My[45] revered father-in-law once related:[46] "The Baal Shem used to say that distributing lekach on erev Yom Kippur is an ancient custom.[47] While doing so the Baal Shem Tov used to say: 'I am giving you sweet cake -- and may G-d give you a good year!' My father [the Rebbe Rashab] used to conclude, '...a good year, a sweet year.'"

[The Rebbe added individual blessings to some of the chassidim who filed past his door for lekach.[48]]

   

Notes:

45. (Back to text) This is an unauthenticated record of the Rebbe's words when distributing lekach (sweet cake) during the morning of erev Yom Kippur, 5711 [1950].

46. (Back to text) Brief notes (rashei devarim) relating to the morning of erev Yom Kippur, 5707 [1946]. See also Sefer HaSichos 5700 [1940], p. 11.

47. (Back to text) See: Elef HaMagen on Mateh Ephraim, sec. 604, para. 38; Sefer Taamei HaMinhagim, p. 327; Sefer HaMinhagim -- Chabad, p. 58 (and in English translation: Sefer HaMinhagim: The Book of Chabad-Lubavitch Customs, p. 123).

48. (Back to text) To one chassid who approached him with a request for lekach on Motzaei Yom Kippur, after the fast, the Rebbe said: "This is not the appropriate time for the erev Yom Kippur custom of giving lekach, but here, you can nourish yourself with something lush for a whole year..." -- and the Rebbe handed him a slice of honey cake.

    To those chassidim who did not manage to receive their portion on erev Yom Kippur, the Rebbe gave lekach on Hoshana Rabbah or on Shemini Atzeres, together with a blessing worded as on erev Yom Kippur.