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.28See “His Wisdom” #8; Likutey Halakhot, Rosh HaShanah 4:2.
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.29According 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.
בְּרֹאשׁ הַשָּׁנָה צְרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת חָכָם שֶׁיַּחֲשֹׁב רַק מַחֲשָׁבוֹת טוֹבוֹת, שֶׁיֵּיטִיב הַשֵּׁם יִתְבָּרַךְ עִמָּנוּ וְכוּ'.
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.28See “His Wisdom” #8; Likutey Halakhot, Rosh HaShanah 4:2.
וּצְרִיכִין לִהְיוֹת שָׂמֵחַ בְּרֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה. גַּם צְרִיכִין לִבְכּוֹת בְּרֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה.
One must be happy on Rosh HaShanah, and yet one must cry (see “His Wisdom” #87).
בְּרֹאשׁ־הַשָּׁנָה בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן, צְרִיכִין לְמַעֵט בְּדִבּוּר מְאֹד מְאֹד. וְאָמַר: שֶׁאָדָם גָּדוֹל צָרִיךְ לְדַקְדֵּק בָּזֶה בְּיוֹתֵר.
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.
וְעַל־כֵּן הוּא אֵינוֹ אוֹמֵר בַּיּוֹם הָרִאשׁוֹן אֲפִלּוּ הַפַּיִט [פיוטים] רַק מַה שֶּׁיָּסַד רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר הַקָּלִיר, אֲבָל שְׁאָר הַפַּיִט אֵינוֹ אֹמֵר, מֵחֲמַת שֶׁאָדָם גָּדוֹל צָרִיךְ לְדַקְדֵּק אָז בְּיוֹתֵר לִבְלִי לְדַבֵּר שׁוּם דִּבּוּר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מֻכְרָח.
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.29According 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.