* A Judgment of Truth and Mercy

By Rabbi DovBer (the Mitteler Rebbe, 1773-1827 C.E.). Similarly to his father, Rabbi DovBer spent time temporarily incarcerated in 1826 due to a false slander against him. During that time, he wrote this Chassidic discourse as a letter to the Gentile governor of his province in Russian. In the letter, he explains the ten sefirot, or Divine attributes, which culminate in G-d’s attribute of Kingship.

This “lowest” Divine attribute receives influence from all the other attributes. From that input, it actualizes G-d’s power to bring about the existence of all creation. In the earthly realm, kings and their appointed governors have ruling power, as a reflection of that spiritual attribute. Thus, they rule over nations and provinces in our physical world. Therefore, these Gentile rulers are obligated to reflect the Divine attributes of truth and mercy in their application of authority over their citizens.

When the government dropped the false charges on the 10th of Kislev, Rabbi DovBer went free. Since then, many chassidim celebrate the 10 of Kislev as his day of redemption.

Published by Sichos in English (hardcover).

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