Maamar

A Chassidic discourse (also known as DACH - Divine Living Words) in Chabad Chassidism refers to teachings about Chassidic philosophy delivered or written by the Rebbe. According to Rabbi Hillel of Paritch, when a Rebbe delivers a discourse, the Divine Presence speaks through his throat.

Before the Rebbe begins delivering a discourse, Chassidim sing a special preparatory melody called a "preparation niggun." During the discourse, Chassidim stand in their places. There were times when the Rebbe would deliver a discourse without a preparation niggun.

Styles in Chabad Discourses

Each of our Rebbes had distinctive characteristics in their discourses:

The Alter Rebbe: Initially gave short "ways," then longer "letters," then "Torahs," and finally "discourses." His style changed after his imprisonment in Petersburg in 1799, with more detailed explanations.

The Mitteler Rebbe: Much longer discourses with extensive explanations, reflecting his connection to the spiritual level of Binah (understanding).

The Tzemach Tzedek: Rich with rabbinic quotes and references, sometimes challenging for those unfamiliar with the sources.

The Rebbe Maharash: Introduced the "Hemshech" - series of connected discourses on shared themes.

The Rebbe Rashab: Known as "the Rambam of Chassidic teachings" for his systematic explanations.

The Rebbe Rayatz: First to publish discourses in Yiddish translation for broader accessibility.

The Rebbe: Based on previous Rebbes' discourses while adding deep insights and innovations.

Types of Mamarim

Maamarei Avodah and Haskalah (Service and Intellect Discourses)

"Maamarei Haskalah" (intellectual discourses) are discourses that focus on abstract and deep matters, for example - understanding the differences between will and pleasure, where the practical instruction arising from all that is mentioned is brought and connected to the content only at the end. In contrast, "Maamarei Avodah" (service discourses) deal mainly with the different levels of love for G-dliness, and the abstraction of Chassidic concepts and their comparison throughout the entire discourse to a person's divine service, although both genres include each other. There is no Avodah discourse that is not based on intellect, and no intellectual discourse where instructions in divine service do not appear, as the Rebbe once expressed: "From every letter one can make a 'therefore'!" Also, a special discourse is one that "speaks the language" of the animal soul, and explains clearly and simply the aspect of divine service within it.

The difference between the discourses stemmed mainly from the period in which they were delivered and their target audience, as can be seen that most of the intellectual discourses were delivered at times when the listeners were capable of containing and understanding them, such as the deep "hemshechim" (series) of the Rebbe Rashab for the students of Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim, compared to the short service discourses that the Rebbe Rayatz would deliver when he arrived in the United States, for American Jews who found it difficult to understand the deep discourses, and were also not familiar with the holy tongue (Hebrew), so these discourses were delivered by the Rebbe Rayatz in Yiddish. The Rebbe Rayatz instructed to study service discourses.

Maamarei Drush (Interpretive Discourses)

"Maamarei Drush" is a type of discourse that deals with explaining verses, sayings of the Sages, midrashim, and various concepts in Judaism according to Chassidus.

Discourses for Purifying the World's Atmosphere

Each of our Rebbes had a fixed discourse that they would repeat from time to time in order to purify the world's atmosphere, which they would repeat in public once every two or three years. One of the Alter Rebbe's discourses is the discourse beginning with "Heichaltzu" that was printed in Likkutei Torah without the annotations. One of the Mitteler Rebbe's discourses is the discourse beginning with "Yafah Sha'ah Achat," and its content is the first ten chapters of the discourse "Hinei Kol Echad V'Echad Omer Elokai Neshamah" in his book "Derech HaChaim." One of the Tzemach Tzedek's discourses is the discourse beginning with "Mah Tovu" that is brought in Likkutei Torah. One of the Rebbe Maharash's discourses is the discourse beginning with "Mi Kamocha Ba'eilim." One of the Rebbe Rashab's discourses is the discourse beginning with "V'Yadata HaYom." One of the Rebbe Rayatz's discourses is "Ein HaKadosh Baruch Hu Ba B'trunia" from ה'תרפ"ה (1925).

Chazarat Maamar (Repeating a Discourse)

In the days of the Mitteler Rebbe, the custom began among Chassidim to repeat Chassidic discourses in the towns scattered along their way from the Rebbe to their place of residence. This custom is called "Chazarat Dach" (repeating Chassidus).

Even today, reciting a Chassidic discourse by heart or from writings is called "Chazarat Dach," and the custom is maintained mainly during Raava D'Raavin (the most favorable time) every Shabbat, as is the custom of Chassidim, and at special farbrengens (gatherings) such as on birthdays.

