Being Brave is Trusting in a Higher Power

Being Brave is … having trust in a Higher power. Not always a simple thing to do when the world can look quite dark. Today is the celebration of the liberation of the Alter Rebbe, Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi, the founder of Lubavitch Chassidus. The Alter Rebbe was imprisoned in Czarist Russia in 1798 – the question was would it be exile or death for him? As he recited psalm 55 and reached verse 19 – “Padah V’shalom” (“He redeemed my soul in peace from battles against me...”) – he was informed of his release. Besides this being a physical redemption because even in exile, more often than not, most people died when sent to Siberia for hard labor, this was a spiritual redemption. And not just a personal one, but a global one. While in prison, the Alter Rebbe had a vision of the holy sage the Baal Shem Tov and asked him what was the spiritual reason (the real) reason for his imprisonment. The Baal Shem Tov replied that there were negative spiritual forces that claimed that the world was not ready to receive the high kabbalistic wisdom that the Alter Rebbe was spreading. This was very down to earth kabbalistic wisdom called Chassidus and explained the deep meaning of creation. The Alter Rebbe asked the Baal Shem Tov if he should stop. The answer was that if he was released it was a sign that the world WAS READY for this great revelation of divine wisdom and light.
So today is that day – a day of great joy and celebration – that Hashem (G-d) decreed that the WORLD IS READY for this Divine light which when fully revealed dispels all darkness, all pain, all suffering.
And so it is that the Psalm (55) ends on this verse: “V’ani eftach bach” which means “I will trust in You.” Amen!

19th day of the Jewish month of Kislev – the day of liberation, the month of Being Brave
May we all be redeemed from any and all suffering in peace.