The Chassidic Contribution

Holiday of Liberation and Light

The 19th of Kislev is the anniversary of the release from prison of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi (1745-1812). Rabbi Schneur Zalman, a disciple of Rabbi Dovber of Mezeritch, the successor to the Ba’al Shem Tov, the founder of the Chassidic movement, was the founder of the Chabad, the intellectual branch of the Chassidic movement, and the author of the Tanya, a major classic of Jewish mysticism.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman was credited with fusing Kabbalah and rational philosophical thought, among other major contributions to Jewish thought.

Tragically, the Chassidic movement was strongly opposed by some influential members of the rabbinic community. Based on fears that the mystical movement might be following in the footsteps of Shabbatai Tzvi and other false messianic adventurers who also used Kabbalah in their teachings, and aided with false information about the Chassidic leaders that was circulating, they banned the Chassidic movement.

Others were just jealous of the rapid growth and popularity of this new movement. Some unscrupulous adversaries informed the anti-Semitic czarist regime that Rabbi Schneur Zalman was plotting to overthrow the Czar.

Had their plot succeeded, the entire Chassidic movement, which endeavored to popularize the teachings of mysticism, would have faltered and perhaps even disappeared.

After 53 days of interrogation, the charges were proven baseless and Rabbi Schneur Zalman was liberated. Since that day, the 19th of Kislev has been designated as the “New Year for Chassidut,” a day on which we dedicate our lives to a greater understanding of the mysteries of Torah , It is also interesting to note, as was mentioned in an earlier chapter, that Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s name is connected to his life’s contribution — the generation of light to the world. Schneur means “two lights.”

According to a Chassidic tradition, this was the name the Ba’al Shem Tov himself chose for him. The Ba’al Shem Tov also connected the name with the prophecy that Rabbi Schneur Zalman would illuminate the world with two forms of light, the light of the revealed parts of Torah and the light of the hidden part of the Torah.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s descendent and successor to the leadership of the Chabad Chassidic community, the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson, added that his second name, Zalman, when rearranged forms the word “lizman” - “into time.” This refers to the fact that Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s teaching of the hidden light of Torah was introduced into the worldly sphere of time.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman was the Kabbalist most responsible for bridging the gap between the supra-rational, esoteric teachings of mysticism and the rational mind.

Why Now?

The question is asked why this process was revealed by Rabbi Schneur Zalman and not earlier.

The question is magnified when we consider the fact that Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s effort was a revolution and a miracle. To take something that is essentially beyond the intellect and make it accessible to the intellect is like fitting a square peg in a round hole.

The answer to this question is that the state of the Jewish people necessitated that all the rules of hidden and revealed would be broken. G-d issued the “license” for him to override the natural division between hidden and revealed.

Saving the Prince’s Life

A story is told about Rabbi Schneur Zalman’s teacher, Rabbi Dovber, who expressed gratitude to Rabbi Schneur Zalman for saving his life.

One of Rabbi Dovber’s colleagues was also a vocal critic of his popularization of the esoteric wisdom. He was upset at the extent to which Chassidic teachings were being disseminated.

Rabbi Schneur Zal;man sensed that this holy rabbi’s displeasure could endanger the life of his mentor, so he successfully assuaged his disapproval with a parable of a prince who was dying of some incurable illness. One doctor promised he can heal him only if they take the crown jewel, pulverize it and dilute with water. Most of it will go to waste, but if the prince could even get a few drops of this potion into his system it could save his life.

The king agrees to destroy his crown for the sake of saving his son, the prince.

The Alter Rebbe compared the revolutionary process of making the hidden teachings accessible to the human mind to the pulverizing of the crown jewel to save the life of the prince.

Whetting our Appetite for the Future

There is also a second reason why this revolutionary process of revealing the mystical teachings became a reality in our time.

We are living at the tail end of history. We are now standing on the threshold of the Messianic Age, when all the secrets of the Torah wil be revealed and the esoteric knowledge wil be spread throughout the entire world.

As a preparation for this glorious age, G-d endowed us with a taste of the gourmet spiritual meal we will soon partake of.

From the book Safe Kabbalah, Part Two: The Fourth Dimension by Rabbi Heschel Greenberg, published by the Jewish Discovery Center.