Day of Hilula
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter
כ״ה בשבט
Königsberg, German Empire (present-day Kaliningrad, Russia)
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
Rabbi Yisrael Salanter's legacy is evident throughout the yeshiva world. The Musar movement he founded changed the face of the Lithuanian Torah world, introducing the study of musar as an inseparable part of the daily schedule. His students — Rabbi Simcha Zissel Ziv, Rabbi Naftali Amsterdam, and Rabbi Yitzchak Blazer — established the great musar yeshivas: Kelm, Slobodka, and Novardok. His teachings were transplanted after the Holocaust to yeshivas in the Land of Israel and America, where they are studied and practiced to this day. His figure stands as a symbol of a person of character, humility, and devotion to human refinement, and his influence is felt in every yeshiva where musar is studied.
"Musar is a tool for refining one's character traits."