Yud Tes Kislev--30 Kislev

19 Kislev

The chazan does not wear a talis for Mincha or Maariv, not on Shabbos and not on Rosh Hashana.

The Mezritcher Maggid passed away on Yud-Tes Kislev, Tuesday, Parshas Vayeishev 5533 (1722).  He is buried in Anipoli.

The Alter Rebbe was released from his first imprisonment on Yud Tes Kislev, Tuesday, Parshas Vayeishev 5559, (1748) towards evening.

The Alter Rebbe was sitting in prison, reading Tehillim.  It was Tuesday, a day that Hashem said “It was good” twice in the Torah.  It was the 19^th of Kislev, the yartzeit of his teacher, the Mezritcher Maggid.  He was reading Kapitel 55 in Tehillim, and came to the verse “Pada b'shalom nafshi - He redeemed my soul in peace.”  At that moment, the guards came to inform the Alter Rebbe of his release from prison, and he came out in peace, by the act of the G-d of peace.  (From a letter by the Alter Rebbe).

Yud Tes Kislev is a day of farbrengens and good resolutions to set times to study the revealed Torah and Chassidus in public, and to strengthen the ways of Chassidim with true friendship.

It is customary to divide the study of the shas, according to the procedure set out in Igeres Hakodesh “Hocheiach Tochi'ach.”  In Lubavitch, since the year 5663 (1902-03) this division was made on Chof Daled Teves, as there was not enough time on Yud Tes Kislev.

Chof Kislev

The first printing of the “Sefer Shel Benonim” - Tanya - was completed on Tuesday, Chof Kislev, 5557, in Slavita.  It included part I - Sefer Shel Benonim, Part II - chinuch katan and Shaar Hayichud Veha'emunah.

Igeres Hatshuvah, first edition, was printed in Zalkvi 5559 (1799); second edition, first printing, Shklov 5566 (1806).

Igeres Hakodesh, first printing, Shklov 5574

The corrected edition of all four parts was printed in Vilna (Rom edition) in 5660 (1900) and has been reprinted many times since.

Chof Alef Kislev

“Yossi, what are you mumbling to yourself?” asked Yossi's younger brother Yanki, as they walked down the street together. 

“I am reviewing the Mishnayos that I learned by heart,” replied Yossi.  “Learning and reviewing Mishnayos by heart is one way we can merit to welcome Moshiach!”

Everyone should learn some Mishnah by heart, according to their ability, and review it when walking down the street.  In this way, they will merit to greet Moshiach.

Chassidim must study Chassidus; all chassidim on Mondays, Thursdays, and Shabbos.  T'mimim, those who learned in Yeshivas Tomchei Temimim, should learn an hour every day.

Chof Beis Kislev

The Frierdike Rebbe instituted the practice of saying a portion of Tehillim every morning, including Shabbos, Yom Tov, Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur after davening, as it is divided for the days of the month.  When Tehillim is completed with a minyan, mourner's Kaddish is said.  In a month of 29 days, the last two portions are said on the 29^th.

Chof Gimmel Kislev

In the busy Berman household, Shabbos preparations begin early.  On Wednesday, the shopping is done, the Challah dough is prepared, and the vegetables are peeled for Shabbos.

The Zohar says that all days are blessed from Shabbos.  "All days" refers to the six days of creation, which Hashem blessed with a general blessing - "Hashem will bless you in all you do."  Shabbos blesses the days that come before it and the days that follow it.  The preparations for Shabbos begin on Wednesday, and it is announced by the short lechu neranena of three verses.  (The first three verses of lechu neranena are added to the shir shel yom of Wednesday.  Lechu neranena is the opening prayer of Kabbalas Shabbos, said on Friday night to welcome Shabbos.)

Chof Daled Kislev

"Mommy, what will we have for Shabbos?" little Devorah Berman asked her mother one Wednesday.  "Let's see, Devorah.  We will have wine, challah, fish, soup, chicken and some side dishes." 

Mrs. Berman paused for a moment.  Then she asked her daughter with a smile, "Devorah'le, now let me ask you a question.  What will we do for Shabbos?  How will we make sure that we are ready for Shabbos, and that we feel differently on Shabbos than we do during the week?"

This is an explanation of Lechu Neranena, that is simple enough to be understood by everyone.  On Wednesday, we begin to think about what we will make for Shabbos.  But we also begin to think about how we will make ourselves ready for Shabbos in a spiritual way.  This can cause us to feel a bit sad.  The solution is "Lechu Neranena," "come let us sing."  Have faith, and trust in Hashem.  When Thursday comes and we are still not ready, it isn't so easy anymore to be happy and sing.  We realize that we need to actually do something to make ourselves feel Shabbos'dik.  So on Thursday night, we learn a little bit of Chassidus, so that by Friday, we can begin to feel that "Hashem is a great G-d and a great King."  With this feeling, we can go in to Shabbos.

During Mincha, Tachanun is not said.

Chof Hey Kislev

The Rebbe Rashab would light the Chanuka lights between Mincha and Maariv.  He was not particular if the doorway faced south-north or east-west.  He would say haneiros halalu after lighting all the lights.  He would sit near the lights for a half-hour, except for erev Shabbos when he did not stay that long.  He made sure that the candles stayed lit for at least 50 minutes.

The order we follow on erev Shabbos Chanuka is:  Minchah, Chanukah lights, then Shabbos candles.

Chof Vov Kislev

On Shabbos mevorchim, when the new month is blessed, Chassidim gather in shul early in the morning to recite the whole Tehillim.  Afterwards, for about an hour, they are to study a maamar of Chassidus that everyone can understand, and then daven.  The time to farbreng is set according to the conditions of each place where they live.  The farbrengen of Shabbos mevorchim brings material and spiritual success.

After finishing the whole Tehillim, Kaddish yasom is said.  If there is a yahrtzeit or mourner – Kaddish is said after each of the first five books of Tehillim.

Chof Zayin Kislev

During the Alter Rebbe's second arrest, in 5561 (1800), he was not imprisoned as harshly as the first time.  But the charges against him were more serious, because they were aimed against the teachings of Chassidus, and the opposition was very strong.  He was held in the "Taini Soviet" prison and released on the 3rd Light of Chanuka.

Chof Ches Kislev

It was customary for the Tzemach Tzedek to have a sort of farbrengen on one of the nights of Chanuka with his family, including his daughters-in-law.  This was called "latkes evening."  This custom was held also by the Alter Rebbe and the Mitteler Rebbe.  Some of the stories told at this meal the same ones that were discussed every Chanuka, even though they had been talked about the previous year. 

The Rebbe Rashab would give Chanuka gelt on the fourth or fifth night of Chanuka.

Chof Tes Kislev

The sins of the Jewish people in the times of the Greeks were: Being too friendly with the Greeks, studying their culture, not keeping Shabbos and Yom Tov, eating treif food, and not being careful with Jewish taharah.  The punishment-suffering was the spiritual destruction of the Beit Hamikdash, death, and slavery in galus.  (Even though the Beit Hamikdosh was not destroyed by the Greeks, they entered it and defiled it by putting idols inside and making the oil impure.  After the miracle of Chanuka, the Jews cleaned up the Beis Hamikdosh and purified it as it was before.)  Through teshuvah and mesirus nefesh, the great, miraculous G-dly salvation - the miracle of Chanukah - came about.