The Rebbe's arrest
The Rebbe's arrestIsrael news photo

Today, the 19th of the Jewish month of Kislev, is known as the New Year of Hassidism, in that it commemorates two important milestones in Hassidic history. On this date in 1722, Rabbi Dov Ber of Mezritch passed away. Known as the Maggid of Mezritch, he succeeded his teacher, the Baal Shem Tov, as head of the Hassidic movement.

In addition, and more famously, it is also the date – in 1798 – that the founder of Chabad-Lubavitch Haddisim, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi was freed from Czarist Russian prison and cleared of the trumped-up charges of having aided the Turkish enemy in the Holy Land. Rabbi Schneur Zalman authored two classic works, the Tanya and the Shulchan Arukh HaRav.

The Rebbe’s two months of imprisonment, the result of a frame-up by enemies of Hassidism, and were viewed as a test: Was the time truly ripe for the revelation of the Torah secrets as taught by Hassidism? His release was seen by tens of thousands of Hassidm throughout Europe as providing the positive answer.

A Chabad website explains: “This day is the holiday of all of Hassidut, and of every Jew - because Hassidism did not arise in the world just so that there could be another movement in the Jewish Nation. The Baal Shem Tov revealed Hassidism because he saw it as the cure for the ills of the final generations before the coming of the Messiah. We now know how greatly Hassidism helped Judaism stand strong in these generations; it is hard to imagine how we would have withstood these stormy winds without the protective strength of Hassidism. Hassidism brought joy to Jewish life. It enlivened Jewish life with its profound explanations of Torah, the commandments, and the bonds formed between man and his Creator. It gave us ‘dveikut’ (devotion) in serving G-d, and proper intentions when fulfilling commandments. The concepts of Hassidism, as well as its tunes and customs, are today largely the heritage of all sectors of the Nation of Israel.”

At least two new works have been published this week in honor of the date: The latest volume of the encylopedic "Chabad Book of Concepts" – volume 8, including many entries on the Unity of G-d. In addition, "Five and a Half House With the Rebbe" – a CD video of a Hassidic gathering with the last Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneersohn, with Hebrew translation - has just been released.

The 19th of Kislev was commemorated at Chabad Houses around the world, with the central event taking place in Binyanei HaUmah Convention Center in Jerusalem. Hassidim tend to greet each on this day with the blessing, “Happy Hassidic new year, and may you be inscribed for a good year of studying and living Hassidut.”