that the Rebbe Rashab began saying on the first day of Shavuos 5672 (1912) in Lubavitch, and completed on Shabbos Parshas Vayera 5676 (1915) in Rostov, with the maamar "VaHashem Amar HaMechaseh Ani MeAvrohom." The hemshech (series) contains approximately 124 maamarim. In addition to delivering these discourses orally, the Rebbe Rashab wrote them down, and these writings include additional content that was not delivered orally and was not divided into individual maamarim. The Rebbe Rashab showed special affection for this hemshech.

Volumes of the Series

Volume 1 of the Hemshech

Content of the Hemshech

This hemshech explains fundamental concepts in Kabbalah and Chassidus in great breadth, including concepts like oros (lights), keilim (vessels), kesser (crown), sefiros, with various explanations through many mashalim (analogies). With its delivery began a new era in the expansion of Chassidic teachings, with all the deep concepts in Chassidus explained extensively.

The first page of the Hemshech in the handwriting of the Rebbe Rashab

The Rebbe Rashab's original holy manuscript is divided into four parts:

1. The main maamarim - 173 pages, each page with 75-80 lines
2. A separate kuntres containing the beginning and end of each maamar with additions and corrections - 345 pages
3. Later, the Rebbe Rashab divided most of the hemshech into chapters and wrote a summary for each chapter - 46 pages
4. The undelivered section - 75 pages

The content can be generally divided into six sections:

Some of the Guide books on Hemshech 5672

1. Explanation of the three interpretations of kesser: language of waiting and silence, language of crown, and language of "surrounding" and encompassing, corresponding to three levels in sefiras hakesser
2. Extensive explanation of how specifically through Jews' fulfillment of Torah and mitzvos, the highest level of kesser is drawn down
3. The Rebbe Rashab continues explaining more deeply the greatness of Jewish divine service in Torah and mitzvos
4. Extensive explanation regarding elevating the lower realms and transforming darkness to light
5. Deeper explanation of the precise wording "Ein Od" regarding the unity of Havaye and Elokim and transforming darkness to light
6. Explanation of the innovation in Torah through Jewish divine service and the concept of yichuda ila'ah and yichuda tata'ah in a different way

Delivery of the Maamarim

The maamarim were delivered in four periods:

• Shavuos 5672 (1912) - Shabbos Parshas Vayigash 5673 (1913)
• Shavuos 5673 (1913) - Shabbos Parshas Vayera 5674 (1914)
• Shavuos 5674 (1914) - Shabbos Parshas Bamidbar 5675 (1915)
• Shavuos 5675 (1915) - Shabbos Parshas Vayera 5676 (1916)

Additionally, there is the undelivered section (even during the writing of the delivered maamarim, many concepts were added).

The other maamarim delivered during these years were printed in Sefer HaMaamarim 5672-5676.

Printing

The sefer was first published in three volumes before Yud Shevat 5737 (1977) by Otzar HaChassidim.

The printing was based on a transcribed manuscript that was later edited (until the end of chapter 421) by the Rebbe Rashab, who also added more additions and corrections in his own handwriting. In 5752 (1992), a new edition was printed with square letters, and several printing errors from the first edition were corrected. In 5782 (2022), Otzar HaChassidim printed the set anew (3 volumes) with additions.

Starting in 5777 (2017), members of Otzar HaChassidim began publishing a new edition with clear typography, including: paragraph breaks, sources and citations, indexes and additional supplements. The current arrangement follows the five sections of the hemshech as organized in the Rebbe Rashab's manuscript. As of Nissan 5782 (2022), four volumes have been published (out of six volumes of the hemshech, plus an index volume).

At the beginning of the sefer is an index of maamarim with the content of each maamar's beginning - as it appeared in a list from the Frierdiker Rebbe. Also included are photographs of the Rebbe Rashab's handwriting of the first page of the hemshech, a page from the kuntres of beginnings and corrections, a page from the kuntres of summaries, and a page from the transcription of the maamarim with added beginning and end.

