Yud Tes Kislev is celebrated as the Chag HaGeulah of The Alter Rebbe, also known as the Baal HaTanya. It was on this date, in the year 5559 (1798), that Reb Shneur Zalman of Liadi was freed from his imprisonment. Reb Shneur Zalman was the founder of Chabad Chassidus.

26 years earlier, on Yud Tes Kislev 5533 (1772), the Alter Rebbe’s Rebbe, the Maggid of Mezritch, passed away. Before his passing, he said to Reb Shneur Zalman, “This day is our yom tov.”

On the day after Simchas Torah 5559, the Alter Rebbe was arrested from his home on charges of treason and brought to the Fortress of Petropavlovsk. During his 53 days in prison, he was interrogated multiple times and asked to explain various teachings of chassidus. On Yud Tes Kislev, while reciting the words from Tehillim pada beshalom nafshi– my soul was redeemed in peace- the Alter Rebbe received the news that he had been exonerated of all charges and would immediately be freed.

The Alter Rebbe understood that these events paralleled what was happening in shamayim. His imprisonment was a result of a Heavenly decree objecting to the spreading of Torah’s inner secrets, which until then had been studied by a select few. The Alter Rebbe saw his liberation as the Heavenly court sanctioning the sharing of chassidus with the masses. He redoubled his efforts, spreading chassidus on a broader scale, and with more detailed explanations and practical applications than before.

Yud Tes Kislev therefore marks,  the 'birth' of chassidus - the day that its extensive availability was given divine consent, to be developed as an integral part of Jewish life, arming our connection with Hashem with the necessary depth to stand against the increasing challenges of the outside world.

Every year, Yud Tes Kislev is a day which reminds us of the crucial importance and of studying those Torah teachings that shifts the focus of our hearts and minds on our relationship with Hashem, and the urgent need to share such Torah teachings of chassidus with others.