Early in תרפ"א (1920), the Frierdiker Rebbe, his mother Rebbetzin Shterna Sara, his three daughters, and many bochurim, became very ill. The doctors said that the Frierdiker Rebbe's situation was serious, but Boruch HaShem, on Yud-Tes Kislev, his health took a turn for the better. Instead of farbrenging, he wrote the following letter to the temimim and Anash:
"On this holy day, which is the Rosh HaShana for Chassidus and for kabbalas ol malchus Shamayim, every individual should do his avoda conscientiously, and beg that HaShem give him the strength to go in the way of the Alter Rebbe. On this day, as the Alter Rebbe stands before HaShem, asking that we and our children be strong begashmiyus uveruchniyus, everyone should give tzedaka to the mosdos that follow the will of the Alter Rebbe. Every person, young and old, should undertake to learn Torah every day, each according to his level, and should accept upon himself ol malchus Shamayim for the entire year. Keep in mind that on this day all of the Rebbeim, from the Baal Shem Tov on, are helping us. Be very careful with this day because it is holy."
And the Frierdiker Rebbe concludes his letter with the words, "lechayim velivracha".
It was the evening of Yud-Tes Kislev תרפ"ו (1925) and the Frierdiker Rebbe was sitting in the zal in Rostov, looking solemn and earnest. Finally, he spoke up and said:
"One Yud-Tes Kislev, my father, the Rebbe [Rashab], did not come out to address the crowd of chassidim who had gathered for a farbrengen. I entered his study and found him fearfully serious, and he said, 'Today, after all, Yud-Tes Kislev, is Rosh HaShana. This plainly means that it is a time for teshuva.' I told him that people were waiting, so he obliged and farbrenged for a short while and left."
After relating this episode, the Frierdiker Rebbe stood up and returned to his study.
The Alter Rebbe said regarding Yud-Tes Kislev, "Whoever rejoices in my simcha, I will take take him from distress to relief, from gashmiyus to ruchniyus, and out of Gehinnom."
The Tzemach Tzedek explained that "rejoicing in my simcha" means holding onto the Alter Rebbe's "door-handle" ("kliamkeh") – by learning Torah and by doing avoda.
