The 19th of the Hebrew month of Kislev, is celebrated as the New Years of Chassidic philosophy. It was on this date, in 1798, that the founder of Chabad Chassidism, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, was freed from his imprisonment in Czarist Russia. More than a personal liberation, this was a watershed event in the history of Jewish mysticism.

In the fall of 1798, Rabbi Schneur Zalman was arrested on charges that his teachings and activities threatened the imperial authority of the Czar, and imprisoned in an island fortress in the Neva River in Petersburg. In his interrogations, he was compelled to present to the Czar's ministers the basic tenets of Judaism and explain various points of Chassidic philosophy and practice. After 52 days, he was exonerated of all charges and released.

Rabbi Schneur Zalman saw these events as a reflection of what was transpiring Above. He regarded his arrest as but the earthly echo of a Heavenly indictment against his revelation of the most intimate secrets of the Torah; and he saw his release as signifying his exoneration in the Heavenly court. Kislev 19 therefore marks the "birth" of Chassidism: the point at which it was allowed to emerge from the womb of "mysticism" into the light of day, to grow and develop as an integral part of Jewish life.

The public dissemination of teachings of Jewish Mysticism and Chassidism had in fact begun two generations earlier. The founder of the Chassidic movement, Rabbi Israel Baal Shem Tov (1698-1760), revealed to his disciples gleanings from the mystical soul of Torah which had previously been the sole province of select Kabbalists in each generation. This work was continued by the Baal Shem Tov's disciple, Rabbi DovBer of Mezeritch (d. 1772). But Rabbi Schneur Zalman went much farther than his predecessors, he founded the "Chabad" approach-a system of thought, character improvement and practice that made these abstract concepts rationally comprehensible, and practically applicable in daily life.

Some years before, a paper with a transcription of Rabbi DovBer's, teachings was discovered languishing in a mound of garbage. The sight of this caused great pain to all Rabbi DovBer's disciples. Rabbi Schneur Zalman calmed them with a parable:

"Once upon a time," he began his tale, "there was a mighty king who had an only son who had fallen gravely ill, and the doctors were unable to find a cure.  A call was issued throughout the land, offering great reward. But all the great doctors, all the famed scholars, were silenced; for they knew no remedy for the illness of the prince.

"Then arrived a man who knew of a proven remedy to cure the prince. He described a certain precious stone which, if one would grind it to the finest of powders, mix it with a superb wine, and give it to the prince to drink-he would be cured.

"This gem, however, was extremely rare, and could not be obtained anywhere in the kingdom. The only specimen in existence was the centerpiece of the royal crown of the king. Removing this gem would mean destroying the crown-the king's most precious possession and the ultimate symbol of his sovereignty.

"At first, the king's ministers were overjoyed to discover the gem. But as soon as they realized that by removing the stone from the crown-the very crown with which their king was crowned- its entire glory would fade, they were extremely distressed. Nonetheless, they informed the king that the gem had been found.

"The king was overjoyed. He requested that the gem be extracted, ground to a fine powder, and that the potion for his son be quickly prepared.

"The prince's condition had so deteriorated that his lips were sealed. So ill was the prince that he could take nothing, not even liquids, into his mouth. The experts were certain that, under the circumstances, the king would surely direct that the stone not be ground so that the splendor of the royal crown could be preserved.

"How astounded they were to hear the king instructing them to hurry and crush the gem and pour it into the mouth of the prince. 'Grind, pour, squander the entire gem-stone, ' said the king. 'Perhaps a single drop will enter my son's mouth and he will be healed!'"

Chabad Chassidism reaches the core of Judaism, the crown gem of our holy King, and makes it available to the King's children, grinding and translating it into an intellectual systematic philosophy which can transform the mind and inspire the heart and heal our spiritual illness. It is only thanks to Rabbi Schneur Zalman's self-sacrifice that we sit here and discuss the finer points of Kabbalah and Judaism in this day and age. This is our celebration!