PART I
Upon the Alter Rebbe’s release from prison, Chassidim rejoiced. Wherever the news reached, the day was established as a holiday. The tension and fear that the Chassidim lived with while waiting for the results of the interrogation disappeared, to be replaced with sighs of relief.
When the Chassidim heard about the release and Geula, they wanted to write a special Megilla, “Megillas Yud-Tes Kislev,” which would describe the arrest and redemption and the miracles that occurred with the Rebbe and the Chassidim, so future generations would know. The great Chassidim and elders of the group went to ask the Alter Rebbe permission to establish it like Megillas Esther in its time.
The Alter Rebbe thought about it and then said, “A megillah like this would arouse the anger of the Misnagdim. Still, I can tell you that this day will be established as a perpetual holiday among the Jewish people, [a day] on which His Great Name will be made great and sanctified, and thousands of Jewish hearts will be inspired to teshuva and avoda of the heart, for the story is engraved in the heart of Israel Above and is written in the heart of Israel below.”
The Rebbe’s holy words quickly reached all the Chassidim in White Russia and were a source of great inspiration.
PART II
Yud-Tes Kislev, Rosh Hashana L’Chassidus:
Chassidim sat at a farbrengen with the Rebbe Rayatz who farbrenged with sweetness and warmth in honor of the special day. From time to time a Chassid raised his cup of mashke and said l’chaim, and the Rebbe responded graciously, “L’chaim v’livracha!” When the niggun d’veikus they sang was finished, the Rebbe began speaking about matters relevant to the day, explaining about the great quality of Jews in general and Chassidim in particular.
“Great powers lie hidden within Chassidim,” said the Rebbe. “We have these kochos as an inheritance from our ancestors.”
The Rebbe was silent for a moment. He closed his eyes, thought a bit, and then cast his pure gaze upon the Chassidim and began telling a story.
PART III
A rich man lived in a verdant, exclusive suburb of Petersburg. His mansion was magnificent. Liveried servants stood at their posts throughout the mansion. The entire estate was surrounded by a large, beautiful garden. It was hard to believe that this property belonged to a Jew, and not just any Jew, but one who was scrupulously religious.
The problem was that as time passed and his wealth grew, the less time he devoted to Torah study. And then his care in the observance of mitzvos began to wane.
Since he was always in contact with rich people and those in power, he began to host lavish feasts and attended them himself until the wee hours of the night. A terrible spiritual deterioration was only a matter of time.
And still, despite his casting off the yoke of mitzvos, he left one holy item in his home. It is questionable whether he knew the reason for this. Perhaps he did so because of the Chassidus he had absorbed in his heart, or maybe for some other reason.
In his room hung a picture of the Alter Rebbe. He zealously refused to remove it.
Other than the picture of the Alter Rebbe, he maintained another Chassidic practice. Every year, on Yud-Tes Kislev, he would change his clothes. This day was for him a day of spiritual elevation. He would host a Chassidic farbrengen to which he invited the Chassidim who lived in the city. In his spacious dining room, at a table laden with fine food, the Chassidim sat for hours and farbrenged till dawn.
Every year, the Chassidim would sit in his mansion, farbreng and talk about the significance of the day, talk about the arrest and the Geula, the sadness and the joy. They would give thanks and praise to Hashem for the wonders that He performed for the Rebbe.
The year this story took place something unusual happened. The Chassidim were sitting and farbrenging. They sang niggunim of d’veikus and simcha. When a niggun ended, an elder Chassid cleared his throat and began talking about Yud-Tes Kislev. He described the arrest and liberation at length and gave thanks to Hashem.
Now and then he paused, took a deep breath, and gazed around at the Chassidim. Then he continued with his inspiring words that touched their hearts.
The rich host took a cup of whiskey and then another cup. He was then receptive to the words of Chassidus and inspiration that he heard.
PART IV
The Chassidim were immersed in what the mashpia was saying so they did not notice their host getting up and leaving the room. At some point they noticed that he had stepped out, but although a long time elapsed, he had not returned. As even more time passed and the host did not return, his absence began to register with the Chassidim.
It was almost dawn but their host still had not returned. They decided to go and look for him. Maybe something had happened to him, and he needed help, one of them suggested. They spread out among the many rooms of the mansion.
Within a few minutes they had arrived at his office. Somewhat nervously, they opened the door and immediately recoiled. Before their astonished eyes was a sight… For a brief moment they found it hard to believe that this was indeed their host, but a second look confirmed that it was.
He was lying on the ground, his face pale and his eyes closed, with tears streaming and his body shuddering with tears. Every so often he addressed the picture of the Alter Rebbe:
“Woe is me, Rebbe, woe is me on what happened to me. Woe is me to where I have reached. Rebbe! I want to do teshuva!”
There was a moment of silence and then they heard a heartrending wail, “Oy Rebbe, help me …”
***
From that day on, the rich man changed his behavior and way of life. He went back to being particular about halacha and beautifying mitzvos in the ways of Chassidus.
Concluded the Rebbe Rayatz, “This day will be established as a perpetual holiday among the Jewish people, [a day] on which His Great Name will be made great and sanctified, and thousands of Jewish hearts will be inspired to teshuva and avoda of the heart…”
(Based on Likkutei Dibburim)