Chapter 3

The year 5542 (1782) was the third consecutive year in which Chabad chassidim suffered grievously at the hands of our opponents. Our suffering was extremely difficult to bear. That Purim, the Alter Rebbe of blessed memory said: “We will have to endure even more,” referring to the bitter excision proclaimed that summer, “but all must know that it has been affirmed On High that which has been accepted here below [i.e. that Chassidism would emerge victorious]. It is only necessary that we strengthen our service of repentance, for every redemption comes only after being prefaced by repentance. We need to be redeemed from those that slander us, so we must prepare with repentance.”

That year, tens of thousands of Chabad chassidim were afire. All of them from the most illustrious scholars and distinguished men of spiritual service, to the simple folk immersed themselves in repentance. Purim 5543 (1783) found the Alter Rebbe in a state of extreme joy. He then announced: “We were victorious!” The joy of the chassidim was incalculable.

At that time the Mitteler Rebbe [the Alter Rebbe’s eldest son and successor], who was then a mere nine years old, remarked that the situation was similar to the original two periods of Purim. During the first, Mordechai called the Jews to repentance and they responded. Concerning that period it is written: “And the Jews took upon themselves [in Hebrew vikibeil] that which they had begun [heicheilu] to do.” Vikibeil [may alternately be rendered “lamented,” so that the verse] means “they lamented,” as we find in the Mishnah :1 “We lament you.” Concerning this first Purim period, the verse is to be rendered thus: “The Jews lamented heicheilu that which they had made mundane.2 [The Hebrew word heicheilu may alternately be rendered as deriving from the word chol, or mundane.]

Mordechai’s arousal of the Jewish people to repentance was successful. Not only did they mend their ways and repent, but the whole year through they demonstrated total self-sacrifice for Judaism,3 in hope that G-d Himself would save them from their terrible predicament. This came to pass in the second Purim period, with the miracle of Purim.

Concerning the second Purim period, the verse is to be rendered thus: “The Jews took upon themselves [vikibeil] that which they had hoped for [heicheilu].” In this instance, vikibeil means “to take upon,” while heicheilu is rendered as “hoped for” [from the Hebrew word chiloh, to beseech or hope]. During the second Purim period, Jews accepted upon themselves that which they hoped for, which was that they be saved by the A-lmighty, and their prayerful wishes were fulfilled.

In our time [when our hopes are again] of redemption, may G-d make us fortunate with His Divine assistance, that we repent and from the depth of our hearts lament that which we have made mundane. May we fulfill Torah and mitzvos in complete truth, and strengthen our belief and faith in the complete Redemption through our righteous Moshiach. And may we again see our hopes speedily fulfilled.