Encyclopedia Chabad
By Rabbi Chaim Miller

Farbrengen (Chassidic gathering)

Part 1 of 2

"Every farbrengen is tremendously profitable in strengthening spirituality, love, and harmony in a profound way. For one person helps his friend physically in every possible way, to the extent that the Torah considers them like brothers, as another person’s affairs literally become as important to him as his own. One rejoices with his friend in utter sincerity, and one empathizes in his downfalls, G–d forbid, lifting his spirits and strengthening him. This has always been the entire purpose of a farbrengen amongst Chassidim – to arouse one’s heart to serve G-d with love and fear, since love of Jewish people in general, and love of Chassidim in particular, is the first step and the route towards love of G-d. This brotherly love brings with it harmony, which leads to positive resolutions to fix times for the study of Chassidus.

"The power of a farbrengen lies in the inner love and affection between Chassidim and is based on the fact that we all have one Father. This causes pleasure On High to the souls of our righteous Rebbeim, who devoted their lives to the spiritual and physical well-being of the Chassidim. This in turn causes a threefold blessing of charity to be bestowed, in the areas of children, health, and livelihood, to any member of the brotherhood who devotes himself to carry out and practice all that our holy Rebbeim have taught us." (Igros Kodesh, Rayatz 3:411)

Among Chassidim there is a well-known saying: "What a farbrengen can achieve, even the Angel Michoel cannot achieve." The Angel Michoel is responsible for bestowing the Jewish people with blessings of children, health, and wealth. However, the blessing of Chassidim at a farbrengen is even more powerful.

This saying traces its roots back to the following story:

After the Mezritcher Maggid passed away, the Alter Rebbe became a Chassid of R’ Menachem Mendel of Horodok. On one occasion, the disciples of R’ Menachem Mendel were sitting in Horodok farbrenging, and the Alter Rebbe was present. After speaking words of Torah, they began discussing various holy matters, while drinking spirits. In the middle of the farbrengen, one of the Chassidim stood up – an individual who, lo aleinu, suffered a great deal from bad health, and the doctors could not help him. He began to cry, requesting the other Chassidim to bless him with a complete recovery.

One of the Chassidim began to jest, "As if we have the power to give such blessings! How could you suggest such a stupid thing?" Others complained that he was placing too much faith in simple people, for blessings can only be given by individuals of unique stature, the righteous of the generation.

But this did not quiet the Chassid. He continued to beg the Chassidim to bless him, pleading from the heart with tears flowing from his eyes. Seeing this, the Chassidim started to sing a niggun, hoping that would calm him down.

"Quiet!" shouted the Alter Rebbe, stopping the niggun abruptly. Even the crying Chassid stopped sobbing.

"Brothers and friends," announced the Alter Rebbe, "have you forgotten the teaching that the decrees of holy angels can be annulled by the students of our holy Rebbe? Dos vos es ken oiftaun a Chassidishe farbrengen ken malach Michoel nit oiftaun (What a Chassidic farbrengen can accomplish cannot even be accomplished by the Angel Michoel)."

When all those present remembered the teaching, they became inflamed with the fire of brotherly love, and they blessed their brother, the Chassid, with a complete recovery.

On that occasion, the Alter Rebbe explained the concept with an analogy: Children are naturally possessive of their own possessions, and they defend their own property from other children, in a display of bad character traits. They do not care about others and worry only about their own possessions. This is a source of distress to their father. Therefore, the father hires an educator to train the children with good traits. After a period of time, the father watches the children again and sees them caring for each other, which gives him tremendous pleasure. Now he is much more likely to grant any requests that the children may have. (ibid., pp. 412-3)

"Much more can be achieved by a Chassidic farbrengen than by one person sitting and learning from a seifer." (Hisvaaduyos 5711, vol. 3, p. 162)

The intrinsic purpose of a farbrengen is to achieve vitality, enthusiasm and joy in the observance of mitzvos. (Sichos Kodesh 5721, p. 243)

