Biurei HaZohar (The Alter Rebbe)

Title page of the first edition

Biurei HaZohar (Hebrew: ביאורי הזהר, lit. "Explanations of the Zohar") is a work of Chassidic discourse comprising teachings of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, on the Zohar — the foundational text of Jewish mysticism. The discourses were delivered privately before his sons and transcribed by his son and successor, the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi DovBer Schneuri, at his father's own request. As the title page records, the Alter Rebbe chose his son for this task because he "knew within himself that he would not deviate by a hairsbreadth from his true intention."

For this reason the work is attributed in different contexts to either the Alter Rebbe or the Mitteler Rebbe.

Editions

The book was first printed by the Mitteler Rebbe in 5576 (1816) in Kapust. A second printing followed in 5621 (1861) in Lvov, with additional material.

In 5716 (1956) a revised edition appeared with further enhancements: abridgments composed by the Frierdiker Rebbe (the Previous Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn), an index of explanations, annotations and references, and various facsimiles. This edition was edited by the Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson.

In 5775 (2015) a new and corrected edition was published, set in square script with careful proofreading and the addition of source references. This edition also included the Frierdiker Rebbe's abridgments to several chapters of the book — in two versions — along with a chronological listing of the discourses in the order they were delivered and detailed indices. The edition was prepared by Rabbi Eliyahu Matusof and Rabbi Gavriel Shapiro, with the assistance of Rabbi Yehuda Braun.

External Links

• Biurei HaZohar, Kehot 5716 edition, at HebrewBooks
• Rabbi Dovid Olidort, Biurei HaZohar (Hebrew)