Manuscript (Chabad "bichel"), transcript of Chassidic discourses given by Rebbe Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn of Kopust – author of Magen Avot, in 1867-1879.
The "bichel" contains 22 discourses of Rebbe Shlomo Zalman Schneersohn, the Magen Avot of Kopust (Kopys). Nine of them were delivered on Shavuot.
Some of these discourses are transcripts of the Rebbe's manuscript, and were later published in 1902 in his Magen Avot series; while others were recorded by a person attending his discourses (or transcribed from such a record).
Some of the discourses in this "bichel" which were recorded by attendees of his lectures were not published in the Magen Avot series, and were hitherto unknown.
On p. 28b, at the end of one discourse: "We heard it on Thursday night, Erev Shabbat Tazria Metzora, 4th Iyar 1876, and he explained it at length on the last day of Passover 1876".
Index of discourses at the beginning of the "bichel".
In his foreword to the first volume of the Magen Avot series (Berditchev 1902), the publisher, son of the author writes that there are thousands of transcripts of his father's discourses, recorded by those who attended his lectures, and some where presented to his father who proofread and corrected them, and they were later published in the seventh volume. Some of the discourses in this "bichel" were not published in volume VII of Magen Avot.
Enclosed with the manuscript are handwritten booklets containing transcripts of discourses of the rebbe of Kopust, in Yiddish. Most of the discourses in these booklets were never published. Another booklet is enclosed, with a transcript of a discourse by the Tzemach Tzedek (published discourse).
Rebbe Shlomo Zalman of Kopust (1830-1900) was the grandson and close disciple of the Tzemach Tzedek of Lubavitch. Following the passing of the Tzemach Tzedek, the majority of Chabad Chassidim appointed R. Yehuda Leib (Maharil) of Kopust (father of R. Shlomo Zalman), prominent son of the Tzemach Tzedek, as their rebbe. But R. Yehuda passed away in Cheshvan 1866, only six months after the passing of his father, the Tzemach Tzedek. R. Shlomo Zalman succeeded him as rebbe of Chabad-Kopust. A small part of his discourses was printed after his passing in the Magen Avot series, seven volumes (Berditchev, 1902).
The Lubavitcher Rebbe described the discourses in Magen Avot as "delightful discourses". The writer R. Hillel Zeitlin, describes R. Shlomo Zalman's profound and unique philosophy, in a letter to a friend: "I advise you to obtain the book Magen Avot by the Tzaddik of Kopust, and to study in-depth the discourses on the verse Vayechel Elohim… and especially the homily on Parashat Shemini, which combines an awesome message with unparalleled mystical Chabad delight. If you read these discourses, not just superficially as most people do, rather in-depth, progressively and consecutively, I am sure you will be profoundly grateful to me for this piece of advice (HaRav, Lakewood 2015, p. 753).
[2], 129 leaves (manuscript) + [148] leaves (booklets). Leaves written on both sides (leaves of manuscript unboud). Size and condition vary (most leaves in good-fair condition).
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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 the development of the "bichel" and its distribution in one of his essays:
"…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).