The ninety-fifth "room" in the palace of Hayom Yom.
Tuesday, 25 Adar I, 5703.
Shiurim: Chumash, Vayakhel, Shlishi, with Rashi's commentary.
Tehillim, the 25th of the month: we say the first half of chapter 119 - from the opening verse beginning with "Ashrei", until the end of the letter lamed, before the letter mem, at the words "rechavah mitzvatcha me'od".
Tanya: we are still in chapter 32. The daily shiur begins with the words "Vezehu she'amar Hillel", and concludes on page 41 with the word "be'arichus".
Today's saying is very short, and it notes a particular practice. Before we read it, let us give a bit of background so that we understand its emphasis. It is known that the siddur contains for each day the "Shir shel Yom", which the Leviim would say in the Beis Hamikdash, every day - weekdays as well as Shabbos. And after the "Shir shel Yom" come several verses that open with "Hoshi'einu" - "Hoshi'einu Hashem Elokeinu".
Regarding the saying of "Shir shel Yom" in general, in Nusach Sefard there are communities that do not say "Shir shel Yom" at all on Shabbos and Yom Tov, but only on weekdays. So too regarding the verses said after "Shir shel Yom", which open with "Hoshi'einu", here as well there are various customs: there are communities that, although they say "Shir shel Yom" every day, including Shabbos and Yom Tov, do not say the "Hoshi'einu" on Shabbos and Yom Tov, or on a day when Tachanun is not said - a day on which "Lamnatze'ach" "Ya'ancha" is not said. And there are customs to say it always, except on Erev Shabbos, when "Hoshi'einu" is not said.
It is written in one of the sources what the reason is that "Hoshi'einu" is not said on Erev Shabbos: because the Gemara in Maseches Eruvin says that Eliyahu Hanavi does not come to announce the Redemption on Erev Shabbos or Erev Yom Tov, since Yisrael are busy with the needs of Shabbos and Yom Tov, and he does not come to burden them. Therefore it is not fitting to say on Erev Shabbos "Hoshi'einu Hashem Elokeinu", which is a plea for the Redemption. This is the background of the various customs that exist regarding "Shir shel Yom" and "Hoshi'einu".
In the notes that the Rebbe wrote on the siddur, he brings in the name of the Rebbe Rayatz, that when the Rebbe Rayatz asked his father, the Rebbe Rashab, how he conducts himself with the saying of "Hoshi'einu" - whether he says it every day or not - he was answered that he says it on Rosh Chodesh, on Yom Tov, on Rosh Hashanah and on Yom Kippur. And in the Rebbe's notes, regarding Shabbos he wrote to himself in parentheses "still needs to be clarified". This the Rebbe wrote years before the Hayom Yom, and the conclusion comes here in Hayom Yom.
So then, how should one act in practice? Now we will understand the meaning of today's saying, which contains a novel point in a practice that we follow as a matter of course without understanding its essential point, since it has behind it a background of differing customs. About this today's saying comes and states: "Hoshi'einu after Shir shel Yom is said both on weekdays and on Shabbos, Yom Tov, Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur". That is, "Shir shel Yom" is always said, unlike those communities that do not say it on Shabbos and Yom Tov; and likewise "Hoshi'einu" is always said, whether on Erev Shabbos, whether on Shabbos, whether on Yom Tov.
It is interesting to note that, as we said, there is a sefer that wrote the reason why "Hoshi'einu" is not said on Erev Shabbos, because the Gemara says that Eliyahu Hanavi does not come on Erev Shabbos so as not to disturb Yisrael from their Shabbos preparations. The Rebbe spoke several times and said that Moshiach can certainly come even on Erev Shabbos [in 5732, on Shabbos Mevorchim Sivan, the Rebbe said that Moshiach will come even on Shabbos and Yom Tov]. And what about those statements that he does not wish to disturb Yisrael? The Rebbe said that Yisrael forgo the bother - they will want the Redemption even if it involves bother. Consequently it is fitting to say "Hoshi'einu" always, every day and in every situation, since we are always waiting and hoping for the Redemption.
And in conclusion, as a sharp point by way of hint: what is the connection of this saying specifically to this date, since it is a general statement that applies always? It is interesting that this day is 25 Adar. Now, there is a dispute in the Gemara as to when the world was created - whether in Tishrei or in Nissan; and according to the opinion that the world was created in Nissan, it turns out that 1 Nissan is the day of the creation of man, and the beginning of the creation of the world was on 25 Adar.
It is known that the "Shir shel Yom" of each day corresponds to the description of the creation of the world on that day. According to this opinion, on the first day of the creation of the world - which is 25 Adar - the fitting "Shir shel Yom" is that of Sunday, "LaHashem ha'aretz umelo'ah, teivel veyoshvei vah", on which the creation of the world began. It turns out that the concept of "Shir shel Yom" begins on 25 Adar. And that is why the Rebbe brings specifically on this day the custom of saying "Shir shel Yom" every day, and consequently of saying "Hoshi'einu" as well every day and on every occasion. This is a sharp point, the connection of the saying specifically to this date.