This lesson was revealed on a Friday night.264This was said during the summer of 5568/1808, some time between Tisha B'Av and Rosh HaShanah (Tzaddik #185; see note 337. It may have been said on Shabbat Nachamu (August 6, 1808), a regular time of gathering. The Rebbe began by asking me, “Are you joyous on Shabbat?” I answered, “Ich bin amal frum – I sometimes have trepidation.”
The Rebbe discussed this at length, lecturing us to be in a joyous mood on Shabbat. He said that we should do everything possible to bring ourselves to such joy, as recorded in this lesson.
The Rebbe said we should buy delicacies for Shabbos. “All of your income is decreed from the beginning of the year. But what you spend for Shabbat and festivals is not included in the decree (Beitzah 16a). Even a simple family man enjoys Shabbos with his tasty food such as fish and broth.”
He then said to me “Now you have something to be depressed about”. He meant that he had just lectured us to be joyous on Shabbat and I had not been worthy of such happiness. This made me even more depressed.
[The Rebbe had actually read my thoughts. As soon as he declared that we must be joyous, I began worrying because I had not attained such Shabbat joy.]
When the Rebbe said, “Now you have something to make you depressed,” it actually gave me much comfort and encouragement. For it made me realize that I should not worry about rejoicing to the point of becoming depressed.
When the Rebbe lectured me about this, I answered, “I have a very great desire to be filled with joy on Shabbat.” [I meant that even if I was not worthy of actual joy, I still had a great yearning for it. The Rebbe had spoken many times about the importance of desire and longing (see “His Wisdom” #12, #14, #260).] The Rebbe called to those around him, “Have you heard what he said? He spoke well!”
The Rebbe also told us to sing many zemirot and other Shabbat songs (see Tzaddik #520). He said, “Do not pay attention to any obstacles. Others may be sitting at the table and not seem to have any desire to sing. Strengthen yourself and sing with joy. Conduct the Shabbat table in a happy mood. The main thing is Shabbat joy.”
שַׁיָּךְ לְסִימָן י"ז בְּ"לִקּוּטֵי תִּנְיָנָא" הַמַּתְחִיל: "צָרִיךְ לִזָּהֵר מְאֹד לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת" וְכוּ'.
The lesson beginning, “One must be very careful always to be joyful on Shabbat” is in Likutey Moharan II, 17.
כָּל זֶה אָמַר בְּלֵיל שַׁבָּת קֹדֶשׁ. וּבִתְחִלָּה שָׁאַל אוֹתִי: "הַאַתָּה שָׂמֵחַ בְּשַׁבָּת?" הֵשַׁבְתִּי: "אֲנִי לִפְעָמִים נִתְעוֹרֵר עָלַי אֵיזֶה יִרְאָה בְּשַׁבָּת" (שֶׁקּוֹרִין פְרוּם). וְאָמַרְתִּי לוֹ בְּזוֹ הַלָּשׁוֹן: "אִיךְ בִּין אַמָאל פְרוּם".
This lesson was revealed on a Friday night.264This was said during the summer of 5568/1808, some time between Tisha B'Av and Rosh HaShanah (Tzaddik #185; see note 337. It may have been said on Shabbat Nachamu (August 6, 1808), a regular time of gathering. The Rebbe began by asking me, “Are you joyous on Shabbat?” I answered, “Ich bin amal frum – I sometimes have trepidation.”
וְהֵשִׁיב: "לֹא כָּךְ הוּא, הָעִקָּר הוּא שִׂמְחָה". וְאָז הוֹכִיחַ אוֹתִי הַרְבֵּה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה דַּיְקָא בְּשַׁבָּת.
The Rebbe said, “This is not the way. The main thing is joy.” He admonished me to be happy, especially on Shabbos.
וְאָז אָמַר כָּל הָעִנְיָן הַנִּדְפַּס (בְּ"לִקּוּטֵי תִּנְיָנָא" סִימָן י"ז הנ"ל) מֵעִנְיַן מַעֲלַת הַשִּׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת.
The Rebbe then revealed the above lesson, speaking of the importance of Shabbat joy.
וְנִכְלָל שָׁם: שֶׁגַּם הַיִּרְאָה, עִקַּר עֲלִיָּתָהּ עַל יְדֵי הַשִּׂמְחָה שֶׁל שַׁבָּת דַּיְקָא, הַיְנוּ שֶׁעִקַּר הוּא רַק הַשִּׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת. וְאָז דַּיְקָא עוֹלָה הַיִּרְאָה שֶׁהוּא בְּחִינַת מַה שֶּׁקּוֹרִין 'פְרוּם'.
Then, in particular, one’s fear and stringencies are elevated – but only through such joy.
וְהֶאֱרִיךְ הַרְבֵּה בַּשִּׂיחָה הַקְּדוֹשָׁה הַזֹּאת, וְהוֹכִיחַ אוֹתָנוּ וְאוֹתִי בְּיוֹתֵר, לְהִתְגַּבֵּר לִהְיוֹת שָׂמֵחַ וְטוֹב לֵב בְּשַׁבָּת וּלְהַרְבּוֹת בְּתַעֲנוּגֵי שַׁבָּת וְכוּ' (כַּנִּדְפַּס שָׁם).
The Rebbe discussed this at length, lecturing us to be in a joyous mood on Shabbat. He said that we should do everything possible to bring ourselves to such joy, as recorded in this lesson.
