Rosh Chodesh Kislev:
The Rebbe is Healthy, our Hiskashrus is Healthy*
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
This past week was the Kinus HaShluchim. When I returned to LA on Rosh Chodesh Kislev, I was still feeling the powerful atmosphere and inspiration of the Kinus. The best way to describe the scene at the Kinus is to quote from the Rebbe’s chapter Tehillim for this year, 112; “Zorach b’choshech ohr l’yesharim- Hashem shines even in the darkness a light for the upright”.
The difference between Rosh Chodesh Kislev 1977 until today 36 years later, in Los Angeles is a double darkness (As the pasuk says; Hastir astir panai…- I will certainly hide my countenance on that day). The biggest darkness is when we live in the dark without even realizing where we are. On the contrary we think it’s fine, we’ve made peace with the situation. When the time comes for the Rosh Chodesh Kislev fabrengen, some say to themselves; this event happened 36 years ago. It was before I was born or when I was too young to know; I’m too busy to go to the fabrengen. The very question, of why should I go, be it for Rosh Chodesh, Yud, Yud Tes Kislev or Chanuka, shows that we are missing the main point. Has Chanuka today devolved into latkes, doughnuts, taking the kids out to lighting, and then then this year to get some beer and watch the Superbowl? Is that Chanuka??
By learning the Gemara about Chanuka we learn about the decree that the Greeks placed upon the Jews not allowing them to do mitzvos. When we nevertheless put ourselves into danger to continue doing Torah and mitzvos, we saw great miracles that broke through the shackles of the Greek influence. When we celebrate Chanuka, it gives us strength to go forward and break through our challenges today.
This is true for Yud Tes Kislev as well. The decree was if Chassidus should be concealed or revealed. We won the case and Chassidus was revealed. The same is true about Rosh Chodesh Kislev. The decree was about whether the Rebbe should stay with us in this world, or if the time had come for the opposite. The decree was broken and we have witnessed with our own eyes what has happened since. Most of the schools we see today, and that most were educated in, were established since 1977. We have witnessed the expansion of Chassidus, in Sichos and Maamarim, as well as the many campaigns, including Tzivos Hashem and Inyanei Geula v’Moshiach that have all occurred after 1977.
So why is that we say; “I wasn’t there or I wasn’t aware”? It’s your Rebbe, it’s your Shul, it’s your school (and your children’s) it’s your life!
A few days before Yud Shevat 1968 at a l’chaim, I recall a conversation R. Shalom Marazov had with a former student of Tomchei Tomimim. The student was not a Lubavitcher Chosid but had learned in the yeshiva in the 1940’s. When he asked if he was going to the Yud Shevat fabrengen he answered that he was not planning on going. That’s when R. Shalom began to cry. If the former alumni of a misnagdishe yeshiva were invited to an evening honoring the yartzeit of their former Rosh Yeshiva would they refuse because they were no longer attending the yeshiva? Once you were there you feel a part. If you don’t feel that you are a part, then something is missing, it’s a double darkness. When we celebrate a Yud or Yud Tes Kislev fabrengen today, and thousands come and participate, they know that they are part of it and connected whether or not they saw it happen, they know they belong.
As Chabad Chassidim when Yud Tes Kislev approaches we know that we need to be misbonen, we need to learn and reflect on the endless importance and impact the day has on our lives. On Chanuka it’s not just the doughnuts and soda. Along with the wicks the oil and the lights we need to learn, to know and to appreciate what the days represent. Then we need to translate that into our daily living. This is true by all the Yomim Tovim; we get ready by learning the halachos and chassidus; without which the Yom Tov is dry. Before we know it, we don’t feel like showing up (R’E).
The light shines into the darkness; the light of connection, hiskashrus to the Rebbe that we have and that we continuously cultivate. The true hiskashrus that we have continues through all the Sichos, Maamarim, Igros, fabrengens, guidance, directives and campaigns and shines into the darkness to the yesharim, those that go in his ways. Through this the light of Moshiach we will break through the wall of this final darkness, as well as our personal darkness, for the entire world with the geula ha’amitis v’hashleima, immediately, Now!
*For more on Chodesh Kislev see the Chodesh magazine for the month of Kislev