6048 - Yud-Tes Kislev as the Living “Head” of the Year

The holy letters of the Rebbe, volume 16, letter number 6,048. This is to a Chassid, a man of God, the Rosh, Eliyahu Shaklakovski of Petah Tikva. We’ve had other letters to him before, but it's interesting here that his last name is included because “Rosh” means "the head." So, it's very interesting how the Rebbe addresses him: "The Head, may he live, Eliyahu Shaklakovski."

 

Rabbi Eliyahu was a Gabbai of the Beis Knesset Chabad. He was involved—very much involved. In a previous letter we read from him to the Rebbe was about having a difficulty getting a minyan together and asking the Rebbe. So, he was one of the Gabbaim in the Chabad shul in Petah Tikva.

 

The Rebbe says, “I have received your letter with the good news in a timely way about the farbrengen in the shul and the Beis Medrash (the study hall) where you are one of the heads. The celebration of this clear day of Yud Tes Kislev, which is Rosh Hashanah for the study of Chassidus and for the ways of Chassidus.”

 

The Rebbe points out many times theas famous wording: we call it Rosh Hashanah, not the beginning (*techila*). The "Rosh" is more than just the beginning; the head means that it includes and draws down energy to all the limbs. What are the limbs of the year? The days of the year. This means the energy you get on that one day of Yud Tes Kislev, you draw down to the rest of the limbs—the rest of the days of the year.

 

The Rebbe therefore prays that for all the days of the year coming to us for good and for blessing, there should be added more energy, more vitality, and more light in all areas of the shul and the study hall, so that it should be fitting to the name Beis Knesset Chabad. It’s a Chabad shul, fully fitting that name, meaning everything in the shul and the success of what’s going on there is on the right way, so it’s rightfully called a Chabad shul.

 

The effort of all those who work toward it, those who are occupying themselves with it, and those who are heading it—the Rebbe says their privilege has been articulated in many places. But the Rebbe says we don’t have to go far; there is a very clear, full verse in Daniel, chapter 12, verse 3. The verse says, "And those who lead the many to righteousness shall be like the stars forever and ever."

 

Those who provide for the many, giving them righteousness—the Rebbe interprets that as providing the shul or anything that involves helping others. "Matzdikei harabbim," making the many righteous, are like the stars, the verse says; they are eternal. So, you see the great privilege and merit of those who head and work for the community.

 

"It is my hope," the Rebbe says, "that each one will bring in effort not only to get the reward, but it should also fit the opening of that verse." What is the opening of the verse? The opening of the verse is "V’hamaskilim." "Maskilim" means those who understand, which means to become more knowledgeable and more understanding. The verse says, "And those who understand shall shine like the brightness of the firmament."

 

How are you going to become "maskilim" (understanding)? By adding to the learning of the teachings of Chabad. That gives you the real understanding, the true "maskil." And for sure, as the verse says, those who are "maskilim"—learning and understanding Chassidus Chabad—"shall shine like the brightness of the firmament." 

 

What does that mean, "like the firmament"? It was interpreted in the Tikunei Zohar at the beginning that the shine of the firmament includes all colors, etc. From that shine comes forth a shine of many different souls. They are the "maskilim," meaning they have the *sechel* (intelligence) to understand and know the secrets of their Master. That’s the "maskilim"—basically, by learning the inner part of the Torah, which is the ability for all souls to get the idea in order to know and understand their Master, Hashem.

 

The Rebbe says everything written in our Torah is a lesson. So, if the Torah tells us "Hamaskilim yazhiru" (that they will shine), it’s not just telling us a story. It’s a lesson, if there is a lesson then we have to do it, and for sure it is within the ability of each one of us to do it.

 

It only hinges on the will. Not only can you do it if they want, but you actually get support from above—a tremendous amount of support. If you want to create and establish these learnings of Chassidus, you will get tremendous support from Hashem because you have the merit of the many. Because you’re doing it for the public, you have the merit of the many, and that helps you.

 

The Rebbe blesses him for good news in all the above. The Rebbe acknowledges the receipt of the letter about the farbrengen. The Rebbe points out that it’s a "Rosh" (a head), and it's supposed to give energy to the rest of the year—the limbs of the year. The Rebbe says they should increase light and energy in all matters of the shul. The Rebbe brings down the verse that says those who work and bring the community together are like stars forever in Daniel, but the Rebbe also cites the beginning of the verse: to become "maskilim," to learn Chassidus. That’s really up to them; if they wish and they want, they’ll be able to do that. Not only will they be able to do that, but they’ll get lots of support from Hashem to help them be very successful in this endeavor.