Farbrengen

Hitva'adus or Farbrengen in Yiddish is the common name in the Chabad Chassidic community for a gathering of Chassidim. During a Farbrengen, it is customary to raise a glass of 'l'chaim', sing Chassidic niggunim, tell stories of tzaddikim, and share words of Torah. The Farbrengen is usually conducted with a Rav (Mashpia).

The Rebbe also conducts Hitva'aduyot during which he shares sichos and ma'amarim. In Polish Chassidic groups, a Farbrengen with the Admor is called a "tish."

The Significance of Farbrengen in Chassidut

The purpose of a Farbrengen is to awaken the soul and its purpose in the world, and to strengthen aspects of Chassidut among the participants, such as extended prayer, studying Chassidut, bitul hayesh (nullification of self), and so on. This is accomplished through conversation between participants and the words of the Mashpia.

It is also customary to have mashke (alcoholic beverages) and 'farbaysen' (food eaten with drinks) during a Farbrengen, in order to open the heart so that it will be receptive to speaking and listening.

Farbrengen is also one of the ways to achieve hiskashrus (connection) with the Rebbe, one of the foundations in the ways of Chassidim, and an introduction to the mitzvah of ahavas Yisrael (love of fellow Jews).

Among Chassidim, there is a common saying that "a Chassidic Farbrengen can accomplish even what the angel Michael cannot accomplish." The Alter Rebbe explained this saying by stating that when a father sees his children gathered in unity, he is inspired with a desire to fulfill all their wishes, even when through the 'conventional' channels (such as through angels) they may not be entitled to it. Indeed, in Chassidic tradition, there are many stories of people who were helped after participating in a Farbrengen and receiving blessings.

The Content of the Farbrengen

In a Farbrengen, the speakers demand from the participants that they improve their conduct and ways, that they set times to strengthen their hiskashrus to our Rebbes and to study Chassidut, that they maintain regular study sessions, and that their learning should be with the intention to fulfill. Rebuke during a Farbrengen should only be about matters that do not cause embarrassment.

The Rebbe Rayatz says that in a Chassidic Farbrengen, stories of tzaddikim are told, their sayings are repeated, stories of Chassidim are shared, and niggunim are sung.

The Alter Rebbe says that the stories of tzaddikim that Chassidim tell during Chassidic Hitva'aduyot are like "the dew of lights is your dew," as stories of tzaddikim bring vitality to intellectual understanding and to avodah (divine service).

The Chassidic Farbrengen is usually led by a person called a "Mashpia" or "Mitva'ed." The Mitva'ed is a Rav or educator who converses during the Farbrengen with the other Chassidim who are participating. There is a type of Farbrengen in which the participants converse among themselves, sharing words of inspiration and encouragement, which is not common among young boys.

Saying 'L'chaim' at a Farbrengen

Expanded topic – Mashke, The Mashke Ordinance

As mentioned, at a Farbrengen (Chassidic gathering) it is customary to raise a glass for 'l'chaim', typically with an alcoholic beverage - mainly vodka - although the Rebbe disapproved of excessive drinking and prohibited bochurim and yungeleit under the age of 40 from drinking more than a reviis (= 86 cc). This ordinance is known among Chabad chassidim as 'gezeiras hamashke' (the mashke decree). An exceptional case occurred at a Farbrengen conducted by the Rebbe on Erev Pesach 5741 (1981) which fell on Shabbos, and since it is customary not to drink wine on the eve of the Seder - they drank water at that Farbrengen.

Format of Saying 'L'chaim' at a Farbrengen

There are two versions for saying l'chaim:

• "L'chaim tovim ul'shalom" (To good life and peace), and the reason for this blessing - since the first mention of wine drinking in the Torah had negative consequences, which led to the curse of Cham (Noah's son) and the Tree of Knowledge was a grapevine, therefore we bless that this wine should be for good life.
• The Maggid of Mezritch would respond "L'chaim ul'bracha" (To life and blessing), and once at a Farbrengen attended by the Alter Rebbe, he also responded "L'chaim ul'bracha." After the Farbrengen, the chassidim discussed the reason for this specific version, which they heard then for the first time. One of the chassidim said that it might be because "when wine enters, secrets come out," which in divine service means the revelation of emotions, therefore a blessing is needed. And the version is "L'chaim ul'bracha" - the letters spelling "lev-racha" (soft heart).

The Sweetening of Judgments in 'L'chaim Ul'bracha'

The final letters of "L'chaim" (ם) and the final letter of "ul'bracha" (ה) form the acronym for "mituk hadinim" (sweetening of judgments).

Time of the Farbrengen

There is no need for a special reason or time to hold a farbrengen, but nevertheless there are days when it is customary to hold them, some of which were even established by our Rebbeim. These days are usually special days in Chabad, such as Chag HaGeulah, the entire month of Kislev, birthdays of Chabad Nesi'im, and similar occasions.

Additional farbrengen times: Friday night, Shabbos Mevorchim, during the third meal of Shabbos, and on Rosh Chodesh. (These farbrengens, as well as farbrengens on Anash occasions - should take place in the synagogue). Melave Malka farbrengens on Saturday night should take place in the private homes of Chassidim.

Participation in Farbrengens

For Chabad Chassidim, participation in farbrengens is often a necessity, to the extent that Chassidim were careful to participate in a farbrengen at least twice a week, and would arrange regular farbrengens on Friday night, Shabbos afternoon, and Saturday night, which are times when one can farbrengen freely without interfering with one's livelihood.

The Tzemach Tzedek attributed the prevention of abundance to a young married Chassid to the fact that he stopped participating in farbrengens.

Even for those who are close but not yet counted among Chabad Chassidim, the Rebbe instructed that they should participate in farbrengens "from time to time – at least," and added that "there is no substitute for this, and it is very necessary."

Farbrengen in the Rebbe's Presence

The Rebbe during a farbrengen he conducted in the large zal of 770, on the farbrengen platform. Behind him can be seen the secretary Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Eizik Hodakov.

Expanded article – Farbrengen with the Rebbe

Throughout the years of his leadership, the Rebbe would conduct farbrengens on holidays and Chassidic occasions in the large zal of 770. During the farbrengen, the Rebbe would deliver a talk to the audience, focusing mainly on the weekly Torah portion and matters related to the day for which the farbrengen was being held, pausing between talks to allow for the singing of a niggun. During these farbrengens, the Rebbe would also deliver his Chassidic discourses.

Further Reading

• Ways of Hiskashrus: Farbrengen, 'Ateres Chaya' supplement, Erev Shabbos Parshas Bo 5780, page 10
• In which farbrengens did he participate since traveling from here, in the section 'From the Royal House', Kfar Chabad weekly 1886, page 16
• These bottles heard the entire farbrengen, in the section 'Life of the Rebbe', Kfar Chabad weekly issue 1988, page 30

External Links

• What is a Farbrengen, published by Vaad Chayalei Beis Dovid
• Treasures of Each Generation - A collection from the words of the Rebbe Rayatz regarding Chassidic Farbrengen
• Rabbi Adin Steinsaltz, The Satan Did Not Hear, the meaning of a farbrengen • 'Karov Eilecha' issue 58, page 6
• When the Rabbi thought a farbrengen was entertainment
• Chassidic Farbrengen from the Hiskashrus publication
• Rabbi Moshe Mordechai Laufer, Chassidic Farbrengen, in the section 'Sparks of the Rebbe' Hiskashrus weekly issue 362