Maamorim the Rebbe

The Rebbe during the delivery of a Chassidic discourse (maamar). Behind the Rebbe, elder Chassidim can be seen standing.

The Rebbe customarily holds a handkerchief (wrapping it around his palm and fingers) or some physical object while delivering the maamar. Chassidim would explain that this practice stems from the Rebbe's desire to hold something "physical" while delivering the words of the living G-d.

There are two types of maamarim: a maamar with the traditional tune or a maamar similar to a sicha (meaning that while delivering this type of maamar, the Rebbe did not close his eyes, the tune was that of a regular sicha rather than the traditional maamar tune, and the Rebbe wrapped the handkerchief only around his palm and not between his fingers). Most of the maamarim delivered by the Rebbe were of the second type.

In later years, the Rebbe reduced the frequency of delivering maamarim with the traditional tune, and the last maamar of this type was on Erev Shavuot 5749 - the maamar "Anochi Hashem Elokecha." This maamar was delivered unexpectedly and without the preparatory niggun (like its predecessor on Erev Pesach - "Matzah Zo"). The last maamar similar to a sicha was delivered on Shabbat Parshat Chayei Sarah 5751.

In the early years, the Rebbe rarely edited his maamarim, and they were written as hanachos (transcripts), occasionally with the Rebbe reviewing them and making comments, but not as edited maamarim. Exceptions were some of the Basi LeGani maamarim which the Rebbe did edit.

Beginning in 5746, the Rebbe started editing maamarim from earlier years, which were then published in kuntreisim (pamphlets) bearing the date of publication. These kuntreisim were printed in the Sefer HaMaamarim (Melukat) series. The last kuntres printed in this series was the maamar V'Atah Tetzaveh, published for Purim Katan 5752, which was the last kuntres distributed by the Rebbe, for now. This maamar is fundamental regarding the concept of hiskashrus (connection) to the Nasi HaDor.

At the beginning of 5753 (before Simchat Torah and Rosh Chodesh Kislev), two maamarim were published that had been "before his holy eyes" (in the language of the preface), and the Rebbe instructed to print them as edited kuntreisim. Additionally, before Shavuot 5753, when a copy of a maamar that the Rebbe had edited but never published was discovered in the Lubavitch Library, the Rebbe agreed that it should be released as an edited maamar at that time.

The preparation of maamarim for editing was done by the Vaad Hanachos B'Lahak team. The Rebbe entrusted the responsibility for printing to the Vaad L'Hafatzat Sichos, which published all the maamarim in six volumes in the Sefer HaMaamarim (Melukat) series. In 5765, the series of maamarim was published in four volumes according to the dates of the year by Vaad Hanachos B'Lahak, but rabbis, including members of the Crown Heights Beis Din and other rabbis, issued a signed letter stating that these books should not be purchased, as they were printed without authorization.

In 5763, the central Igud Talmidei HaYeshivos 770 began publishing a series called "Maamarim Mevoarim" to explain the Rebbe's maamarim. A similar series was published over the years called "Biurim B'Maamarei Rabbeinu" by Rabbi Menachem Mendel Ashkenazi, mashpia in Tomchei Tmimim Yeshiva in Kfar Chabad.

Between the years 5774 - 5776, the Sefer HaMaamarim series was published according to the order of the weekly parshiyot, collecting all the Rebbe's maamarim throughout the year, published by the Institute for the Dissemination of Moshiach's Teachings.

Public Repetition of Chassidus

For a more extensive discussion, see "Public Repetition of Chassidus"

Among Chabad Chassidim, it is customary to publicly repeat Chassidic discourses of our Rebbeim, especially during Raava D'Raavim (the afternoon hours of Shabbat).

In the repetition of Chassidus itself, there is an advantage on one hand in maintaining the precise words of the Rebbe, and on the other hand, one should strive to repeat in such a way that people will understand the concepts.

In many Chabad communities, there is a rotation system for the repetition of Chassidus by community members.

Further Reading

• "Certainly Adds Courage", holy handwritten responses from the Rebbe regarding public repetition of Chassidus, Kfar Chabad weekly 1892, page 16
• Igrot Kodesh of the Previous Rebbe vol. 2, p. 397 regarding the effect of a Rebbe's maamar

See Also

• Niggun Rostov - preparatory niggun for a maamar
• Chozer - a term for talented Chassidim with good memory and understanding, capable of remembering the long Chassidic discourses
• Niggun ShaD - a niggun customarily sung after the repetition of a maamar
• Matan Torah Maamar