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	~~==Maamarei Admur HaZaken – HaKetzarim==~~

	[[File:שער אדה''ז הקצרים.png\|thumb\|Title page of the first edition]]		[[File:שער אדה''ז הקצרים.png\|thumb\|Title page of the first edition]]

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==Maamarei Admur HaZaken – HaKetzarim==

[[File:שער אדה''ז הקצרים.png|thumb|Title page of the first edition]]

'''''Maamarei Admur HaZaken – HaKetzarim''''' (lit. ''The Short Discourses of the Alter Rebbe'') is a volume in the [[Maamarei Admur HaZaken]] series, collecting brief Chassidic discourses — known as ''maamarim'' (singular: ''maamar''), Torah talks that explore Kabbalistic and Chassidic themes in depth — delivered by [[the Alter Rebbe]] before the year 5562 (1801–02), a period referred to in Chabad tradition as "before Petersburg" (a reference to his imprisonment and miraculous release), or whose dates of delivery are unknown.

The volume was edited by Rabbi [[Shalom Dovber Levin]], with annotations written by Rabbi [[Yitzchak Wilhem]] and Rabbi [[Dovid Moshe Ulidort]].

==History==

According to Chabad tradition as received from the [[Frierdiker Rebbe]] (the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), the Alter Rebbe initially delivered very brief discourses — deeply stirring and intensely inspiring — which were called ''derachim'' ("ways" or "paths"). These were followed by longer ones called ''igros'' ("letters"). After that came what were called ''Toros'' ("teachings"), which form the roots of the discourses in [[Torah Ohr]] and [[Likkutei Torah]]. Still longer discourses followed, called ''kesavim'' ("writings"), which offer broad and expansive elucidation.<ref name="hayom-yom">''HaYom Yom'', p. 105.</ref>

==Publication History==

===The Rebbe's Request===

[[File:מאמרי אדהז הקצרים.png|thumb|'''Urgent.'''{{br}}Regarding his [Rabbi Levin's] sacred work in the near future:{{br}}Within the [project of] the Alter Rebbe — the publication of the short ''maamarim'' (Toros) (together with his letters, aside from those already printed in [[Tanya]] where there are no manuscript additions). For completeness — it should also include those already published in [[Maah She'arim]], [[Boneh Yerushalayim]], [[Diskin]], [[Hillman]], [[HaKan]].{{br}}Perhaps: to publish a ''bikhel'' containing many such Toros, like the small ''bikhel'' of [[R. Efraim Volf]] — as a beginning, and afterward a supplementary volume.{{br}}The above '''requires''' that he involve '''several others''', so that the matter comes to actual fruition.]]

In late [[Teves]] 5740 (January 1980), [[the Rebbe]] wrote a note to Rabbi [[Shalom Dovber Levin]] directing him to publish the "short ''maamarim'' (Toros)" of the Alter Rebbe, and — "for completeness" — to include in the volume the short discourses and letters already printed in various earlier works. The Rebbe instructed Rabbi Levin to enlist additional helpers "so that the matter comes to actual fruition."<ref name="avodat-kodesh-31">Rabbi Shalom Dovber Levin, ''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', pp. 31–32 (including photograph of the note).</ref>

Initially, the Rebbe proposed that Rabbi Levin begin by publishing a single ''bikhel'' (booklet) containing many such discourses, and then follow up with a supplementary volume — citing as a model the small ''bikhel'' compiled by Rabbi [[Efraim Volf]].<ref name="volf-bikhel">See: Rabbi [[Zusha Volf]], ''Gavar Aleinu Chasdo'' — ''Teshurah'' for the Bar Mitzvah, 29 Cheshvan 5779, pp. 30–33.</ref><ref name="avodat-kodesh-31"/> Rabbi Levin then wrote to the Rebbe noting that this manuscript also contained discourses from the [[Mitteler Rebbe]] and the [[Tzemach Tzedek]], making attribution difficult;<ref name="avodat-kodesh-59">''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', p. 59.</ref> ultimately the volume was compiled from all the available manuscript booklets.

The Rebbe initially directed that the Alter Rebbe's letters be included in the volume — except for those already printed in [[Tanya]] for which no manuscript variants existed.<ref name="avodat-kodesh-31"/> In a subsequent communication, however, the Rebbe instructed that the Alter Rebbe's letters be joined together with those of the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek and published as a separate volume.<ref name="avodat-kodesh-32">''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', p. 32.</ref> This resulted in the publication of ''[[Igros Kodesh]] — Admur HaZaken, Admur HaEmtzaei, ve-Admur HaTzemach Tzedek''.

