Lesson sixty five in the chain of the Rebbeim, and in the section on the Rebbe's life story - lesson twenty one. Today we will deal with the year 5731 and the year 5732.
"5731 - issues a call to "conquer" the world through Torah study" - at the farbrengen of 15 Shevat 5731, the Rosh Hashanah for trees, the Rebbe said that the time had come to conquer the world through toil and increase in Torah study.
The Rebbe explained in detail that even businessmen, who have time in which they are obligated by halachah to study, must add in the quality of their study - that it be with greater depth and greater toil, and even to take from their business hours for the sake of Torah. And certainly those who are called yoshvei ohel, the temimim, the students of Tomchei Temimim, must be a living example for all the other students in the other yeshivos, and a living example for the businessmen and the baalei batim, in the matter of studying Torah with toil and diligence.
The Rebbe emphasized that this matter is connected in a special way to the Rosh Hashanah for trees: just as with trees one sees that in order for there to be growth toil is required, and one who wants "berinah yiktzoru" (to reap with joy) must sow with effort and toil - so too must it be with Torah study.
"Begins to explain (every Shabbos Kodesh) the notes of his father, of blessed memory, in "Likkutei Levi Yitzchak" on the Zohar, and from then on continues with this at every farbrengen of Shabbos Kodesh" - the Rebbe began this on Shabbos Parshas Shemini 5730. The Rebbe spoke in a general way about the explanations in the sefer Likkutei Levi Yitzchak, and not always specifically about the Zohar: at times he explained the Likkutei Levi Yitzchak found in the letters, and at times Toras Levi Yitzchak on Shas. In general, at every farbrengen the Rebbe spoke and explained from his father's Torah.
"5732 - arouses regarding assistance to the immigrants from the lands of Georgia and Bukhara, etc." - over the years seforim were published about this period and about the connection to the immigrants from these lands: the sefer "Admurei Chabad V'Yahadus Bucharah" and the sefer "Admurei Chabad V'Yahadus Georgia", and in them are detailed all the activities connected to this subject, to assisting the immigrants, which were done following the special arousal that the Rebbe awakened regarding this.
"Issues a call against the drafting of women and girls into the army" - it is well known that the Rebbe expressed his opinion many times against drafting women into the army, and detailed several points:
From a religious and moral standpoint - the harm involved.
From a technical and operational standpoint - it introduces emotional tensions into the army's operations, and consequently reduces the soldiers' ability to concentrate on the operational mission.
From a halachic standpoint - the Rebbe mentioned the matter of "avizraihu" of gilui arayos; there are many halachic problems which in practice forbid the drafting of women and girls into the army.
"Arouses to enable the immigrants from Russia to merit the mitzvos of Purim" - in a letter that the Rebbe wrote on 12 Adar of that year, 5742, addressed to the chassidim in general, to anash in general, instructions were given in anticipation of Purim. Among the things written was that all those bringing mishloach manos to the new immigrants, wherever they may be, must emphasize to them - and the Rebbe spoke about the sensitivity required in this - that since until now they were in Russia and had no possibility of fulfilling the mitzvah of mishloach manos properly, therefore they are now sending them the portions and giving them the opportunity so that they too will be able to fulfill this mitzvah in its completeness. The Rebbe further emphasized in the letter to give them the feeling that this is not in the category of matanos la'evyonim but rather mishloach manos, and to give it graciously and with a pleasant countenance.
"In connection with the seventieth year, founds the "Vaad of 71 Institutions"" - at the farbrengen of 11 Nissan of that year, 5742, the Rebbe asked that in honor of the seventieth year, seventy one new institutions be established, over the course of the year until 11 Nissan 5733. And indeed, in practice seventy one institutions were then established around the world; and there were even energetic chassidim who established a vaad for founding seventy one institutions in Eretz Yisrael alone - and they stood by this, that in Eretz Yisrael alone seventy one institutions were founded, in addition to what the Rebbe had spoken about then regarding the entire world.
"Farbrengs on the first two days and the last two days of the festival of Pesach" - it was not a usual thing for the Rebbe to farbreng both on the first day of Pesach and on the second day, and likewise on Shevii shel Pesach and on Acharon shel Pesach. Apparently this was connected to the seventieth year. At these farbrengens the Rebbe also explained many verses from the new chapter, and there were many guests then, and the chassidim sensed that this was being done in a special way in connection with this.
"Arouses regarding the education of the children of the immigrants from Russia, and special assistance for new immigrants from Russia from a "fund" that was established that year (Keren Hashiv'im)". And as mentioned, in the seforim that were noted, everything connected to the immigrants appears at length, and especially in those years.