Today is the historic day of Yud Tet Kislev, the 19th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev, when the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman, founder of Chabad was released from prison by the Czarist government. It was more than a personal triumph. 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 Chasidic movement which had been threatened with suppression and extinction.
The Alter Rebbe was the chief target of attack for he was the chief exponent of the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov [who had founded the Chasidic movement about a half a century earlier] and his Redemption brought salvation to our people as a whole.
The Baal Shem Tov taught us -- and the Alter Rebbe expounded on it at length -- that the Jew is 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."
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 Alter Rebbe).
Rabbi Shneur Zalman received the good news about his freedom when he was reading the daily portion of Psalms and specifically the verse: "[G-d] has redeemed my soul in peace from the battle against me, for many were with me."
Everybody is in need of a personal liberation from all the difficulties and hindrances encountered in daily life which hamper the attainment of our goals--both material and spiritual.
Our Sages emphasize that the personal redemption of every Jew, is directly linked with the dissemination of the Torah, acts of benevolence and prayer.
Let us take advantage of this auspicious day for making good resolutions in spreading Judaism and Torah. Just as the Alter Rebbe was completely exonerated and victorious, so too today in each person’s fight against his personal exile, and against the darkness of the general exile, will we be victorious!
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