After his arrest by Communist authorities for the “crime” of being involved in spreading Yiddishkeit, the Previous Rebbe was imprisoned under terrible conditions for 18 days in 5687 (1927).¹ He was sent to exile in the city of Kostrama on Gimmel Tammuz of that year. Nine days later, on the 12th of Tammuz, he was informed that he would be released from his exile, but due to the official offices being closed the certificate of release did not come until the next day, the 13th of Tammuz. Thus, his release is celebrated as a two-day yom tov: 12-13 Tammuz.

Those are the external causes as they enclothed themselves in this world. But we know from Chassidus that the real reason for events is deeper, sourced in a more spiritual dimension. The “hasgacha protis” that the release of the Previous Rebbe from this ordeal is eternally celebrated on the 12th and 13th of Tammuz should grab our attention. What is this fact coming to tell us?

THE RASHBI CONNECTION

We know that there exists a “Rashbi connection” with the Previous Rebbe. The verse² which states that Bnei Yisroel left Mitzrayim with an upraised hand (יד רמה) is translated to Aramaic by Onkelus as “b’reish g’lei” (בריש גלי). The letters of “b’reish” are the initial letters of Rabbi Shimon ben Yochai’s name (RASHB”I). The Rebbe points out³ that these letters are also found in the name of the Previous Rebbe: Rabbi Yosef ben Sholom Dovber, solidifying the connection between them. Going out of Mitzrayim for Rashbi was going out of his exile in the cave where he hid from the Romans, just as the Previous Rebbe went out from his exile “with an upraised hand”. How many years was Rashbi in the cave? Correct: 12 years and a 13th year. Let’s examine the connection:

As described in the Gemara⁴, Rashbi (and his son Rebbi Elazar) sat in the cave where they had fled from the Romans for 12 years. Eliyahu Hanovi came and stood at the entrance to the cave and announced that the decree had been cancelled — Rashbi was free to leave. After 12 years in the cave, Rashbi reached very high levels of holiness. But he could not tolerate the sight of Yidden who chose to be involved in their physical life at the expense of eternal life. “Every place that they cast their eyes was immediately burnt.” A Bas Kol sent them back to the cave, where they remained for another year. After the 13th year a Bas Kol announced that they should go out from the cave. This time, “everywhere that Rebbi Elazar would strike, Rashbi would heal.” What is the connection of the 12 years and the 13th year?

We see how the Previous Rebbe’s release from his exile in the dark Communist caves comes out, by hashgacha protis on the 12th and the 13th. But unlike Rashbi, the Previous Rebbe only came out once: on the 13th, implying that his release was completely on the level of the 13 Midos Harachamim, and lechatchila his redemption included not only those who love the Torah and its Mitzvos, but also “those who are only referred to by the name Yisroel” (ורק אשר בשם ישראל יכונה).

THE GEULOH CONNECTION

We can identify also in these days of the 12th and 13th a connection and a hint to the true and complete Geuloh. It’s well-known that a girl becomes bas mitzvah on her 12th birthday. A boy, however, only becomes bar mitzvah on his 13th birthday. Based on what we learned above about 12 and 13, how does this fit with the age of Mitzvos by a girl and a boy? We could suggest as follows:

A girl’s bas mitzvah at the age of 12 is connected to the words of chazal⁵: “man releases seed first and a female is born”. Which Chassidus⁶ explains to mean that when the awakening for Geuloh comes from Above (from the Mashpia to the mekabel), the result is a “female”, implying a weaker offspring, a weaker form of Geuloh which does not have sustaining power. This is the aspect of 12 — a limited form of Geuloh, analogous to the age 12 bas mitzvah of a girl.

A boy’s bar mitzvah at the age of 13 is connected with the verse⁷ “a woman releases seed first and a male is born”. This is when the awakening for Geuloh is an awakening from below, from the awakening of Yisroel down below. This is an awakening which gives birth to a “male” — a strong and enduring Geuloh, the Geuloh ho’Amitis v’hoShleimoh!

Thus, the Geuloh of the Previous Rebbe includes both dimensions — the assistance of an awakening from Above, together with the critical awakening from below. But the day the Previous Rebbe actually left his exile, the day of his Geuloh b’poal was davka the 13th, the dimension of rachamim unfettered by limitations (even limitations of Holiness), the dimension of complete Geuloh!

1. Reshimas Hamaasar: https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/2295408/jewish/A-Prince-in-Prison.htm ↩︎
2. Beshallach 14:8. ↩︎
3. Likkutei Sichos 3:874. ↩︎
4. Shabbos 33b. ↩︎
5. Niddah 31a. ↩︎
6. Likkutei Torah, Parashas Tazria. ↩︎
7. Tazria 12:2. ↩︎