מאמר יבל הוא הי׳

The main idea of this maamar is to explain the inyan of Shir (song) the way it is lemaalah by Neshamos and Malochim, and the way it was in the Beis Hamikdash when they brought Korbanos.

Shir brings about Bittul and Aliyah, elevation from one level to a higher level. It has a tremendous koach which can elevate from even a low place. The bittul connected to Shir can have Midos within, and then it’s called a Shir Kaful, Meshulash, or Meruba, depending on how the midos are incorporated.

The maamar is based on the posuk in Bereishis of the two brothers, one was an inventor of music, the other invented the wandering shepherd. In the Ruchnius meaning, they were dependent on each other. The wandering shepherd who lives in tents (Makif) is what enables the elevation in music, even for someone who is on the level of an animal.

Entire Maamar:

History of the maamar:

This maamar was said by the Alter Rebbe in the year 5568 or 5569. In one of the Kisvei Yad it says that it was said at the chasunah of the Alter Rebbe’s son, which possibly is the reason for the emphasis on the inyan of Shir.

There is a maamar based on this one from the Mitteler Rebbe (Vateled Ada) printed in Toras Chaim. There are also hagahos from the Tzemach Tzedek printed in Ohr HaTorah.

This maamar is also based on the Mishna in Shabbos, “Kol Baalei Hashir Yotzim Beshir.” The Alter Rebbe famously explained that Shir doesn’t only mean a chain, but a song. There are two stories brought in Likutei Diburim about the Alter Rebbe saying this vort and connecting it to song.

One of them is in Likutei Diburim Chelek Gimmel, the sicha of Pesach Tof-Shin-Gimmel (os Pey-Tes), and see the mareh mekomos in the new print for more information. This is the famous story with the Geonim of Shklov.

The second is in Chelek Daled, the sicha of Erev Rosh-Chodesh Tammuz Tof-Shin-Beis.