The Continuation of Yud Tes Kislev:
It’s During the Darkest Moments that We Can and Must Focus
on What Brings the Light of the Geula!
By Rabbi Shimon Raichik
The Tuesday of this past week was Yud Tes Kislev, the Rosh Hashana of Chassidus. The Alter Rebbe said that on Yud Tes Kislev the gates of heaven are open that he sanctified Yud Tes Kislev like Yom Kippur. Once the Tzemach Tzedek treated Yud Tes Kislev like Simchas Torah. All in all one can find the entire Tishrei within the Yom Tov of Yud Tes Kislev, which is also called Chag HaChagim. Yud Tes Kislev is also called a “Moed Tamidi- A constant Yom Tov” by the Alter Rebbe, which means that we can take it with us throughout the entire year.
On Yud Tes Kislev we begin learning the Tanya over again. The Alter Rebbe also gave another title to the Tanya; Sefer Shel Benonim. What is a benoni? A benoni is someone who isn’t yet able to overcome his yetzer hara but is still in full control. He never allows the yetzer hara to get in the driver’s seat, in thought speech or action. This definition sounds like what most people define as a tzaddik, some who did not nor will do an aveira. Rav Hillel of Paritch said once that before he learned the Tanya he thought he was a tzaddik. Once he learned the Tanya he said that he only wishes at best that he would be a benoni. How can this be? Rav Hillel was the best of the best, he was known as a half a Rebbe because he was on such a high level. And he wishes that at best that he would be a benoni? Where does that leave you and me? What chance do we have? (Once someone said about himself that he only wishes at best that he would be considered a rasha v’tov lo, meaning that he wishes that at least would have all the regrets that the Alter Rebbe describes for a rasha v’tov lo.)
In Igros Kodesh we find that the Rebbe’s answer to many questions is to learn the beginning of perek mem-alef by heart and to internalize that Hashem is standing above us and watching, and how we can and should have kobbolas ol etc. Nevertheless some feel that the Alter Rebbe is speaking about a benoni and that he isn’t a benoni and therefore it does not and cannot apply to him. With such an attitude, where will we end up? The same applies if he’s down and the Rebbe suggested that he learn perek 26 to overcome the sadness. If he feels disqualified because he’s not a benoni, then how will he be able to connect with the Tanya in a way that he internalizes it and uses it in his own life and his own avodah in a meaningful way?
The Rebbe once said that every moment (and from moment to moment) we have a choice to live like a benoni for that moment. The awe of Yom Kippur affects the tzaddik as well as the average Jew. For both it’s the same matzah. The Rebbe is saying that we have a focus, we have a choice; NOT the previous generation of 40 or 30, 20 or even 10 years ago, not someone from another town or even someone standing nearby, rather each one of US, today, right now! We can choose this, it only requires learning, internalizing and applying what we learn in a meaningful way into our personal lives.
When the Rebbe began printing the Igros Kodesh, he asked who was learning them. The answer was that bachurim are learning them. The Rebbe answered; “Yes, but what about the people with kapotos?” Learning doesn’t just mean reading the Igros Kodesh, it means to be guided in life by them; it means taking the Rebbe’s guidance and choosing to live our life accordingly. That’s what the Rebbe wants us to do. It’s only then that our life is not abstract and our learning is not theoretical. Then it’s real and it’s alive. This is what the Yom Tov of Yud Tes Kislev gives to each one of us, here today. This is our real and living focus. On Yud Tes Kislev we make this our central motivation that we take with us throughout the entire year. Yud Tes Kislev the Chag Hageula of the Alter Rebbe also gives us the strength to keep our focus on doing our part to bringing the geula today.
A Good Shabbos