Why Chabad Celebrates Today

On the first of Kislev this year, Chassidim around the world mark the beginning of the 40th year since Rosh Chodesh Kislev 5738—the day that marked a major milestone in the Rebbe’s recovery after a heart attack five weeks earlier on Shmini Atzeres.

To mark this milestone, Chassidim go back to the occurrences of that fateful night on Shmini Atzeres and the days and weeks that followed; the “story of Rosh Chodesh Kislev.”

Earlier this year an historic panel of speakers was hosted by the Vaad Hatmimim, with Dr. Ira Weiss, the chief cardiologist who oversaw the Rebbe’s miraculous recovery, Rabbi Yehuda Krinsky, the Rebbe’s mazkir, and Rabbi Yosef Groner, shliach in Charlotte, NC who was a bochur in 770 at the time of these events.

Rabbi Krinsky relates what happened that night:

“We had managed to call four doctors; two from Manhattan, a heart physician from Long-Island who was acquainted with Rashag, and an additional doctor from Brooklyn, whom I knew personally. One of them brought a cardiograph machine, which enabled us to check the Rebbe’s heartbeat.

“The doctors, all of whom arrived between nine-thirty and twelve, agreed that the Rebbe had suffered a major heart-attack and that he needed to be transported to the hospital immediately, since there were no proper machines or medication on hand in the Rebbe’s room. However the Rebbe was adamant that he would not go. The doctors, not willing to take responsibility, put on their coats and left. The situation was very serious, and not a single competent doctor was on sight…

“In the early hours of the morning, we saw on the machine that the Rebbe was going through another serious heart-attack, worse than the first one. We didn’t know what to do. The doctors that were on site (not heart specialists) said that we have no choice but to take the Rebbe to the hospital. Between all the commotion, the Rebbetzin came down and was updated, and we asked her what to do.

“The Rebbetzin answered, ‘In all the years that I know my husband, there was never a moment where the he was not in full control over himself.’ She made it very clear that under no circumstances should we move the Rebbe without his consent.

“I walked from Gan Eden Hatachton to the office of the mazkirus, and as I was pacing back and forth pondering what to do, I heard the Rebbetzin’s voice.
“‘Rabbi Krinsky’, she said, ‘you know so many people. Can’t you find a doctor for my husband?’

“As she said those words, I jumped. I knew just the doctor for this. Dr. Ira Weiss from Chicago. He was a young cardiologist, trained in Harvard, who was a student of my brother-in-law, Rabbi Hershel Shusterman in Chicago, and I knew that he was an eideler Yid. I had noticed a book that he’d written on cardiology on the Rebbe’s table a few months prior and I thought he might be the right one.”
In a comprehensive article appearing in this month’s Chassidisher Derher magazine, “The Complete Story of Rosh Chodesh Kislev,” selections of a yoman of one of the bochurim at 770:

Der Rebbe iz gezunt

“Despite the worry about the Rebbe’s condition, we had been explicitly instructed by the Rebbe himself to add in simcha, and not chas veshalom, to decrease. Hakafos were conducted in that spirit.

“The first and last pesukim of Atah Horeisa—the Rebbe’s pesukim—were recited by the entire crowd, in the merit of a complete recovery for the Rebbe shlita.
“At the start of the hakafos, they announced that the Rebbe is honored with the first sefer Torah. The Rebbe said that hakafos should be conducted with a shturem, and everyone danced with enthusiasm in 770 and outside, along the entire block. All together, as one voice, we sang “Zol shoin kumen di refuah, der Rebbe zol shoin zein gezunt” (the recovery should come fast: the Rebbe should be healthy) to the tune of “Zol shoin zein di geulah.” Then we went on to sing more pointedly, “Der Rebbe iz gezunt (the Rebbe IS well), Moshiach zol shoin kumen.” These words fired up the crowd even more. The Rebbe had said a number of times over the past twenty four hours that simchah poretz geder—happiness breaks all boundaries; the simcha and lebedikeit that was on that night is indescribable. ‘Mi shelo ra’ah simcha zu, lo ra’ah simcha m’yamav.’

“Meanwhile, the Rebbe was listening to the singing from his room, and hearing the words the Chassidim were chanting, the Rebbe commented to the doctor, ‘This is what Chassidim are.’ When asked if the loud noise from downstairs is disturbing him, the Rebbe replied, ‘Es iz a geshmaker muzik—it is pleasant music!’ ‘If the Chassidim would have seen the smile on the Rebbe’s face they would have bought out all the mashke in New York City,’ the doctor said.

When the Rebbe ultimately recovered enough to return to his home on President Street, he was met with joy and dancing; a new yom tov was proclaimed.
The rejoicing and dancing continued on throughout the night.
On the morning of Rosh Chodesh Kislev, as the Rebbe arrived back in 770, he met Dr. Resnick. “I heard,” the Rebbe told him “that everyone was dancing last night, besides for two people: you and me. Tonight, I want you to make up for it, and dance for me as well…”

That night Dr. Resnick danced along with the Chassidim with great enthusiasm. “I never saw such simcha”, he said afterwards.

Video: Panel Recalling the Rebbe’s 1977 Recovery
Visit Jewish.TV for more Jewish videos.

Read the complete story of Rosh Chodesh Kislev and other articles spanning a wide variety of subjects, from the the assassination attempt on President Reagan, to one of the prize treasures of Chassidus hidden for many years until the Rebbe unveiled the plans for its publishing in a dramatic initiative. All this and more in the newly-released Chassidisher Derher Magazine for the month of Kislev, delivered by mail to thousands of subscribers around the world and available for purchase at Crown Heights retailers.

To read the full article, click here.

Relive year-round occurrences in the Rebbe’s presence and fascinate your mind with little-known facts and accounts by subscribing to A Chassidisher Derher’s monthly magazine. Visit Derher.org/subscribe