- Peter Paul Fortress on the Neva River today In the Jewish Calendar, today was the 19th day of the Hebrew month of Kislev. So what's so special about that? Well, besides for the capture of Saddam Hussein on this date in 2003, on this date in 1798, Rabbi Shneur Zalman of Liadi - known as the "Alter Rebbe" - was released from the dreaded Peter-Paul fortress in Russia, after being falsely accused of treason. The Alter Rebbe founded the now famous "Chabad" movement, which focuses on serving G-d with joy, the incredible depth & vital importance of a simple, physical mitzvah, and the need to delve into Jewish mysticism in a way of understanding. Hence the name CHaBaD, which in Hebrew stands for: Chochmah (wisdom) Binah (Understanding) and Da'at (Knowledge). The Alter Rebbe dedicated his life not only to the well being of the Jewish community at large, but to explaining the deepest, most profound concepts relating to G-d & the spiritual worlds - in a way that a simple person could understand.
Incredible stories with the Alter Rebbe abound. But one story really signifies the spiritual path that he set forth. One night, during his imprisonment, Russian ministers wanted to interrogate the Alter Rebbe. To do so, he had to be taken from the fortress to the other side of the Neva River, to the headquarters of the Tainy Soviet, the Secret Council. That night happened to be in the middle of the month, when the moon was nearly full. According to Jewish tradition, there are certain prayers said once a month, any night between the 3rd & 14th, in honor of the new moon, known as Kiddush Levana. Seeing the nearly full moon, the Alter Rebbe wanted to say these prayers. So he asked the guard rowing the boat to please stop for a moment, so that he could stand and say the prayers. "Silence!" yelled the guard. As he continued to row, suddenly the guard noticed the boat beginning to stop in the middle of the calm river waters! Realizing something beyond nature was going on, the guard nervously looked at the Rebbe, who didn't say a word. Suddenly the boat began to move again as the guard renewed his rowing. "Would you please stop the boat for a few minutes?" the Alter Rebbe asked again. This time, the guard halted his rowing, leaving the Alter Rebbe plenty of time to say his prayers with devotion.
A simple question can be asked here: WHY didn't the Alter Rebbe just stop the boat and say his prayers? Why did he stop it, only to let the boat go again and then have to ask the guard permission again!? The whole thing seems strange. But the truth is, this action personified the vision the Alter Rebbe had of how we must act in this world. Instead of "breaking nature" - living outside and above the world, closed off from materialism, Chabad philosophy stresses involving oneself in the world around you, in order to uplift & change the world around you for the good. That's why the Alter Rebbe acted in that way. He first showed this coarse guard that there was a higher power at work. Only then did the guard himself voluntarily choose to do the right thing, submitting himself to holiness.
The Alter Rebbe taught us, that if one really wants to make G-d happy, and wants to make a home for Him in this physical world, then one must turn his or her physical surroundings into a vessel for G-d. That one's inner, materialistic nature should actually sense how G-dliness is a good thing, something to be desired. Then those around us will be affected & will sense from us that a deeper, more meaningful life is out there. How do we feel that? Through learning the mystical teachings of Judaism as taught by the Alter Rebbe & the subsequent Chabad Rebbeim. And ultimately, this special affect we can have on our surroundings, can be seen most in the doing of a Mitzvah. A Physical object; a coin for charity, a candle lit for Shabbat, a Challah baked, blessed and eaten for the sake of Shabbat, itself "stops the boat" - nullifying itself and being consumed in holiness. Through our influence, it shows off its essence, that in truth it is a G-dly creation waiting to be uplifted.
May we all have a positive impact on ourselves and therefore on our surroundings, and celebrate light over darkness during this Chanukah, with great joy!
Shabbat Shalom!
-Daniel
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