וְאָמַר: הֲלֹא כָּל הוֹצָאוֹתָיו שֶׁל אָדָם קְצוּבִין חוּץ מֵהוֹצָאוֹת שַׁבָּתוֹת וְיוֹם טוֹב וְכוּ'. וְאָמַר: הֲלֹא גַּם בַּעַל הַבַּיִת פָּשׁוּט הוּא שָׂמֵחַ בְּשַׁבָּת בְּהַדָּגִים וְהַזּ'וּפִּיצֶא שֶׁלּוֹ.
The Rebbe said we should buy delicacies for Shabbos. “All of your income is decreed from the beginning of the year. But what you spend for Shabbat and festivals is not included in the decree (Beitzah 16a). Even a simple family man enjoys Shabbos with his tasty food such as fish and broth.”
וְאַחַר כָּךְ אָמַר לִי: "עַתָּה יְהֵא לְךָ מִמַּה לִּהְיוֹת בְּמָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה". כַּוָּנָתוֹ, כִּי מֵאַחַר שֶׁהוֹכִיחַ אוֹתִי הַרְבֵּה לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת, יָכוֹל לִהְיוֹת שֶׁאֶהְיֶה ח"ו בְּמָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה בְּיוֹתֵר מִזֶּה בְּעַצְמוֹ, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁצְּרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת וְאֵינִי זוֹכֶה לָזֶה.
He then said to me “Now you have something to be depressed about”. He meant that he had just lectured us to be joyous on Shabbat and I had not been worthy of such happiness. This made me even more depressed.
(וּבֶאֱמֶת כִּוֵּן מְאֹד לְמַחֲשַׁבְתִּי בָּזֶה, כִּי תֵּכֶף בְּעֵת אֲמִירָתוֹ כָּל הנ"ל הִתְחִיל לַעֲלוֹת עַל מַחֲשַׁבְתִּי דְּאָגוֹת אֵיךְ זוֹכִין לְשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת).
[The Rebbe had actually read my thoughts. As soon as he declared that we must be joyous, I began worrying because I had not attained such Shabbat joy.]
וּבָזֶה שֶׁאָמַר דִּבּוּרָיו הַקְּדוֹשִׁים הָאֵלּוּ "עַתָּה יִהְיֶה לְךָ" וְכוּ'. בָּזֶה נִחֵם וְחִזֵּק אוֹתִי הַרְבֵּה, שֶׁעַל כָּל פָּנִים לֹא יִהְיֶה לִי מָרָה שְׁחוֹרָה מִזֶּה בְּעַצְמוֹ שֶׁאֲנִי מְחֻיָּב לִשְׂמֹחַ בְּשַׁבָּת וְכַּנַּ"ל.
When the Rebbe said, “Now you have something to make you depressed,” it actually gave me much comfort and encouragement. For it made me realize that I should not worry about rejoicing to the point of becoming depressed.
גַּם בְּעֵת שֶׁהָיָה מַרְבֶּה לְהוֹכִיחַ אוֹתִי עַל זֶה לִהְיוֹת שָׂמֵחַ בְּשַׁבָּת אָז עָנִיתִי וְאָמַרְתִּי: "אֲנִי חָפֵץ וְרוֹצֶה מְאֹד לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת" (וְכַוָּנָתִי הָיָה, אִם אֵינִי זוֹכֶה לְשִׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת, עַל כָּל פָּנִים אֲנִי רוֹצֶה מְאֹד לִהְיוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה. וּכְבָר שָׁמַעְתִּי הַרְבֵּה מִמֶּנּוּ מִגֹּדֶל מַעֲלַת הָרָצוֹן וְהַכִּסּוּפִין וְכוּ'), עָנָה וְאָמַר לְהָעוֹלָם: "הַשְׁמַעְתֶּם מַה שֶּׁהוּא אוֹמֵר? הֵיטֵב אֲשֶׁר דִּבֵּר!"
When the Rebbe lectured me about this, I answered, “I have a very great desire to be filled with joy on Shabbat.” [I meant that even if I was not worthy of actual joy, I still had a great yearning for it. The Rebbe had spoken many times about the importance of desire and longing (see “His Wisdom” #12, #14, #260).] The Rebbe called to those around him, “Have you heard what he said? He spoke well!”
גַּם הוֹכִיחַ אוֹתָנוּ אָז לְזַמֵּר זְמִירוֹת בְּשַׁבָּת הַרְבֵּה, וְלִבְלִי לְהִסְתַּכֵּל עַל שׁוּם מוֹנֵעַ מֵאֵיזֶה בְּנֵי אָדָם הַיּוֹשְׁבִים עַל הַשֻּׁלְחָן, שֶׁנִּדְמֶה לוֹ שֶׁאֵין רְצוֹנָם בָּזֶה, רַק לְהִתְחַזֵּק לְזַמֵּר זְמִירוֹת בְּשִׂמְחָה, וּלְהַנְהִיג הַשֻּׁלְחָן כָּל יוֹם הַשַּׁבָּת בְּשִׂמְחָה גְּדוֹלָה, כִּי עִקָּר הוּא הַשִּׂמְחָה בְּשַׁבָּת.
The Rebbe also told us to sing many zemirot and other Shabbat songs (see Tzaddik #520). He said, “Do not pay attention to any obstacles. Others may be sitting at the table and not seem to have any desire to sing. Strengthen yourself and sing with joy. Conduct the Shabbat table in a happy mood. The main thing is Shabbat joy.”