On the occasion of Yud-Tes (19th) Kislev, the anniversary of the liberation of Rabbi Shneur Zalman, the founder of Chabad Chassidism, I take this opportunity to send you greetings and good wishes.
This day, as you are surely aware, does not commemorate the personal triumph of a great teacher and leader, for with its founder the entire movement and teachings of Chassidism received a new lease on life.
The Chabad movement experienced birth pangs far more acute than any movement would normally expect. To the same degree, its triumph showed all the more clearly that it was the victory of Truth brought about by Divine Providence.
If in those days, some 150 years ago, the full impact of Chassidism upon Jewish life could not be envisaged by all, it is now quite evident that Chassidism has been a vital necessity for our entire people.
My father-in-law, our late Lubavitcher Rabbi of sainted memory, wrote in one of his latest circulated letters dated 10th of Kislev (the anniversary of the liberation of Rabbi Dov Ber, the son of the founder, who, like his father, was persecuted for his leadership and dissemination of Chabad Chassidism) that Chassidism is not an exclusive philosophy for any particular group, but a way of life for all our people, young and old.
The custom, practised by many, of observing the anniversary of an important event in their life, has a deeper explanation in our sacred books. It is based on the idea that the same spiritual forces that were operative at the time of the original event reassert themselves at the time of the anniversary. It is therefore an opportune time to benefit from those forces and revelations. In this light, we observe Yud-Tes Kislev. ...Now, more than ever, we must appreciate our responsibility to spread the light of Chabad far and wide so that it permeates every aspect of Jewish life.
