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The Liberation of the Nesiim of Chassidus

…Generally speaking, the incarceration and subsequent liberation of the Nesiim of Chassidus represent and symbolize the temporal manifestation of a supernal indictment and denunciation against the revelation and dissemination of Chassidus.

The redemption and release of the Nasi represent the nullification of the supernal denouncement, which is followed by intensified revelation of Chassidus, similar to the quality of light emerging from darkness.

The Difference Between Yud Kislev And Yud Tes Kislev

In this general description we can discern a distinction between the arrest and liberation of the Alter Rebbe on Yud-Tes Kislev and the incarceration and release of the Mitteler Rebbe on the 10th of Kislev. The difference will parallel their different approaches in the revelation and dissemination of the philosophy of Chassidus.

The events of Yud-Tes Kislev evolved from the innovation of the Alter Rebbe compared to the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid, as expressed in Chabad Chassidus, which emphasized the importance of understanding and grasping the concept intellectually. This revolutionary approach caused an uproar in heaven as a result of which the Alter Rebbe had to suffer incarceration on earth. On Yud-Tes Kislev, the supernal court issued the verdict that the esoteric teachings of Torah, can and must be revealed through the philosophy of Chabad, and the Alter Rebbe was released.

Yet, even after the freedom of Yud-Tes Kislev there arose fresh denunciations against the dissemination of Chassidus by the Mitteler Rebbe. This was possibly because of the Mitteler Rebbe’s increased power of explanation, referred to by the phrase: “The broad rivers of understanding.” The Alter Rebbe embodied the attribute of Chochmah — wisdom — while the Mitteler Rebbe personified the attribute of Binah — understanding.

The Difference Between The Alter Rebbe and Mitteler Rebbe’s Maamarim

This difference is quite noticeable in the Chassidic discourses of the Alter Rebbe, for although they are truly intellectual, they are still quite terse and condensed, just as Chochmah itself emerges as a “point” in the mind. Compared to this is Binah, the broad understanding of the Mitteler Rebbe, who used to review a short discourse of the Alter Rebbe and embellish it so that it became much longer. With the redemption of the Mitteler Rebbe, his brand of Chassidus was given the supernal stamp of approval and the wellsprings of Chassidus spread out and increased from a small spring to reach out to the distant places.

A Call To Action

These days should be remembered and celebrated (lit. come into being). (Esther 9:28)

When the 10th of Kislev comes each year we experience a unique inspiration and regeneration of power related to spreading Chassidus in the manner of “broad rivers,” just as it was the first time, and even loftier now, for we “increase in matters of holiness.”

This is especially true after the intervening years during which Chassidus was in fact taught and disseminated by the later Nesiim and particularly the previous Rebbe who spread the fountains of Chassidus to the ends of the earth in many languages, so that even non-Jews gained insight into Chassidic philosophy.

We must therefore utilize this opportunity and increase our ability to spread the wellsprings of Torah and Yiddishkeit as they are infused with the fountains of the esoteric wisdom of Torah. The emphasis must be on reaching out to others, for the charges against the Mitteler Rebbe dealt with the promulgation of Chassidus.

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