Weekly Story: Experiencing a Yud Tes Kislev Celebration

by Rabbi Sholom DovBer Avtzon

I heard the following story, from Rabbi Shlomo Galperin, in one of the farbrengens that was made in honor of this Yud Tes Kislev this year. He related that he heard the following from his father-in-law, Rabbi Shmuel Tzvi Fox a”h.

Reb Hirshel grew up in the town of Disna, known as being one of the chassidishe communities. This is his recollection of how chassidim in his hometown celebrated the festival of Yud Tes Kislev, when he was a youngster of eight or nine years old.

Three days before Yud Tes Kislev, it already became noticeable to all of us that something special is happening. The men, women and their children, old and young,  began cleaning the shul that it should be sparkling. The floors and walls were scrubbed clean, the windows were washed that they were completely transparent. Whatever was made out of a metal was polished that reflected all of the lights.

While this is menial work that was often done by hired workers, no one abstained. To the contrary, it was everyone’s honor to participate in this preparation.

The women and their daughters were also extremely busy in their preparation for the festive Seudah which was going to be served on this special day. Every lady baked, cooked or prepared their favorite dish. Those that were known for their cakes and pastries baked their specialty. Others whose main dishes were raved about cooked those dishes and obviously the creative ones made their side dishes etc. Everyone felt as if it was their day of celebration.

Then on Yom Tov everyone dressed in their finest clothing and hundreds of candles were lit in the shul in honor of the Yom Tov, that it was shining as bright as it is in middle of the day. The atmosphere was one of happiness and friendship.

This made an everlasting and impression on us children, especially when we saw the Rov, the most respected person in the kehila (community), the authority of Jewish life, who at every occasion was given a seat of honor at the head of the table, however, as he entered the shul on Yud Tes Kislev, he sat down among the chassidim, as one of them and an equal with them participating in the farbrengen of chag hachagim. He was a chossid celebrating with his brothers this momentous occasion.

P.S. Hearing this, one of the participants at that farbrengen in Crown Heights remarked, now I understand why I was taught that in our homes, when we celebrate Yud Tes Kislev or other special days in the chassidic calandar, with our family and children, candles are to be lit, just as one doss by a seudas mitzvah. It demonstrates to our children the importance of the day.

Rabbi Avtzon is a veteran mechanech and the author of numerous books on the Rebbeim and their chassidim. He is available to farbreng in your community and can be contacted at avtzonbooks@gmail.com