19 Kislev – The Day of Liberation and Inner Light

The 19th of Kislev marks a turning point in the spiritual history of the Jewish people. On this day, we celebrate the release of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi, founder of the Chabad Hasidic movement, who was imprisoned by the Tsar on unjust charges of treason. What appeared to the world to be a mere human ordeal, the Rebbe saw as a divine message: an opportunity to spread the light, deepen the teachings, and carry the wisdom of the Torah even further.

An opposition that revealed miracles

The accusation—that the Rebbe supported the Ottoman Empire—arose from internal misunderstandings and slander. In reality, he had raised funds to help Jewish communities in the Land of Israel, which at that time was under Turkish rule.

His arrest led him to face a series of events that we now consider miraculous:

• The black carriage meant for traitors arrived to arrest him.

• Before going up, the Rebbe consulted with his disciple Rabbi Shmuel Munkes, who told him:

“If you are a true Rebbe, nothing will happen to you; if not… why did you take away the material joy of this world from so many?”

A harsh statement, but one that contained a profound truth: spiritual greatness always demands authenticity.

• On the eve of Shabbat, the Rebbe asked to stop the journey, as was his custom. The officer laughed:

— “I’m in charge here.”

But immediately a horse fell dead, then the axle of the chariot broke. The soldiers understood: they were in the presence of a holy man.

53 days – 53 chapters

In St. Petersburg, the Rebbe was questioned by learned ministers familiar with his writings. Even the Tsar himself—hidden behind his visit—spoke with him. Despite never having seen him before, the Rebbe recognized him instantly.

He spent 53 days in prison, and from that spiritual pressure were born the 53 chapters of the Tanya, a work that illuminates the soul to this day. As the Rebbe expressed it:

“The olive tree, when pressed, yields its oil.”

During his captivity, his teachers—the Baal Shem Tov and the Maggid of Mezrich—revealed themselves to him and conveyed a crucial message:

Do not stop the spread of Hasidism. On the contrary, when you go out, spread it even further.

On the 19th of Kislev, the Rebbe was released. And since then, this day has been known as the “Rosh Hashanah of Hasidism,” a rebirth of inner light for the world.

A question that transcends time

One of the ministers asked the Rebbe:

— “Why does God ask Adam 'Where are you?' if He knows everything?”

The Rebbe responded by stating the minister's exact age and added:

“When a person reaches a certain age, God asks them: Where are you? What have you done with the purpose for which you were sent? Where is your life headed?”

The minister felt that he wasn't just hearing an explanation. He felt that God himself was speaking to him through the Rebbe.

Kislev's message for us today

Kislev 19 is not just a historical memory. It is an invitation to re-examine our own mission:

Where am I today?

What light can I unleash, even in my moments of pressure?

Am I living in alignment with the purpose the Creator entrusted to me?

The Rebbe's "liberation" ignited a revolution of spiritual clarity. It is up to us to receive this legacy, to study the wisdom of the Tanya, to seek depth in the Torah, and to transform the inner light into practical action.

May we rejoice in this joy, and may the promise of the Alter Rebbe be fulfilled in each one of us:

“Whoever rejoices in my joy, I will bring out of the narrow paths into abundance.”

Shalom and blessings on this bright day.

From: Rabbi Tomer Rotem

Emissary of the Rebbe and Chief Rabbi of Ecuador