Today is the special and auspicious day of Yud Tes Kislev, when the first Chabad Rebbe, the Alter Rebbe, was freed from Russian prison, indicating Heavenly permission was granted to disseminate the teachings of Chassidus, the inner part of Torah, without limitations. The Alter Rebbe wrote the Tanya, innovating the teachings of Chabad Chassidus.
Yud Tes Kislev is a day of great joy, a true yom tov, because it brings to focus our mission now: to spread chassidus and bring Moshiach. Both are connected, as we know the Baal Shem Tov was told in a heavenly vision that Moshiach will come when his teachings (the teachings of chassidus) will be spread outward to all corners of the world. The Alter Rebbe based his teachings on the teachings of the Baal Shem Tov and kabbalists such as the Ari Hakodesh, but he added to that and expounded upon it, making it accessible to every Jew.
To me, Yud Tes kislev incorporates all yom tovim together: it is the Rosh Hashanah of Chassidus, it is like shavuos and Matan Torah (we are receiving the mystical part of Torah) and it is like simchas Torah because of the joy we have over the teachings of chassidus.
So let’s all rejoice, explain to our friends and families the importance of this day, and let’s participate in the joy of the Alter Rebbe. He brought us chassidus through true self sacrifice but now that we have Chassidus, we need to learn it and spread it’s teachings to others. And this is the great privilege and responsibility that our generation has.
So good yom tov to all! May you all be inscribed for a good year in the learning of Chassidus and the ways of Chassidus.