In the times of the Alter Rebbe, Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi, the Baal haTanya, a newly married man was spending his days learning in kollel when he became drawn to the path of Chassidus. His in-laws were misnagdim, and opposed his newfound derech, path. This serious young man was quite bright, had great potential and had been carefully selected by his shver (father in law) as an appropriate match. His newfound spiritual pursuits didn’t fit the mold of his family’s expectations. In time, his father-in-law became more and more irritated and impatient with the changes in his behavior and did his best to apply even more pressure. The young man began to dedicate more of his time to davening with contemplative kavanah. He would also attend late night chassidic gatherings, where he would join the enthusiastic singing and even make l’chaims on mashkeh (alcoholic drink). All of this detracted, in the estimation of his father-in-law, from the man’s focus, seriousness, learning time and religious accomplishments.
After months of pent up frustration, the father-in-law finally had enough. Fuming, made his way to the Baal HaTanya to complain. Bursting into his office, the man verbally accosted the Rebbe over his son-in-law’s compromised learning schedule and apparent bitul Torah.
The Alter Rebbe smiled and responded: “Please rest assured: your son-in-law is not learning a lesser quantity of Torah than before. However, consider the leap in quality. Previously, he would learn something to impress the shver and shvigger, you and your wife. Then he would learn something more to gain kavod, respect and honor, from your illustrious sons, his brothers-in-law. After that, he’d continue learning Torah so that his own wife would have nachas, and then add a little more just to impress his friends. Finally, he would find time to learn a few minutes with elevated intention, just for the sake of the Ribbono shel Olam, God. But now that he has uncovered the depth and beauty of Chassidus, he is no longer learning for you, your family, his wife or his friends. Now, all the Torah that he is learning is l’shem Shamayim, for the sake of Heaven, for Hashem’s honor!
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This week is Yud Tes (the 19th of) Kislev, the celebration of the release of the Alter Rebbe from prison. More than just a day that remembers the personal liberation of the Alter Rebbe, Yud Tes Kislev marks a turning point in Jewish history. Just two years prior, the Alter Rebbe’s first publication of Sefer haTanya had made many of the previously inaccessible, abstract concepts of Kabbalah and philosophy comprehensible and practically applicable, marking the beginnings of a new era in the spread of Chassidus. Yet this publication also brought fierce opposition. The Alter Rebbe understood his unjust arrest and imprisonment to be part of this spiritual backlash — and his spontaneous exoneration and liberation as a sign that the gates were open to spread the wellsprings of these teachings on an unprecedented scale.
In this way, Yud Tes Kislev is considered “the Rosh Hashanah of Chasidus,” a sort of birthday for this revolutionary movement of spiritual awakening and growth, which, over time, has enabled countless people to access a deeper and more authentic, personal connection to Hashem.
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The Rebbe Maharash, zt”l, the fourth rebbe in the Chabad lineage, taught that three things are inevitable: “Someone who drinks will get drunk. Someone who becomes wealthy will lose their yishuv ha-daas, their mental clarity. And someone who learns Chassidus will grow and improve.”
One of his chasidim heard this and said, “But Rebbe, we see in actuality that plenty of people drink and don’t get drunk, plenty of people become wealthy and don’t lose their yishuv ha-daas, and there are some who learn Chassidus and it doesn’t seem to affect them very much!” The Rebbe responded, “Well, that may be true, but it only means they haven’t drunk enough, they don’t actually have that much wealth, and they haven’t learned enough Chassidus. Truly, if a person learns a little bit more Chassidus, and then a little more, and a little more, you’ll see, in the end that person will grow and improve.”
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The Alter Rebbe once explained that by writing the Tanya he was providing an opportunity for every reader to enter into yechidus with him, to enjoy a private meeting and receive personal guidance, insights and blessings for their own life. On this auspicious day we are invited to enter the study of the Baal haTanya, to sit across the table from the tzaddik and connect with him. May we be blessed in this new year that all of our learning be elevated and l’shem Shamayim. May we feel an ever deeper personal connection to Hashem, grow and improve and share this light with one and all.
Rav Judah Mischel is executive director of Camp HASC, the Hebrew Academy for Special Children. He is the mashpiah of OU-NCSY, founder of Tzama Nafshi and the author of “Baderech: Along the Path of Teshuva.” Rav Judah lives in Ramat Beit Shemesh with his wife Ora and their family.
