Basi LeGani

Basi LeGani is the name (Dibur Hamaschil) of the last maamar written by the Frierdiker Rebbe and the first maamar and series of maamarim that followed it that the Rebbe delivered. The maamarim begin with the words of the Midrash "Basi LeGani" and are named after them.

Rabbi Menachem Chasnia in the name of Rabbi Elazar bar Avuna, who quoted Rabbi Shimon bar Yosnah said: It doesn't say "I came to a garden," rather it says "to My garden," to My bridal chamber, to the place that was My primary dwelling initially. The primary presence of the Shechinah was indeed in the lower worlds, as it is written (Bereishis 3): "And they heard the voice of Hashem Elokim walking in the garden..."

— Midrash Rabbah, Shir HaShirim, Parsha 5

Basi LeGani 5710 (1950)

On the pasuk "Basi LeGani, my sister, my bride," Chazal explain that this refers to Hashem's revelation in the world during Matan Torah. From the word "Gani" we understand that the world was His place from before - because at the beginning of creation, the 'ikar Shechinah was in the tachtonim.' However, through sins it departed, and was brought back down through seven tzaddikim who drew it down lower and lower, until Moshe Rabbeinu who brought it back to earth. This was primarily accomplished through the building of the Mishkan, about which it is said: "And they shall make Me a sanctuary and I will dwell among them."

In the maamar, the Rebbe explains the significance of the avodah of the Mishkan in every Jew's personal divine service - through the avodah of iskafya and ishapcha, through which the ohr hasovev kol almin is drawn down, which illuminates all worlds equally, thereby fulfilling the purpose of creation - which is to make for Hashem a dirah betachtonim.

Based on this, the Rebbe also explains the avodah of the korbanos that took place in the Mishkan and Beis HaMikdash, which exists in the nefesh of every person - as drawing close to Hashem (korban = drawing near); and this drawing near depends on the person himself ("Adam ki yakriv mikem" - "the matter depends on you"). "Min habeheima" - from one's nefesh habehamis, within which there are several types: "Min habakar" - "an aggressive ox with coarse middos", "Min hatzon" - "which is a smaller animal... also included in beheima." The heavenly fire that consumes the korban represents in the person's nefesh the natural fire that exists in the nefesh Elokis, and its investment in the nefesh habehamis brings "aish ahava" also to it, "transforming from its animal nature and rising to be included in the burning flames of desire in the nefesh Elokis."

The essence of the avodah is to transform darkness into light. For this reason, the Mishkan was made from "atzei shitim," which comes from the word "shtus" (folly) - shtus being the term for klipos because they conceal Hashem's light. The Rebbe explains this in avodah based on Chazal's statement: "A person does not commit an aveira unless a ruach shtus enters them." When a Yid commits an aveira, it stems from this ruach shtus that coarsens the person until they don't feel the lowliness of aveiros and the elevation of mitzvos, resulting in brazenly transgressing Hashem's commandments. If they would feel how each aveira separates them from Hashem, they would not transgress His will, just as in a test of avodah zarah they would give up their life not to transgress Hashem's will.

However, this ruach shtus that covers the G-dly feeling in a person's nefesh only affects their middos, not the essence of their nefesh. Therefore, when faced with a test that touches the essence of the nefesh - like whether to deny Hashem chas v'shalom - the ruach shtus does not conceal and the essence of the nefesh awakens. Only in other matters can the nefesh habehamis conceal until one comes to sin and descends further and further.

Just as there is shtus in klipah, there is also shtus in kedusha, which is "bitul haratzon that is above taam v'daas," and through this comes true connection with Elokus - since true Elokus is above the realm of comprehension and cannot be grasped intellectually at all. This is why a navi is called "meshuga," due to his lofty bitul that is above taam v'daas. For this reason the Mishkan was made of atzei shitim, referring to transforming the shtus d'klipah to shtus d'kedusha. This happens with every individual when instead of standing firm on their principles in worldly matters which they feel are immovable laws - they should know that "who knows their time and moment - they should stand guard over their soul and establish fixed times for Torah." Through the avodah of shtus d'kedusha, the ohr hasovev kol almin shines and is revealed.

