Today Yud Tes Kislev The 19th day in the Hebrew month of Kislev is the New Year for the study and practice of Chassidus!
By zevi770 · December 15, 2011
Last night I was privileged to be honoured with addressing a Farbrengen (gathering to discus Chassidus / Jewish mysticism in an informal friendly manner i.e. with refreshments etc. – if you can please make sure to attend a Farbrengen in honour of Yud Tes Kislev (here in SA there is one at Yeshivah 5 Ridge starting from 6:30 with a dinner and at TA at 8:00 also with a dinner.)
The following was the essence of the message I shared:
The Rebbe Rashab the fifth Chabad Rebbe called the Rambam of Chassidus, as he uniquely categorized Jewish mysticism as none before nor after, writes that Yud Tes Kislev is the day God waited for from the beginning of creation “the true intent behind creation.”
How come?
The answer is that according to the Alter Rebbe the founder of Chabad Chassidus whose celebration we mark today the verse in the Torah / Bible “See I have placed before you life and death choose life” is to be understood accordingly:
The reality you see contains both an element of life, joy, happiness and death, decomposition and sadness.
How so?
The answer is that the very definition of death is that which is not alive!
In other words, a person can be clinically alive and actually be dead – depressed etc. while another can be clinically dead but very much alive, as the soul is rejoicing in heaven etc.
Chassidus is the light of God which radiates life to those who study it.