Minhagim of Yud Shvat

Courtesy of Rabbi Garelick of Sichosacademy.org, we present an overview of Minhagim for Yud Shvat:

What to prepare for Yud Shvat:

1. A Yohrtzeit Licht. If possible – of beeswax.
2. Sefer Hamamorim Bosi Legani and especially of 5719 and 5739. There is a website that contains all this information, http://www.basilgani.com/.
3. The Shabbos before Yud Shvat the men (and boys over Bar Mitzvah) get an Aliya.
4. Arrange one (or three) member(s) of the community who should prepare the first five chapters of Bosi Legani 5710. The first two are recited after Maariv; the next two after Shacharis and the fifth after Mincha. Alternatively, there is a recording available on sichosonline.org (see links below) by each Tefilah.
5. Prepare a פ”נ, (Pidyon Nefesh) to be read (and sent to the Ohel) on Yud Shvat.
6. The chapters in Mishnayos that start with the letters of the names of the Frierdiker Rebbe available on http://www.basilgani.com/.
7. Tzedaka – to be given by all members of the family before Shacharis and before Mincha.
8. Shvartze Kashe (black Kashe), for the children to distribute to the birds in honor of Shabbos Shira.
9. Shvartze Kashe (black Kashe), Prepare some to eat on Shabbos Shira.

Tuesday evening, the 9th of Shvat, right after sundown:

Light the Yohrzeit licht.
Maariv:
– Shliach Tzibur: If there is no Chiyuv, arrange for three people, one for each Tefilah.
– Tachanun is said on Yud Shvat unless there is a Chosson or Bris etc.
– 5 Candles should burn throughout Davening.
– At the end of Maariv say Mishnayos, a few lines of Tanya and Kadish Derabanan.
– Bosi Legani: One of the members of the community recites the first two chapters of Bosi Legani 5710. If there is no one that can recite them, here is a link to sichosonline.org where you can see these chapter being recited:
http://theonlinerabbi.com/sichosonline/bosi-legani-5710/
– During the evening – see below “Throughout the Day”.

Wednsday, the 10th of Shvat:

Shacharis:
– Before davening we learn a Chapter of Tanya.
– Tzedaka should be set aside before davening for causes of the Rebbe on behalf of one’s self and each member of his family. Giving extra tzedaka on Yud Shevat is especially important for women.
– Shliach Tzibur: as above in Maariv.
– Tachanun is said on Yud Shvat (unless there is a Chosson or a Bris etc.).
– 5 Candles should burn throughout davening.
– At the end of Shacharis say Mishnayos, a few lines of Tanya and Kadish Derabanan.
– Bosi Legani: One of the members of the community recites chapters 3-4 of Bosi Legani 5710. If there is no one that can recite them, here is a link to sichosonline.org where you can see these chapters being recited: http://theonlinerabbi.com/sichosonline/bosi-legani-5710-3-4/
– After Bosi Legani is learned:
1. Each person should read his own פ”נ while wearing a gartel.
2. While reading the פ”נ, whoever merited to go into Yechidus, should visualize as if they are standing in front of the Rebbe.
3. Place the פ”נ in a sefer of the Rebbe.
4. Try to have it sent to the Ohel on that day (fax: 718-723-4444 or email: ohel@ohelchabad.org).
-During the day – see below “Throughout the Day”.

Mincha:

Perhaps an early Mincha should be arranged due to all the Minhogim connected to it.
-Tzedaka should be set aside before davening for causes of the Rebbe on behalf of one’s self and each member of his family.
– Shliach Tzibur: as above in Maariv.
– 5 Candles should burn throughout davening.
– At the end of Mincha, Mishnayos, a few lines of Tanya and Kadish Derabanan are said.
– Bosi Legani: One of the members of the community recites chapter 5 of Bosi Legani 5710. If there is no one that can recite it, here is a link to sichosonline.org where you can see this chapter being recited: http://theonlinerabbi.com/sichosonline/bosi-legani-5710-5/
– Tanya: after Mincha and Bosi Legani, learn one chapter of Tanya.

Throughout the Day:

– Learn Bosi Legani 5719 and 5739 (which are based on Chapter 9 of Bosi Legani 5710). All available at http://www.basilgani.com/
– Arrange or join a Farbrengen during this day.
– Set aside time to discuss with your family about the Rebbe, his activities etc. (You can use the introduction to Hayom Yom and Sefer Hatoldois etc.)
– Hiskashrus: this is an auspicious day to devote to strengthening our Hiskashrus to the Rebbe (for example – see letter of 3 Tamuz 5710 etc.).
– Visit other communities and tell them about the Rebbe and his love for every Jew, Chitas etc.
– Visit youth clubs and tell them about the Rebbe and his love for every one of them, how he trusted each one of them and has faith in them that they will carry out their mission etc.
– Mishnayos: during the day learn chapters of Mishnayos that start with the letters of the Rebbe’s name.
– During the Yud Shvat farbrengen the Rebbe would remind everyone about Chitas and Magbis.

Additional – for Erev Shabbos Kodesh, Shabbos Shira (Beshalach):

Give the children Kasha to distribute to the birds and read to them Likutei Sichos volume 2, page 521.
– Prepare Shvarze Kasha to be eaten on Shabbos Shira.

Shabbos Kodesh, Parshas Beshalach – Shabbos Shira:

– Depending on the circumstances – continue some of the activities above connected to Yud Shvat.
– Our custom is to eat Shvarze kasha on Shabbos Shira.