אות - כא

On Rosh HaShanah, one should be wise and think only good thoughts. We should keep in mind only that God will be good to us. 28 See “ His Wisdom ” #8; Likutey Halakhot , Rosh HaShanah 4:2.

One must be happy on Rosh HaShanah, and yet one must cry (see “ His Wisdom ” #87) .

On the first day of Rosh HaShanah, one should speak as little as possible. The Rebbe said that a great leader must be even more careful about this.

The Rebbe himself would not even say most of the piyutim on Rosh HaShanah. He only said that which was written by Rabbi Eliezer HaKalir. 29 According to tradition, Rabbi Eliezer HaKalir was the son of Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, author of the Zohar , and wrote with Divine inspiration ( Tosafot , Chagigah 13a, “ VeRagley ,” from Pesikta deRabbi Kahana #28, 179a; cf. Rosh , Berakhot 5:21; Ma'adaney Yom Tov ad loc., #5). Piyutim are poems and prayers added to the service of the holidays. He would omit the rest, because as a leader, he was extremely careful not to say a single unnecessary word.