1. The Significance of Yud-Beis and Yud-Gimel Tammuz
Today is the 13th day of Tammuz, a date of great significance in Chabad history. While we often focus on the weekly Parsha, sometimes the Hebrew date itself carries deep meaning. In Chabad, there are several days considered festivals, marked by the omission of Tachnun—supplicatory prayers for forgiveness and confession. On Shabbat and Yom Tov, we avoid Tachnun to maintain a joyful atmosphere, free from sadness or remorse. Similarly, throughout the year, certain days are celebrated in Chabad by omitting Tachnun, and today, the 13th of Tammuz, is one such day.
This date commemorates the miraculous liberation of the Previous Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn. He was arrested and sentenced to death under Stalin’s regime but was ultimately freed after intense international pressure. The process began with his sentence being commuted to ten years of hard labor, then reduced to three years’ exile in Kastanama, and finally to complete freedom. The official papers were delayed due to a legal holiday in Russia, so both the 12th and 13th of Tammuz are celebrated as days of redemption.
2. The Previous Rebbe’s Leadership Amidst Soviet Oppression
The Previous Rebbe’s era was arguably the most difficult among all seven Lubavitcher Rebbes. While earlier opposition came from religious circles resistant to Hasidic teachings, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak faced relentless persecution from the Soviet government after the Russian Revolution. Under Stalin’s rule, human life was cheapened; countless people were exiled or killed without cause. For Jews—and especially religious Jews—the situation was dire.
The government’s campaign against religion was enforced not only by non-Jews who didn’t understand Judaism but also by Jewish collaborators known as the Evsektya—the Jewish section of the Communist Party. Many members were young Jews from religious homes who had been indoctrinated against their own heritage. They spied on synagogues and reported on Jewish activities, making it especially dangerous for anyone trying to maintain Jewish life.
3. Self-Sacrifice and Underground Jewish Education
When Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak became Rebbe in 1920 at age forty, he inherited a community under siege. Despite minimal resources and constant surveillance, he organized clandestine yeshivas and mikvaos across Russia. Whenever one institution was shut down by authorities or informants, another would be established elsewhere.
The government targeted youth education most aggressively, believing older generations would die out with their traditions but fearing that educating children would perpetuate Judaism. The Previous Rebbe led efforts to keep Torah learning alive despite these risks. Many stories illustrate this struggle—including personal accounts from those who grew up in these underground yeshivas under harsh conditions.
The Rebbe’s arrest came after Purim in 1927 when informants overheard him speaking out against the regime. He faced this ordeal alone, without support groups or encouragement—a stark contrast to our own challenges today.
4. Imprisonment: Courage in the Face of Danger
The Previous Rebbe documented his imprisonment in detail—accounts available today in English translation. Despite threats and attempts to break his spirit, he maintained unwavering Jewish pride and refused to cooperate unless his religious rights were respected.
A famous anecdote recounts how an interrogator threatened him with a gun: “This toy has opened many mouths.” The Rebbe replied that such threats only frighten those with more than one god and only one world; for someone with one God and two worlds (this world and the next), such a toy holds no fear.
Miraculously, international pressure—especially from America and Latvia—led to his release after just eighteen days in prison: first allowed home briefly before exile in Kastanama, then finally freed completely on Yud-Beis Tammuz (with official papers arriving on Yud-Gimel).
5. Lessons for Our Generation: Faith Amidst Freedom
The story of Yud-Beis and Yud-Gimel Tammuz is not just historical but deeply relevant today. Despite all odds and unimaginable hardship faced by previous generations just for basic observance like keeping Shabbos or forming a minyan, we now live freely as Jews—a testament to their sacrifice.
This legacy obligates us not to take our freedom for granted but to recognize that our ability to practice Judaism openly is built on their self-sacrifice (mesirus nefesh). Even though our challenges may seem less dramatic—apathy, assimilation, distractions of modern life—they are real spiritual tests that require inner strength drawn from our connection with these giants.
The devotion modeled by leaders like Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak gives us energy for our own battles: staying committed amidst comfort rather than danger.
6. The Power of True Devotion: The Rebbe as Follower
An important lesson emerges from observing how our own Rebbe related to his father-in-law (the Previous Rebbe). Before becoming Rebbe himself, he served as a devoted chossid—a follower rather than a leader—demonstrating total subjugation and loyalty unmatched even among ordinary followers.
This teaches us that greatness lies not only in leading but also in following wholeheartedly when appropriate guidance is present. Throughout his leadership, our Rebbe always referred back to “my father-in-law” as “the Rebbe of our generation,” never claiming that title for himself directly but seeing himself as continuing his father-in-law’s mission.
7. Parsha Connection: Balak and Bilam’s Curses Turned Blessings
This week’s Parsha (Balak) provides a parallel message: Balak feared Israel’s supernatural victories and sought Bilam’s power to curse them because “their strength is not in their sword but in their mouth”—their prayer and connection with Hashem.
Balam tried repeatedly to curse Israel but each time Hashem transformed his curses into blessings—some of the most beautiful prophecies about Israel come from Bilam’s mouth! Rashi explains that Hashem gave prophecy even to wicked Bilam so nations couldn’t complain about lacking prophets themselves.
Balam ultimately advised Moab how to harm Israel spiritually through immorality rather than direct attack—a warning relevant even today as society faces moral challenges reminiscent of those times.
8. Who Was More Wicked: Balak or Bilam?
A debate arises between Rashi and other commentaries regarding whether Balak or Bilam was more wicked. Rashi notes linguistic differences showing Bilam expressed even greater hatred than Balak did when reporting their intentions before Hashem: Bilam sought not just expulsion but total destruction of Israel.
Others argue Balak was worse since he initiated everything out of fear for his land despite knowing (or having reason to know) that Israel wasn’t going to attack Moab at all—a fact Balam should have conveyed as a prophet but chose not to out of hatred for Israel.
This reflects an enduring truth: sometimes opposition comes not from rational fears or grievances but from deep-seated animosity without justification—a pattern seen throughout Jewish history up until today.
9. Enduring Hope Amidst Hardship
The ultimate comfort is that despite suffering inflicted by enemies throughout history—whether physical danger or spiritual challenge—Am Yisrael Chai—the Jewish people live on! Just as curses were turned into blessings then, so too will all pain be transformed into revealed good with Hashem’s help—culminating with Mashiach's arrival speedily in our days.
This message resonates especially during tragedies—such as recent losses within our community—and reminds us that every hardship contains hidden goodness which will ultimately be revealed as blessing (bracha). We pray for health, happiness, success (b’chol ma’asei yedeichem) for all those celebrating milestones today—including birthdays—and dedicate ourselves anew through Torah study (Torah) and charity (tzedakah) in memory of those who sacrificed before us.