Hayom Yom

The First print of Hayom Yom

Hayom Yom - A Light-Sowing Calendar for Chabad Chassidim, was the Rebbe's first work written in Hebrew. It is a calendar that divides the daily Chitas study according to the Previous Rebbe's directive. Two additional purposes were added in its publication: documenting Chabad customs and collecting short aphorisms from Chassidic teachings. The compilation was edited by the Rebbe. The custom that spread among Chassidim is to study each day's saying that appears in the calendar on that date.

Editing the Calendar

On the 20th of Kislev 5703 (1942), the Previous Rebbe approached his son-in-law, the Rebbe, and asked him to "arrange a calendar beginning from this 19th of Kislev until next 19th of Kislev, which should specifically include: a) Daily study portions suitable for every person... b) Chabad customs. c) Collected aphorisms from Chassidic teachings and ways of Chassidim, short matters for each day of the year. The calendar which he arranges should be called Hayom Yom, A Light-Sowing Calendar for Chabad Chassidim."

The Rebbe labored for four months on the masterful work of editing the calendar. In letters from that period, the Rebbe apologizes for delayed responses due to "the great preoccupation with arranging the calendar for Chabad Chassidim being published these days." The Rebbe drew precious gems and treasures from the Previous Rebbe's talks and letters that were in his possession, and also collected jewels from his private notes and set them in the golden settings of the "Hayom Yom" calendar.

The First Book

With the Rebbe's appointment in 5702 (1942) as director of Kehot, Machne Israel and Merkos L'Inyonei Chinuch, he began engaging in publishing and was involved in editing booklets and pamphlets, from the Previous Rebbe's Chassidic discourses to popular-style booklets for American Jews, soldiers, children and more.

The Previous Rebbe's Response

The Previous Rebbe was overjoyed when he received the printed work from Rabbi Shlomo Aharon Kazarnovsky, and expressed with amazement: "This calendar is daily spiritual nourishment!"

On another occasion, he said to Rabbi Chodakov in a special tune: "Hayom Yom! Der tog iz tog!" [The day is day]...

The Calendar's Reception in the World

The new calendar was "received with affection in the Chassidic world," as the Rebbe described it. The managers of Colel Chabad expressed their joy in a letter sent to the Rebbe: "This compilation is full of deep foundational content of Chassidism, its spirit and soul. It is arranged wonderfully for daily use and in this spirit it was received, especially among Anash and other Torah circles."

Uniqueness of the Calendar

The Hayom Yom calendar was not meant to be a regular "calendar," but much more than that. From the fact that the calendar appeared only in Nissan, despite starting from 19th Kislev - it's understood that from the beginning the calendar was intended to be the daily bread of Chabad Chassidim for generations.

Connection to Moshiach

The calendar itself is filled with practical advice - what can be done to ease those "chevlei Moshiach" (birth pangs of Moshiach) and receive Moshiach Tzidkeinu. Right at the beginning of the calendar, on 21 Kislev, the Rebbe writes: "One should memorize, each according to their own capacity, and review while walking in the street - through this we will merit to receive Moshiach."

On 5 Teves, the Rebbe writes that "in the days of Moshiach, the virtue of gratitude and simplicity will be revealed, when all believe with pure faith in Hashem, His Torah and mitzvos... Melech HaMoshiach will prove and explain the 'great deed' of simplicity - sincere heartfelt service."

A few days later, on 15 Teves, the Rebbe writes: "Listen carefully and hear Yisroel, this time is the season of redemption through Moshiach Tzidkeinu, and the sufferings that come upon us are chevlei Moshiach, and Yisroel will only be redeemed through teshuvah... 'Return Yisroel unto Hashem your G-d,' and prepare yourself and your household to receive Moshiach Tzidkeinu who is coming very soon."

"Particularly in this time, when by Hashem's kindness we stand on the threshold of the Geulah," writes the Rebbe on 8 Shevat, "we must strive with all types of effort to strengthen all matters of religion with hiddur mitzvah, and preserve all minhagim without compromising even slightly, and it is a mitzvah and obligation upon every rav in Yisroel to inform their community that the troubles and sufferings are chevlei Moshiach, and Hashem our G-d demands from us to do teshuvah to Torah and mitzvos, so we should not delay the coming of Moshiach Tzidkeinu very soon."

On 22 Nissan, the Rebbe writes about the revelation of the concept of "seudas Moshiach" on Acharon Shel Pesach, and the next day writes: "There exists the concept that Acharon Shel Pesach is a revelation from Moshiach, which belongs to all Yisroel. Pesach's matters are 'skipping' and 'night of protection,' and generally freedom is emphasized, and afterward we encounter worldly matters - therefore it is the revelation from Moshiach, the strength given to enable walking in the world."

A saying particularly relevant to our times appears on 24 Iyar: "With the coming of Moshiach, the virtue of simplicity and sincerity that exists in the service of simple people who pray and say Tehillim with sincerity will be revealed."

"In this time, in the actual ikvesa d'Meshicha, the obligation upon every Jew is to seek the welfare of others, both old and young, to awaken to teshuvah, so that none should, G-d forbid, be excluded from the Jewish people who will merit, with G-d's help, the complete redemption," thus writes the Rebbe on 18 Sivan.

"The virtue of Moshiach," writes the Rebbe on 1 Menachem Av, "is that he will be humble, for although he will be at the height of greatness, and will learn Torah with the Avos and Moshe Rabbeinu, with all this he will be in complete humility and self-nullification to learn also with simple people."

Two days later the Rebbe writes: "Then, when Moshiach comes speedily in our days amen, they will long for the days of golus. Then they will be pained why they didn't engage in 'avodah.' Then they will already feel the great pain in the absence of avodah now, the days of golus - these are the days of avodah to prepare for the coming of Moshiach speedily in our days amen."

The Chain of Tradition is the introduction appearing at the beginning of the Hayom Yom calendar, containing the history of all Chabad Rebbes, their activities, books, and family members.

Hayom Yom - Part Two

Hayom Yom Part Two is a collection of sayings that the Rebbe wrote for himself in a notebook - apparently to publish them in the Hayom Yom calendar for the years 5704-5705, but this did not materialize.

Extended Edition

In 5742 (1982), Rabbi Michael Aharon Seligson published an expanded edition of the calendar, noting the source of each saying and additional references connecting the content of the saying to the day it was set for.

Learning the Calendar Today

In a talk on 19th Kislev 5749 (1988), the Rebbe spoke about learning Hayom Yom daily. In 5752 (1992), the Rebbe encouraged the suggestion to learn each day's portion daily.