Living Torah Archives

The Mitteler Rebbe’s imprisonment came about after the wellsprings of the Baal Shem Tov had already swept the Jewish People, nourishing tens of thousands of souls. Despite all this, there descended a darkness so profound that it challenged even such a great light, and resulted in an imprisonment. But when denser darkness is conquered, the resultant light that shines forth out of the darkness is ever the brighter.

The Rebbe encourages the Chasidim to sing the song “Podoh B’sholom” in honor of the birthday and Yahrzeit of the Mitteler Rebbe, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch.

On the 10th of Kislev, the second Rebbe of Chabad, Rabbi DovBer was liberated from prison. He was freed just nine days before Chasidim would celebrate the release of his father, Rabbi Schneur Zalman. Both the Alter Rebbe and the Mitteler Rebbe connected their release from prison to the verse in Psalms, “my soul was redeemed in peace,” a verse that will be fully realized with the ultimate arrival of Moshiach. The lesson for us: A Jew should always be permeated with the idea that every person can bring redemption to the world.

Please give this to charity in honor of your ancestor, Rabbi Dovber of Lubavitch, known as the Mitteler Rebbe. (Collage)

The verse commands: “You shall surely rebuke your fellow.” Nevertheless, one must deliver the rebuke joyfully, good-naturedly, and gently.

The Alter Rebbe would read the Torah in public. One year, he was away during the Torah reading of Ki Savo, and his young son and future successor, Rabbi Dovber, heard someone else read the portion, which includes G-d’s severe rebuke of the Jewish people. The son became so distressed that he fainted, and weeks later it was still questionable whether he’d be able to fast on Yom Kippur. The chasidim later asked him: “In previous years you didn’t faint; what happened this year?” The boy responded, “When father reads it, I don’t hear curses.”

A Jew is instructed to give rebuke, as the verse commands: “You shall surely rebuke your fellow.” Nevertheless, you can deliver the rebuke joyfully, good-naturedly, and gently.

The teachings of the second Chabad Rebbe, Rabbi Dov Ber, add unprecedented length, breadth and depth to concepts in Chassidic Philosophy – enabling the human mind to achieve even greater union with the Divine wisdom.