A farbrengen should give a person the ability to lift himself out of the pressures of everyday life. This effect will be long-lasting even if it is only felt for a short period of time, for on a deeper level, the farbrengen takes effect over a very long period. (Igros Kodesh 11:165)

Thus, the farbrengen should be viewed as a process of "ploughing" and "sowing" for the days and weeks to come. (Igros Kodesh 16:202)

Any day is appropriate for a farbrengen, as the verse states (Proverbs 15:15), "He who has a joyful heart has a continual feast." (Hisvaaduyos 5749 1:404)

The custom in Lubavitch is to farbreng at least once a month, on the Shabbos preceding Rosh Chodesh. (Seifer HaMinhagim p. 30)

However, husbands should not stay all afternoon at the farbrengen and return home after Shabbos, for it is important for one’s wife and family to experience the atmosphere of the farbrengen on Shabbos, with the husband returning home. As for the argument that one should not go home on Shabbos to avoid becoming balei-battish, such extreme types of action should not be carried out on a regular basis, but only occasionally. (Igros Kodesh 10:3)

See entry: Birthday

In recent years, the Rebbe has requested that public farbrengens be arranged on the following dates. In many cases the Rebbe has requested that women should be invited to attend the farbrengens (with separate seating and a mechitza that satisfies the requirements of Jewish law), and children as well.

* Every Rosh Chodesh – (See Hisvaaduyos 5750 3:382-3, 390; Seifer HaSichos 5752 p. 266-7)

* Month of Kislev – Kislev is considered a Chassidic month, as many key Chassidic dates occur in this month. Therefore, the entire month is especially appropriate for farbrengens. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 1:404)

* Rosh Chodesh Kislev – This is the beginning (head) of the Month of Redemption (Seifer HaSichos 5752, p. 125)

* 10 Kislev (Redemption of the Mitteler Rebbe) – At this farbrengen one should discuss the Torah of the Mitteler Rebbe. One should also make plans for the up-coming Yud-Tes Kislev farbrengens (Hisvaaduyos 5752, 1:355). The farbrengen may be continued on the subsequent days leading up to Yud-Tes Kislev. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 1:404)

* 19-20 Kislev - This is the Rosh HaShana of Chassidus, one of the most important farbrengen dates of the year. The main farbrengen should take place on the night between the 19th and the 20th (despite being held in the past on the night of the 19th). This is because the Alter Rebbe did not return to the Chassidim until the night of the twentieth as he was delayed for three hours by being sent to the wrong address, the home of a Misnaged (Hisvaaduyos 5749 2:7). Preferably, a person should participate in three farbrengens by sending a representative to two other farbrengens, or if there are three farbrengens at different times, he can attend all three himself. (Seifer HaSichos 5752, 1:166). In the past, Chassidim would continue farbrenging into Chanuka. (Hisvaaduyos ibid.)

* Chanuka – A farbrengen should be held every day of Chanuka. (Hisvaaduyos 5752 1:408-9)

* 24 Teives – Hilula of the Alter Rebbe. His Torah teachings should be learned at the farbrengen. (Hisvaaduyos 5750 p. 161)

* Rosh Chodesh Shvat – A preparation for the Yud Shvat farbrengen. (Seifer HaSichos 5752 p. 296)

* Yud Shvat – Hilula of the Rebbe Rayatz. Anniversary of acceptance of leadership of the Rebbe shlita. (Hisvaaduyos 5748 2:272)

* Chamisha-Asar B’Shvat – The new year for trees. A farbrengen should be held in all locations. One should stress that soon we will be entering the Holy Land with the true and complete Redemption, when it will be possible to fulfill the agricultural mitzvos properly. (See Sichos Kodesh 5752 p. 320, 600)

* Purim – Preferably one should participate in three farbrengens during Purim (besides the festive Purim meal) so that the joy of Purim will have a chazaka (legal-factual presumption which occurs after performing an activity three times). (Hisvaaduyos 5750 2:368)

* 11 Nissan (The Rebbe’s birthday) - (See Hisvaaduyos 5748 3:38)

