Balak

Dear Friend,

In the spring of 1927, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn—the sixth Lubavitcher rebbe—was arrested by the Soviet authorities and sentenced to death. His crime was running a vast underground network that kept Jewish life alive despite all attempts by the Communist regime to eradicate it.

An international outcry ultimately led to his release—86 years ago this week. This was a public vindication of the values and practices of the eternal tradition he represented. Indeed, his personal redemption was declared “a liberation for all who love the Torah and uphold its precepts.”

Today, thank G‑d, most of us can study the Torah and live upright Jewish lives without fear of persecution. But when we feel overwhelmed or inhibited—by ourselves or society—Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak’s triumph stands as a source of continued inspiration and liberation. Whenever we feel that the odds are stacked against us, his victory tells us that we will always prevail—we must only try.

May we experience the ultimate redemption speedily!

Eli Rubin,
on behalf of the Chabad.org Editorial Team