Publication and Printing

On Yud Shvat 5674 (1914), Rebbetzin Rivkah, wife of the Rebbe Maharash and grandmother of the Frierdiker Rebbe, passed away. Years later, in 5702 (1942), the Rebbetzin Tzidkanis Shterna Sarah, mother of the Frierdiker Rebbe, passed away on the 13th of Shvat. For several years, the Frierdiker Rebbe would either deliver or publish a kuntres containing a maamar of Chassidus connected to these dates.

In 5710 (1950), Yud Shvat fell on Shabbos Kodesh Parshas Bo. For this day, the "Kuntres Yud-Yud Gimmel Shvat" was published, containing a maamar on the pasuk "Basi LeGani achosi kallah," and its continuation "HaYosheves BaGanim."

On that very Shabbos Kodesh, the Frierdiker Rebbe was nistalek, and the maamar "Basi LeGani" was revealed to be the maamar he had published for his own yom histalkus-hilula.

Later Publications and Expansions

Towards Purim and Beis Nissan, the Rebbe published the following chapters in this "hemshech" (series), which were ready for print but without beginnings and endings (which the Frierdiker Rebbe had not yet transmitted before his histalkus). The complete "Hemshech HaHilula" contained twenty chapters.

Throughout the year following the histalkus, the Rebbe spoke in many sichos about the qualities of the maamar and hemshech "Basi LeGani," explaining that in this maamar, the baal hahilula left all the guidance and direction for this period.

Basi LeGani 5711 (1951)

Basi LeGani 5711 is the first maamar that the Rebbe delivered upon accepting the nesius of Chabad Chassidus on Yud Shvat 5711.

The Rebbe began the maamar at 10:40 PM. In this maamar, the Rebbe established the task of our generation - the seventh generation: "This is what is demanded from each and every one of us, the seventh generation, for all seventh ones are beloved. Although our being in the seventh generation is not by our choice and not through our avodah, and in several aspects perhaps not according to our will, nevertheless, all seventh ones are beloved. We find ourselves in ikvesa d'Meshicha, in the conclusion of ikvesa, and the avodah is to complete drawing down the Shechinah, and not just Shechinah but ikar Shechinah, specifically in the tachtonim."

Throughout the Years

From 5711 (1951) onwards, every year on the yom hilula of Yud Shvat, the Rebbe would deliver a maamar with the Dibur Hamaschil "Basi LeGani." Each year, he would explain one chapter from the twenty chapters of the hemshech Basi LeGani 5710 - in order. In 5730 (1970), the first cycle of learning the entire hemshech was completed, and then in 5731 (1971) the second cycle began from chapter one - continuing until 5748 (1988).

In some years, the Rebbe delivered more than one maamar on Yud Shvat (or close to it) with the Dibur Hamaschil "Basi LeGani." Some of these maamarim were edited by him, but most were published as "bilti mugah" (unedited).

These maamarim were printed in two volumes in the Sefer HaMaamarim Basi LeGani.

Additional Editions

• Basi Legani HaMevuar - An explanation of the Frierdiker Rebbe's Basi Legani maamar, compiled from the Rebbe's teachings. Published in Hebrew and English by Rabbi Yekusiel Green.
• Basi Legani - An explanation by Rabbi Nadav Cohen in simple and clear language, of the first maamar delivered by the Rebbe during the acceptance of the nesius on Yud Shevat 1951.

See Also

• Sefer HaMaamarim Basi Legani
• Basi Legani (Book - Green)

Further Reading

• The Foundational Maamar of the Seventh Generation, Beis Moshiach Weekly Issue 214, p. 58.
• Rabbi Yaakov Yosef Kuperman, The Divine Service Plan of the Seventh Generation, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1843, p. 39
• Rabbi Shimon Weitzhandler, What Are You Afraid Of? I Have Already Come to My Garden, 'U'b'oso Hazman' Issue 1, p. 16
• When I Brought the Kuntres to the Previous Rebbe, Holy Responses regarding the 'Basi Legani' Kuntres, Kfar Chabad Weekly Issue 1893, p. 16
• Rabbi Shneur Zalman Gopin, Transforming the World, A summary of the central content of the hemshech hamaamarim, Kfar Chabad Weekly 1893, p. 54