Tammuz 12 is the birthday the 6th Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn of Lubavitch (1880-1950).
47 years later, in 1927, he was officially granted release from his sentence of exile to Kastroma in the interior of Russia.
27 days earlier, the Rebbe had been arrested by agents of the GPU and the Yevsektzia (“Jewish Section” of the Communist Party) for his activities to preserve Judaism throughout the Soviet empire and sentenced to death, G-d forbid.
International pressure forced the Soviets to commute the sentence to exile and, subsequently, to release him completely.
The actual release took place on Tammuz 13, and Tammuz 12-13 is celebrated as a “festival of liberation” by the Chabad-Lubavitch community.
In honor of Yud Beis Tammuz, Torah Cafe presents an interview with Rabbi Alter Metzger.
Rabbi Alter Metzger is the author of The Heroic Struggle, an account of the arrest and release of the sixth Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson. In this interview, Rabbi Metzger speaks about his experience in researching and writing this book. He reveals interesting stories and information that came to light during his research for The Heroic Struggle.
On Yud Beis Tammuz, we all ask ourselves, what is the relevance to me? What personal directives can I take from these events? Rabbi Metzger, through his unique experience as a biographer of the Friediker Rebbe, shares a relevant message that all Jews can take this Yud Beis Tammuz.
yey zeidy
This interview is the type of thing that makes COL great! Thanks for this.
Rabbi Metzger is the Consummate Chasid – spreading the beauty of chasidus to untold numbers. May he and his wonderful Rebbetzin and children be abundantly blessed!
– a fan
Our amazing weapons are mentioned at the end.