This week the Jewish world will celebrate the anniversary of the release from the Russian prison of the first Lubavitcher Rebbe – the Alter Rebbe almost two centuries ago. Right then and there the wellsprings of Godly wisdom sprung forth from Russia and eventually reached into every corner on the planet paving the way for our righteous redeemer – King Moshiach, Messiah himself.
When the news of the arrest of the Alter Rebbe came to the town of Starodub, the chassid (follower) named Yehezkel gathered his friends and declared, that he was ready to take any pain and suffering, including death, for the sake of the release of their leader from prison.
He was fasting for three days straight, then gathered his fellow chassidim and announced, that his prayer was accepted and he was allowed to become an atonement in exchange for freedom of the Alter Rebbe. That’s why his soul had to leave this world the same day at sunset.
Yehezkel ordered to bring some vodka, drank l’chaim with his friends and asked them to promise the following: when the news of the release comes, let them come to his grave to let him know. And then let them drink l’chaim right there and dance, even if they will be considered crazy.
His soul departed the same night.
After several days, on the 19th of Kislev (in the Hebrew calendar), chassidim gathered in the synagogue to pray. They looked at each other in anticipation: who will speak out first? Eventually they all admitted that Yehezkel came personally to each one of them in a dream, and announced that the verdict about the release of the Alter Rebbe from prison was already signed in Heaven, in the world of Truth.
That meant, that the time came to fulfill the request of the departed reb Yehezkel – dance in the cemetery – and let the people think whatever they want.
Interesting thought came to my mind when reading this story: while chassidim knew about upcoming news from the dream, the rest of the world still was in the dark about the verdict, which made the task of dancing even more difficult. And even if it was official, would it make the task any easier?
Lubavitcher chassidim have a tradition from the previous Rebbes that when Moshiach comes, chassidim will go out in the street and dance to announce and celebrate the final chapter of the unfolding Redemption. The Lubavitcher Rebbe King Moshiach clearly and publicly (not in the dreams of the selected few) announced that we are literally in the days of Moshiach and it’s time to dance and celebrate publicly his coming to fulfill what the previous Rebbes professed.
So next time when we see someone dancing on the street and doing what the King and the Prophet ordered, maybe that’s not so insane after all!
