Ezra, head of the Sanhedrin and the leader of the Jewish people at the time of the building of the Second Temple, made an historic address to a three-day assemblage of Jews in Jerusalem, exhorting them to adhere to the teachings of the Torah and to dissolve their interfaith marriages (the Jewish people were on the verge of complete assimilation at the time, following their 70-year exile in Babylonia).
Links: On Intermarriage
The first printing of the "bible of Chassidism", the Tanya, the magnum opus of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of Chabad.
Links: The Longer Shorter Way; Lessons in Tanya (includes an English translation of the Hebrew text plus explanatory commentary in English)
The Rosh Hashanah ("new year") of Chassidism, marking the liberation of Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi and the subsequent blossoming of Chabad Chassidism, is celebrated for two days, Kislev 19-20. (The Rebbe was released from prison on the 19th, but his full freedom was only obtained late in the evening -- Kislev 20 on the Jewish Calendar.) The two days are celebrated with farbrengens (Chassidic gatherings) and an increased commitment to the ways and teachings of Chassidism. Tachnun (supplication) and similar prayers are omitted. For more information and links, see entries for yesterday Kislev 19.
In Chabad practice, Tachanun (confession of sins) and similar prayers are omitted today.
On the outside, Torah is water. On the inside, it is fire.
The text, the instructions, the practical side of Torah--that is water.
People come to water. When they are thirsty, they gather around.
But what if you have no thirst for Torah? What if you find the water cold? What if dos and don’ts don’t excite you?
Then you must enter within, to the hidden meanings, to the mysteries of Torah. To its fire.
But what if you fear fire? What if you fear the unknown, the spiritual, the transcendental?
Then, you must know: This fire does not burn. It ignites the soul. It is life itself. In truth, it is your fire.
Enter within. Do not be afraid. “G-d, your G-d is a consuming fire.”