Celebrating Rosh Chodesh Kislev

00:00 Speaker 1 The story went like this: The first Rosh Chodesh Kislev celebration was a year later, in 5739. 5738, I think, 5738. That was the first time they celebrated Rosh Chodesh Kislev at 770. They asked Reb Avraham Drizin, Reb Avraham Meir, to say a few words. He said he couldn’t speak at length, but could only tell a story. What was the story? He said it was the first year after the Alter Rebbe returned from Petersburg. That was in 5559. The following year, 5560, the chassidim celebrated the first 19 Kislev in Liozna, with the Alter Rebbe. A large crowd gathered and sat at the tables, and the Alter Rebbe himself went around with a bottle of mashke—that’s how chassidim tell it; I didn’t see it myself, but that’s what he said. The Alter Rebbe went around to everyone, poured each person a small glass of mashke, and said, “Eat, drink, and rejoice; a great Yom Tov has taken place here.” And with those words, Reb Avraham Meir sat down. That was the whole speech: it was a great Yom Tov, and we need to rejoice on this Yom Tov. L’chaim, l’chaim!

01:25 Speaker 2 L’chaim, l’chaim!