Introduction
The Rebbe’s father, Rabbi Levi Yitzchak Schneerson, was born in Homel, Russia, on the 18th of Nissan, 5638 (1878). He served as the Rav of Yekatrinoslav (today, Dnepropetrovsk) for many years and was widely respected for his great piety, modesty, and phenomenal mastery of all areas of Torah, including, and particularly, Kabbalah.
His staunch and fearless position to maintain uncompromised Torah observance, despite great opposition from the Communist regime, eventually resulted in harsh imprisonment and bitter exile for him. On a Pesach-related note, Reb Levi Yitzchak achieved the seemingly impossible goal of persuading the highest echelons of government to forgo their plans of allowing only government-produced matzos. Instead, he received permission to secure kosher matzos of the maximum standard for the entire Russia, the supervision of which he personally controlled.
Joyful Farbrengen
It is fitting to hold a joyous farbrengen on this day, the birthday of the Rebbe’s father.
Significance of Chai Nissan
On the 18th of Nissan (Chai Nissan), there is an augmentation of spiritual vitality (chayus) in all aspects of Nissan, whose central theme is the festival of Pesach. Further, the 18th of Nissan carries an additional factor of particular significance to myself [i.e., the Rebbe], being the firstborn son of my father, master and teacher, of blessed memory, who was born on the 18th of Nissan…
Of late, we have generated a great commotion (Yiddish: tumult) in an effort to have each Jew celebrate his or her birthday by holding a farbrengen and so on. We should certainly do so on the birthday of a Jew who sacrificed his life for the sake of maintaining Torah and mitzvos across Russia. Moreover, he did so at great personal cost, to the extent that he remained in harsh exile until his dying day. And even following his passing, his body nevertheless remained buried in his place of exile (Alma Ata, Russia). However, now is not the appropriate time to dwell upon matters that do not generate great joy…
