Cf. Siddur, p. 148ff.
On a
Shabbos when the new month is blessed
(Shabbos Mevarchim), chassidim should assemble in
shul early in the morning for the recital of the entire Book of
Psalms (Tehillim). Then, for about an hour before
davenen, a chassidic
maamar should be studied that can be understood by all.
The time and place of the farbrengen [i.e., the chassidic gathering that is usually held, among other times, after morning prayers on Shabbos Mevarchim] should be determined by local conditions. (And may those be conditions of material and spiritual prosperity!)
After the conclusion of Tehillim on Shabbos Mevarchim, the Mourner's Kaddish is said. If one of those present is required to say Kaddish because he is observing a yahrzeit or is a mourner, he recites Kaddish at the conclusion of each of the Five Books of Tehillim.[237]
On the Shabbos before Rosh HaShanah, as before any new month, the complete Book of Tehillim is read before the prayers, which are followed too by a farbrengen.
In the morning prayers of
Shabbos and
Yom-Tov one does not repeat the last verse of Psalm 91 (
yosheiv b'seiser; p. 154).
[238]
In the Great Hallel (i.e., Psalm 136; p. 156), one should articulate the phrase ki l'olam chasdo distinctly,[239] in order that the first two words should not be slurred together. Likewise, the samech of chasdo should be pronounced carefully.[240]
In the Great Hallel [whose verses total 26, the numerical equivalent of the Four-Letter Name of G-d], one bears in mind the letter yud [which equals ten] while reading the first ten verses, the letter hei [five] while reading the next five verses, and so forth, as indicated in the Siddur; [i.e., the letter vav (six) while reading the next six verses, and the letter hei (five) while reading the final five verses].[241]
In the passage following yotzeir or (p. 170) one says mah rabu ma'asecha on Shabbos as on weekdays.[242]
In the Kedushah of Shacharis (p. 179), the word tishkon begins a new sentence.
After the Song of the Day (p. 182), one reads the passage beginning hoshieinu [as on weekdays].
Notes:
- (Back to text) HaYom Yom, p. 6.
- (Back to text) "It appears to me that if Kaddish is to be said after each Book, then at least the congregant saying Kaddish should first say the prayer beginning Yehi ratzon that follows each of the Books. [See Tehillim Ohel Yosef Yitzchak, p. 180.] Since this prayer marks the conclusion of a certain bracket of Psalms, it is followed by Kaddish, and the next bracket may be regarded as something in the nature of a new unit. This situation is analogous to the laws governing the Grace after Meals when a meal is divided into two sessions. (See the Alter Rebbe's Shulchan Aruch, end of 291:3.)
"It is self-evident that the above note [which was first written in connection with the Shabbos preceding Rosh HaShanah] applies to every Shabbos Mevarchim." (From a letter of the Rebbe Shlita dated 9 Shevat, 5715, and the Notes of the Rebbe on the Customs of Elul, Rosh HaShanah, etc., appended to Machzor HaShalem.)
- (Back to text) HaYom Yom, p. 12. Cf. footnote 275, below.
- (Back to text) Yerushalmi, Berachos 2:4.
- (Back to text) Rashi and Rif, ad loc.; Haggadah for Pesach, p. 46.
- (Back to text) Pri Etz Chayim, Shaar HaShabbos, ch. 19. "In general the Alter Rebbe did not record mystical meditations in the Siddur, because he compiled it for general use. Accordingly, since in the Shabbos prayers he inserted the above four letters in the positions described, it would seem that the above directive is relevant to everyone." (Note by the Rebbe Shlita in the Haggadah for Pesach, p. 46.) (The same applies to the reading of the Haggadah, loc. cit.; see p. 81, below.)
- (Back to text) The Alter Rebbe's Siddur, and so too in Siddur HaAriZal - "and this is the correct version," notes the Rebbe Rashab in his Glosses on the Siddur; see there at length. See also Likkutei Torah, Devarim, p. 66c, and the maamar beginning Ani LeDodi, 5629 (Sefer HaMaamarim 5629, p. 303).
Shema before Retiring on Friday Night