Chabad Manuscript ("Bichel") – Discourses of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek

Chabad Manuscript ("Bichel") – Discourses of the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek

Chabad manuscript ("Bichel"), written by several copyists: copies of homilies by Rebbe Shneur Zalman of Liadi – the Baal HaTanya and Shulchan Aruch, his son, Rabbi Dov Ber, the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch, and his grandson, Rebbe Menachem Mendel, the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. [ca. early 1850s].

The present Bichel was likely copied during the lifetime of the Tzemach Tzedek – at the head of one of the homilies is written: "Parashat Naso after Shavuot 1852". The first leaf contains an index. 

 Some fifteen Chassidic homilies, in different handwritings. The greater part of the Bichel comprises homilies by the Tzemach Tzedek, the lesser part comprises homilies by the Alter Rebbe and by the Mitteler Rebbe of Lubavitch. Most of the homilies in the Bichel were printed in books by the Alter Rebbe, the Mitteler Rebbe and the Tzemach Tzedek, with textual variations, omissions and additions.

Stamps and signatures by "Yitzchak Binyamin Dovner".

[94] ff. (pagination varies; the manuscript originally comprised over 150 ff.). Most leaves detached. Approx. 18.5 cm. Most leaves in good condition. Stains. Creases and wear. Tears, including open tears (some resulting from ink erosion), affecting text in some places. Front cover board only, damaged and worn.

Provenance: The Gross Family Collection, Tel Aviv, Ms. EE.011.033.

PLEASE NOTE: Item description was shortened in translation. For further information, please refer to the Hebrew text.

                                                                                                                    The Chabad "Bichel"

From ca. 1790 onwards, for close to one hundred and fifty years, the Chabad "Bichel" was an integral part of Chabad life in Belarus (Reisin). Researcher and bibliographer R. Chaim Lieberman describes in one of his essays the development of the "Bichel" and its distribution:

"…Chabad set up a system of copyists or writers ("schreiber" in Chabad terminology). First in Liozna, birthplace of Chabad Chassidut, then in Liadi… and later in Lubavitch… there the copyists sat and transcribed the teachings of the rebbe, which he had given over earlier to his Chassidim… On Shabbatot and festivals, and occasionally on weekdays as well, the rebbe would deliver discourses to the Chassidim. After Shabbat and Yom Tov, the rebbe would give his own handwritten notes of the discourse to the main copyist. The latter would copy it, return the manuscript to the rebbe and keep the copy, of which he would then make further copies, and sell them to the Chassidim. If he did not manage to supply all the required copies, and the Chassidim were rushing to return to their towns, he would give a copy to the secondary copyist, who would also produce copies and sell them. A Chassid who could not afford to buy a copy would copy it himself. Upon returning home with a new discourse, a Chassid was met by the awaiting townspeople, and was compelled to allow them each to copy the discourse… A Chassid who over the course of time accumulated a significant number of discourses, would have them bound, and thus the "bichel" was born, and in this way, over the years, Chassidim would amass a library of Chassidic discourses…" (Ohel Rachel, III, p. 26).

Zalman Shazar, third president of the State of Israel, who came from a Chabad home, dedicated a special chapter in his memoirs to his father's library, and writes: "High up on the bookcase was a special bundle, containing unbound booklets of Dach (Divrei Elohim Chaim). These were booklets of Chassidic teachings, written by copyists, which my grandfather would bring back from the court of the Rebbe in Liadi, or the 'choizer' every year on his traditional visit, and my grandfather would study them with my father, while I sat and listened. How engraved in my heart were those glowing, gem-like letters..." (Kochvei Boker, pp. 9-16).