By the Grace of G-d
12th of Kislev, 5720
Brooklyn, N.Y.
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To all Participants in the Yud-Tes Kislev Celebration
G-d bless you all
Warm Greetings and Abundant Blessings!
I was very pleased to be informed of your forthcoming Yud-Tes Kislev celebration. I hope and pray that it will bring each and every one of you lasting inspiration which will effectively be felt in everyday living throughout the year.
The historic day of Yud-Tes Kislev, as is well known, and as explained at length in one of the epistles of my father-in-law of saintly memory, was more than a personal triumph for our Old Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman, the Founder of Chabad. For, in regaining his personal freedom on that day, as well as the freedom to continue his teachings and work, he gained a victory for the whole Chassidic movement which had been threatened with suppression and extinction.
For the Old Rebbe was the chief exponent of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov who had founded the Chassidic movement about half a century earlier. It is for this reason that he was made the chief target of attack, and his Geuloh (redemption) brought salvation to the numerous followers of the Baal Shem Tov, and to our people as a whole.
This year’s Yud-Tes Kislev is of special significance, since this year marks the 200th anniversary of the Histalkus-Hilulo (demise) of the Baal Shem Tov.
One of the great accomplishments of the Baal Shem Tov is that he opened our eyes to the true nature of a Jew. While he dedicated his life to the spreading of the Torah and Mitzvoth in the fullest measure, he never despaired of any Jew, no matter how much circumstances temporarily overshadowed his Yiddishkeit. The Baal Shem Tov taught us – and the Old Rebbe expounded it at length – that the Jew was essentially, by his very nature, incorruptible and inseparable from G-d; that “no Jew is either able or willing to detach himself from G-dliness.”
It is often necessary to no more than “scratch the surface” to reveal the Jew’s true inner nature.
The Baal Shem Tov introduced a new relationship between Jew and Jew, based on the inner meaning of “Have we not all one Father?” (as interpreted by the Old Rebbe).
By the example of his own dedicated work, he showed us what should be our attitude and approach to our fellow Jews. For, the Baal Shem Tov began his work as an assistant Melamed, taking tender care of little children, and teaching them the Shema, Berochos, and so on. At the same time he revealed to the maturer minds some of the profoundest teachings of the Inner Torah, the Kabbala, and the true way to serve G-d with heart and mind together, a profound philosophy which found its systematic expression and exposition in Chabad.
Nowadays, as ever and more, it is the duty and privilege of every Jew to help educate Jewish children – “children” in the literal sense, in age; and “children” in knowledge of Yiddishkeit. In a true sense, a man’s education is not confined to the school-bench; it should continue throughout his life, getting wiser and better every day. One must be a student and teacher at the same time, and in both cases success depends on mutual affection, on true Ahavas Yisroel.
Let us all open our hearts and minds to the teachings and inspiration of Yud-Tes Kislev, through the observance of which we identify ourselves with, and attach ourselves to, the great luminaries of our people, the Old Rebbe and the Baal Shem Tov.
May G-d bless you all, and bless your efforts to spread the fountains of Ahavas HaShem, Ahavas HaTorah and Ahavas Yisroel, in an ever growing measure, and in ever wider circles, thereby hastening the day of the true and complete Redemption of our people, through our Righteous Moshiach, speedily in our time.
With blessing
M. Schneerson
