Hayom Yom 15 Tishrei - The Alter Rebbe would take the Tzemach Tzedek under his tallis during the Priestly Blessing

כְּשֶׁנּוֹתְנִים הַד' מִינִים לְאַחֵר לְבָרֵךְ עֲלֵיהֶםWhen handing someone the Four Species so that he can recite a blessing over them, אוֹמְרִים בְּפֵרוּשׁ שֶׁהוּא בְּמַתָּנָה עַל מְנָת לְהַחֲזִירone should say explicitly that it this “a gift on condition that it is returned.” וּבִפְרַט בְּיוֹם רִאשׁוֹןThis practice applies especially on the first day, וְהוּא תּוֹעֶלֶת לַנּוֹתֵן וְלַמְּקַבֵּלand it is of benefit both to the donor and to the recipient.הוֹרָה אַאַמוּ"ר שֶׁיַּתְחִילוּ בִּרְכַּת שֶׁהֶחֱיָנוּMy revered father, the Rebbe [Rashab], directed that one should begin reciting the blessing Shehecheyanu כְּשֶׁהַלּוּלָב בְּיָדוֹ אַחַת וְהָאֶתְרוֹג בַּשְׁנִיָּהwhile holding the lulav in one hand and the esrog in the other.הַפְּסוּקִים כִּי אָמַרְתִּי גו' - רַק בְּהוֹשַׁעֲנָא רַבָּה[When reciting the Hoshanos, we say the verses and phrases that appear in the Siddur after each day’s reading, such as] Ki Amarti…, only on Hoshana Rabbah.גַּם בַּיּוֹם מְבָרְכִים לֵשֵׁב בַּסּוּכָּה אַחַר קִדּוּשׁ וְלֹא אַחַר הַמּוֹצִיאEven during the day, the blessing Leishev basukkah is recited after Kiddush, and not after Hamotzi.הַהַנְהָגָה בְּעֵת בִּרְכַּת כֹּהֲנִיםThe customs that are observed during the Priestly Blessing (כַּנִּזְכָּר לְעִיל יוֹם ב' דְּחַג הַשָּׁבוּעוֹת)(as detailed in the entry for the second day of Shavuos) אָנוּ יוֹדְעִיםhave come down to us עַל יְדֵי זֶהby virtue of the fact שֶׁרַבֵּנוּ הַזָּקֵן הָיָה לוֹקֵחַ אֶת הַצֶּמַח צֶדֶקthat the Alter Rebbe used to take [his grandson] the Tzemach Tzedek — קוֹדֶם חֲתוּנָתוֹ[in his youth,] before he was married — תַּחַת טַלִּיתוֹ לִנְשִׂיאַת כַּפַּיִםunder his tallis during the Priestly Blessing.Text and Translation courtesy of Sichos in EnglishFor questions and follow-up: [email protected]