Author: Rabbi Shalom DovBer SchneersonTranslator: Yosef B. MarcusOn the second night of Rosh Hashanah 1898, Rabbi Shalom DovBer Schneerson, fifth Rebbe of the Chabad-Lubavitch movement, delivered the present maamar (chasidic discourse/essay). This volume offers its first translation into English.This maamar is one of the first discourses with which the students of Chabad yeshivot are initiated into the more complex chasidic texts. It introduces some of the basic concepts of chasidism and kabbala, and in a relatively easy to follow format.Despite its title and date of inception, the maamar is germane throughout the year. Although the maamar is the first of a series of maamarim said throughout the year 1899, it can be considered a tract unto itself, a complete and independent treatise.Besides the translation, extensive annotations were added to help the reader with the maamars references to concepts unfamiliar to the average reader. Source references were provided for further study. The translator has taken the liberty of breaking the lengthy Hebrew paragraphs into smaller, more digestible ones. In addition, captions have been added throughout.Included as a supplement is a brief account of the authors life. |