Publication

For years, Rashag, Rabbi Moshe Gurary, and Rabbi Yaakov Landau requested from the Rebbe to publish the hemshech, but the Rebbe declined (part of the hemshech had already been published earlier in photographs).

This continued until the Rebbe's farbrengen on 20 Kislev 5737 (1976), where he revealed that once when the Frierdiker Rebbe was preparing for a journey (to Eretz Yisroel and the United States, from summer 5689 to summer 5690 [1929-1930]), he needed to entrust the Rebbe Rashab's manuscript of Hemshech 5672 to a trusted individual, and deposited it with him. The Rebbe shared that when the manuscripts were entrusted to him, he immediately thought of photographing them so they would remain in his possession even after the Frierdiker Rebbe took back the manuscript. He clarified that although the Frierdiker Rebbe never gave permission to photograph the manuscript and he never did so, just as there is a halacha in Shulchan Aruch that a talmid chacham who has been entrusted with seforim is permitted to study them, since the depositor surely knew the talmid chacham couldn't resist learning from them, similarly in this case, given the Frierdiker Rebbe's deep familiarity with him, he knew that if an unpublished manuscript was entrusted to the Rebbe, he would surely copy it, and despite this he entrusted the manuscript to him – thus retroactively revealing there was consent from the Frierdiker Rebbe.

The Rebbe continued that during the time he had the photocopy, he felt responsible for the fact that this hemshech wasn't being printed, and consequently felt responsible for delaying Moshiach's coming, as per Moshiach's statement that when Chassidus is spread, he will come. However, he also feared publishing the hemshech. Finally, he conceived the idea to share the responsibility for publishing with all Chassidim by allowing each person who desired to contribute one dollar (or equivalent local currency) for themselves and each family member. The Rebbe stated that due to this concern, no dedications or even names of editors would appear throughout the sefer.

Commentaries and Summaries on the Sefer

Shiurim on Hemshech 5672 by Rabbi Yitzchak Arad, edited by his son Rabbi Meir Arad - as of 5781 (2021), twelve volumes have been published.

External links

Hemshech

• Hemshech in text version on the Chabad Lubavitch Library website
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu - 5672 Volume 1, published in 5761 (2001), on Otzar HaChochma website
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu - 5672 Volume 2, published in 5763 (2003), on Otzar HaChochma website
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu - 5672 Volume 3, published in 5764 (2004), on Otzar HaChochma website

The new edition

• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 Volume 1 - HebrewBooks
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 Volume 2 - HebrewBooks
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 Volume 3 - HebrewBooks
• Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 Volume 4 - HebrewBooks

Summary of Hemshech BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 by Rabbi Lev Leibman, published by the author, Israel 5772 (2012) (link inactive as of 22 Tevet 5785)

Series of classes on Hemshech 5672

• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 1, discourses 1-12, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 2, discourses 13-21, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 3, discourses 22-31, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 4, discourses 32-39, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 5, discourses 40-47, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 6, discourses 48-56, on Otzar HaChochma website
• Classes on Hemshech 5672 Volume 8, discourses 65-76, on Otzar HaChochma website

About the Hemshech

• The Rebbe talks about 'Hemshech' BeShaa SheHikdimu 5672 in the weekly video magazine by JEM
• Comprehensive review of the Hemshech and its printing
• Menachem Ziegelboim in an interview with Rabbi Yitzchak Arad, "The Rebbe wants every chassid to delve into 'Hemshech' 5672", Beis Moshiach weekly, Sivan 5772
• Rabbi Shalom Yaakov Chazan, The photographs reveal: When did the Rashab distribute Hemshech 5672? 1 Iyar 5774 (01.05.2014)
• HaHemshech HaGadol, Vaad Chayalei Beis David, 5772
• Printing the 'Hemshech': When the Rebbe asked chassidim to take part in the responsibility