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The days of redemption - the 19th and 20th of Kislev - the New Year of Chassidut
The 19th and the 20th days of Kislev are referred to as the "Holidat of Holidays" by the Chabad Rebbes. In the year 5559 (1799), on the 19th of kislev, Rabbi Shneor Zalman from Liadi, the author of the "Tanya" & the "Shulchan Aruch", and the one who eventually founded the Chabad movement, was released from prison. The imprisonment wasn't only physical in nature. There were heavenly spiritual accusations against the Alter Rebbe, Reb Shneor Zalman due to his disseminating Chassidut.
Since then, these 2 days are celebrated the world over, acquiring the name "The New Year of Chassidut". These are auspicious days for making good resolutions in all areas, such as additional learning time and quality in all areas of Chassidut and its ways.
These days are happy ones for Chassidim and the entire Jewish nation as a whole.
As we approach these sublime auspicious days, we would like to wish all those surfers visiting our site and to the entire Jewish nation a blessing that has been passed down from generation to generation, “Gut Yom Tov, Gut Yom Tov!!!” (Happy Holiday, Happy Holiday!!”)
You should all be inscribed & sealed for a good year while learning Chassidut and following its ways!!


               The essence of the day
This is the holiday when he peacefully redeemed our souls and the light and life of our soul was given to us. It is the New Year for Chassidut. It’s the day when You began doing things, completing the divine plan of man’s creation on this Earth.” These are but a few words from a letter from the Rashab, the 5th Lubavitcher Rebbe that appear at the beginning of the book “Hayom Yom”. The reader will have before him/her from this link “Hayom Yom” from the 19th day of Kislev with guidance and instruction for this holy day.
“This day is a day for farbrengens (Chassidic get togethers), making good resolutions in setting times for the learning of the revealed parts as well as the esoteric parts of Torah in a public forum, and strengthening the Chassidic way by demonstrating love to one’s fellow.”
[ For further reference click: ספרים שונים לוח היום יום עמוד 4]
 
               The revelation and dissemination of Chassidut - A parable about the king's son and the precious stone
As mentioned above, the most devestating part of the imprisonment of the Alter Rebbe was the heavenly spiritual accusation posed against him. The claim was, "How can such sublime and "sensitive" matters be made public?"
What, in effect, stopped the heavenly accusation? The Alter Rebbe relates a parable testifying to the urgency of Chassidut being available to all.
"...One of the wise men of the time investigated the matter and discovered that there was a precious stone embedded into the king's royal crown, not to be found in any crown amongst the kings of the world. The precious stone is capable of healing the king's son..."
[ For further reference click: התוועדויות שנת תשד"מ כרך ב' עמוד 603]
 
               After the imprisonment, one should increase the dissemination of Chassidut unparrelling what was done in the past.
Many years before the imprisonment and release of the Alter Rebbe, there was a similar heavenly accusation against the Alter Rebbe's teacher and mentor, the Mezricher Maggid. What changed in the times of the Alter Rebbe, thereby renewing the accusation? The following is an explanation of the matter by the Lubavitcher Rebbe.
"...The Alter Rebbe asked them why was he imprisoned and what do they want from him. The response was that the heavenly accusation became harsher, because he was disseminating and revealing a lot of Chassidut. The Alter Rebbe immediately followed by asking, "When I leave, should I stop saying Chassidut?" The response was forth coming: "Since you already started, don't stop." On the contrary; when you leave, you should say even more."
[ For further reference click: לקוטי שיחות כרך ל' עמוד 170]
 
               The connection between the 19th day of Kislev and Chanukah
The main theme of Chanukah is to publicize the miracle that occurred then. The miracle was so great followed by its overpowering ramifications, to the extent that we are required repeatedly year after year to relive and publicize the miracle that happened then. The same principle applies to the 19th day of Kislev, as the Lubavitcher Rebbe elaboraed upon 14 years ago.
"It's understood from the historical account of that country (Russia) of then, that the smallest thing, and certainly something as important as this thing, would not go unnoticed by the ruler of the world. Not only was He aware of it; He commanded it to be. In a similar manner, we see the same thing in reference to Chanukah..."
[ For further reference click: התוועדויות שנת תשמ"ז כרך ב' עמוד 53]
 
               The era we live in now is the Messianic era
Wait a minute! What does all of this have to do with us? What do we have to do? How do we get out of the spiritual darkness we are currently a part of? The Lubavitcher Rebbe, at the end of the 20th day of Kislev, 5752 (1992), elaborated on the subject. Then, the Lubavitcher Rebbe highly praised this wonderful and auspicious day, while at the same time leaving instructions what we should do.
"Each and every Jew is referred to as "imadi" (translated to mean "with me", a word quoted from Psalms, ch.55, verse 19). "With me" refers to King David, and "with me" refers to G-d. This is especially so in these days, the Messianic era, which we presently find ourselves in. We just need "to open our eyes" and by doing so we see, simply speaking, that the complete redemption is here."
[ For further reference click: התוועדויות שנת תשנ"ב כרך א' עמוד 393]