[New York]

[The record below of the farbrengen of the Rebbe Rayatz on Yud-Tes/Chaf Kislev, 5710 [1949], first appeared in the edition of Likkutei Dibburim which the Rebbe published immediately after the shivah of the Rebbe Rayatz. It was introduced by the following foreword, dated 18 Shvat, 5710 [1950] -- the first published document written by the Rebbe after the passing of the Rebbe Rayatz on 10 (Yud) Shvat:]

18 Shvat, 5710 [1950]

Brooklyn, N.Y.

Yud-Tes/Chaf Kislev, 5710 [1949], was the last occasion at which my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz] (May his merit protect us!), spoke at a public farbrengen. The sichos of this date are therefore of special importance to each of us. For this reason the booklet before us, which includes these sichos (based on notes taken by listeners), is the first item to be published after the histalkus. To supplement these sichos we have reprinted the letter [of the Rebbe Rayatz] addressed to the temimim which appeared in the Kuntreis published in honor of Yud Shvat, the day of the histalkus.

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My late revered father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz] (May I serve as an atonement for his resting-place), in one of his letters* after the passing of his father [the Rebbe Rashab], writes as follows concerning tzaddikim, who protect the world: Even after their passing, "not only are they not separated from the flock whose shepherd they have been, but they lovingly present themselves before the footstool of the heavenly throne and take up their place before the splendor of the exalted and sublime G-d, in order to protect the people of Yeshurun (Israel)."

All this is also true of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe [Rayatz], of blessed memory.

We, however, for our part, should hold on and strengthen our bond with him ever more intensely -- by studying his maamarim, sichos and letters, and by thinking deeply upon the directives to be found in them, as well as upon the directives given to various individuals. And then, we will proceed** "in a straight path, in one of his paths that he has shown us, and we will walk in his ways forevermore."

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As with past publications of Otzar HaChassidim, here too the [undersigned] publisher has added a number of [asterisked] sources and notes.

Menachem Schneerson

Notes:

* First published in Chachmei Yisrael (N.Y., 5684 [1924]), p. 33 [and later in the Igros Kodesh (Letters) of the Rebbe Rayatz, Vol. I, Letter 72].

** Iggeres HaKodesh of the Alter Rebbe, Epistle 27 [in Lessons In Tanya, Vol. V, p. 169].