The ninth of Kislev (Nov. 22, this year) marks the birthday and, 54 years later, the passing, of Rabbi Dov Ber of Lubavitch, known as the Mitteler Rebbe.
About the Mitteler Rebbe it was said that he was so permeated with Chasidut that “if his finger would be cut, it would have bled Chasidut instead of blood!”
When the Mitteler Rebbe was arrested by the Czarist government on slanderous charges (he was later released on the 10th of Kislev), even the government doctor, who was a prominent specialist, acknowledged that Chasidut was the Mitteler Rebbe’s very essence and life.
The doctor told the Russian authorities that they must allow the Mitteler Rebbe to give talks on Chasidut to his Chasidim, explaining, “Just as you provide food for prisoners to ensure their existence, so too, must you allow him to teach Chasidut. His very life depends on it.”
The authorities saw that this was true when, while imprisoned, the Mitteler Rebbe’s health waned. They allowed his Chasidim to come weekly to listen to a Chasidic discourse.
But the Mitteler Rebbe was not only concerned about the spiritual life of his fellow Jews; he worked to better their situation materially, as well.
He encouraged thousands of Jews, both his Chasidim and others, to settle on the land as farmers so that they would not have to be at the mercy of the anti-Semitic landowners or peasants. He established twenty-two Jewish farm settlements on land near the town of Cherson, which he had convinced the government to give for this purpose. Many of his Chasidim, however, were reluctant to move so far away from their Rebbe. Thus, the Mitteler Rebbe promised to go to the trouble of travelling to them so he could teach Chasidut to them there.
The Rebbe spoke numerous times of the importance of celebrating the Mitteler Rebbe’s day in a fitting manner, with gatherings that will foster brotherhood and lead to good resolutions. May such gatherings this year be in Jerusalem, with the Rebbe and all of his predecessors presiding.