===Editing Begins===

While Rabbi Levin was editing that ''Igros Kodesh'' volume, the Rebbe did not respond to his questions about the present book. Only on [[8 Tammuz]] 5740 (July 1980), as Rabbi Levin was completing that work, did the Rebbe write to explain that he had withheld reply because additional manuscripts would only now be made available.<ref name="avodat-kodesh-59"/>

After the ''Igros Kodesh'' appeared, the Rebbe wrote to Rabbi Levin:

{{quote|Since you have succeeded — both in the substance of the publication and in the speed — with the ''Igros HaKodesh'' of the Alter Rebbe, the time is right and propitious to throw yourself into publishing the short ''maamarim'' of the Alter Rebbe in quantity, as has been discussed — and may you bring good tidings and be blessed upon its completion soon.|source=[[Tzom Gedaliah]] 5740 (September 1980), ''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', p. 36 (including photograph of the note)}}

Rabbi Levin replied to the Rebbe that the list of discourses was more or less ready and that he and Rabbi [[Yitzchak Wilhem]] were working on preparing them for print — work that would take "a few months." In response, the Rebbe underlined the words "a few months" and wrote "??!"

Rabbi Levin also mentioned his efforts to determine the exact dates of the discourses. The Rebbe replied: "There is great doubt whether this will be possible (it appears the copyists were not at all precise in this)."<ref name="avodat-kodesh-60">''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', p. 60.</ref>

On [[3 Cheshvan]] 5741 (November 1980), Rabbi Levin informed the Rebbe that the first draft of the volume was complete. The Rebbe responded with thanks and, invoking the saying "one who has a hundred wants two hundred," added that it would be worthwhile to also include the discourses already printed in ''[[Maah She'arim]]'' and ''[[Boneh Yerushalayim]]''.<ref name="avodat-kodesh-60"/>

===Printing===

By the Rebbe's guidance, Rabbi Levin did not delay the editing of the first issue of ''[[Yagdil Torah]]'' for 5741 in order to work on the short discourses. The Rebbe subsequently directed him to compile the index volume for the Alter Rebbe's works, describing this as equivalent to working on the ''maamarim'' themselves since it was "a key — also in the literal sense" to editing the volume. This pushed the editing of the present book past [[19 Kislev]] 5741.

On [[28 Shevat]] 5741 (February 1981), Rabbi Levin informed the Rebbe that editing of the annotations was complete. The Rebbe asked how many pages were involved and stressed that preparations for print should proceed "with all speed ('''not''' at the expense of precision, '''obviously''')." The volume was printed during [[Adar Rishon]] 5741 (February–March 1981).<ref name="avodat-kodesh-60-61">''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', pp. 60–61.</ref>

===Supplementary Volumes===

Following publication, Rabbi Levin directed that any short discourses of the Alter Rebbe discovered thereafter be recorded among the longer discourses rather than separately.<ref name="avodat-kodesh-63">''Avodat HaKodesh etzel HaRebbe MiLubavitch'', p. 63.</ref>

Beginning in 5772 (2011–12), ''Otzar HaChassidim'' began issuing supplementary fascicles to this volume, containing previously unpublished short discourses of the Alter Rebbe, edited by Rabbi [[Eliyahu Matusov]] and Rabbi [[Gavriel Shapiro]]. As of 5782 (2021–22), seven such fascicles have appeared.

==Contents==

By the Rebbe's directive,<ref name="tammuz-5740">In response to Rabbi Levin's letter of 8 Tammuz 5740.</ref> discourses were included in the volume on the basis of their length, not their depth — "for who can adjudicate on quality?"<ref name="avodat-kodesh-59"/>

The Rebbe directed that the order of discourses follow "the sequence of Torah verses, followed by rabbinic sayings and the like." When Rabbi Levin wrote to the Rebbe suggesting that discourses on the [[Zohar]] form a separate section, the Rebbe replied that these "seemingly belong in the rabbinic category."<ref name="avodat-kodesh-60"/> The discourses were arranged in three sections: (1) Tanach; (2) Rabbinic sayings (including the Zohar and the liturgical order); (3) Themes (arranged according to the order of the Hebrew alphabet).

==Notes==
<references/>

==External Links==

* [https://www.hebrewbooks.org/33086 ''Maamarei Admur HaZaken – HaKetzarim''], Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn, 5741
* Supplementary fascicles, Kehot Publication Society, Brooklyn: [https://w3.chabad.org/media/pdf/892/jdwa8926395.pdf Fascicle 1], 5774 / [https://w3.chabad.org/media/pdf/911/pbUx9111790.pdf Fascicle 2], 5775 / [https://w3.chabad.org/media/pdf/1020/lAGm10208904.pdf Fascicle 3], 5777 / [https://www.kehot.org/Content/kuntreisim/6/7/2019/--.pdf Fascicle 4], 5779 / [https://www.kehot.org/Content/kuntreisim/2/15/2021/--.pdf Fascicle 5], 5781 / [https://www.kehot.org/Content/kuntreisim/2/24/2021/--.pdf Fascicle 6], 5781 / [https://www.kehot.org/Content/kuntreisim/2/22/2022/--.pdf Fascicle 7], 5782

[[Category:Works of the Alter Rebbe]]
[[he:מאמרי אדמו"ר הזקן – הקצרים]]

Maamarei Admur HaZaken – HaKetzarim (Book) - Revision history

Raphaelwilmowsky at 14:42, 24 June 2026