* 18 Nissan (Birthday of the Rebbe’s father, R’ Levi Yitzchok) – (Hisvaaduyos 5748 3:90)

* 2 Iyar – (Birthday of the Rebbe Maharash) – stressing the theme of L’Chatchiler Aribber. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 3:100)

* Between Pesach Sheini and Lag B’Omer – stressing the theme of correcting faults – it’s never too late – in the spirit of simcha. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 3:160)

* Motzaei Shavuos – (See Hisvaaduyos 5750 3:293)

* 28 Sivan (Day of the Rebbe’s arrival in America) – Established by a multitude of Jewish people as a day to farbreng and make good resolutions in the work of spreading the wellsprings of Chassidus outward. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 3:394)

* 3 Tammuz – (Celebration of the beginning of redemption of the Rebbe Rayatz, and all matters pertaining to the Rebbe MH"M) – (Hisvaaduyos 5748 3:543-4)

* 12-13 Tammuz (Redemption of the Rebbe Rayatz) – This farbrengen can take place either on the 12th or the 13th or the days afterwards up to the 15th of the month, especially Shabbos. (Hisvaaduyos 5751 3:442)

* Chamisha-Asar B’Av – (See Hisvaaduyos 5749 4:157-8)

* 15 Elul – Farbrengens should take place in Lubavitcher yeshivos to celebrate the establishment of Tomchei Tmimim* on this day. Not only students and teachers should participate, but also alumni and parents of students. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 4:315-6)

* 20 Cheshvan (Birthday of the Rebbe Rashab) - (See Hisvaaduyos 5748 1:77)

Farbrengens should take place in every corner of the globe where Jews are found, however distant the place may be. (Hisvaaduyos 5752 1:355)

Farbrengens should be arranged in non-Lubavitch synagogues, in keeping with the directive to spread Chassidus outwards. (Igros Kodesh 5:34)

In addition to the need to farbreng in synagogues and yeshivos, etc., it is also an beneficial for a person to make a farbrengen in his home, so that words of the Rebbe will be publicly recited in his own dwelling. (Hisvaaduyos 5747 2:208)

At a farbrengen, one should speak words of inspiration in the areas of Torah study (both nigleh and Chassidus) and in spreading Judaism and Chassidus outwards. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 1:404)

The purpose of a farbrengen is not merely to encourage a person to observe the mitzvos and to stay clear of sins; rather, its purpose is to impart a form of Chassidic "moisture" (lachluchis), from which one realizes that one’s mitzvos may not have reached the ultimate in truthful observance, and that even the slightest trace of a bad trait is unacceptable. (Likkutei Dibburim, ch. 44. In English edition, Vol. 5, p. 124)

It is essential that words of Torah are spoken at a farbrengen, as the Mishna states (Avos 3) that it is undesirable for Jews to sit together and not speak words of Torah. However, the organizers of the farbrengen should not demand this if it would cause a dispute or if it would prevent the farbrengen from taking place. (Igros Kodesh 14:102)

Words of Chassidus should be spoken at a farbrengen, as "It is impossible that words of Chassidus should not achieve their desired effect." (Igros Kodesh 16:160)

A farbrengen should have a mashpia or a speaker who addresses the gathering, providing the key input. Thus, bachurim should not farbreng among themselves without a mashpia. (See Hiskashrus issue 150, p. 12)

However, this does not mean that issues should not be discussed openly by the participants of a farbrengen. To the contrary, true understanding comes from friendly debate. (Sichos Kodesh 5752, p. 276)

For many years, senior Chassidim have commonly offered words of constructive criticism and rebuke at farbrengens. It should done in the following manner:

* The rebuke should not be directed at one individual. Rather, the speaker should address the matter that requires correction, and each person will take from it the message that applies to him.

* The force of the words should not be based on the authority or seniority of the person who is speaking. Rather, it should be self-evident from the words themselves that the person is speaking the truth. This is how the message will be accepted.

A farbrengen should be prepared and publicized well in advance to ensure that it will be successful. (Hisvaaduyos 5749 1:385)