THE YOM TOV OF כ"ו תמוז
Part II — If the Letters Were Authentic, Why Is It Not Celebrated?
In our previous article, we discussed the mysterious collection of manuscripts known as the Kherson Genizah — letters attributed to the בעל שם טוב and other early Chassidic leaders that surfaced in the early twentieth century.
The manuscripts were acquired by the wealthy Chabad chasid R. Shmuel Gurary ז"ל, who presented them to his Rebbe, the מהרש"ב — Rabbi Shalom Dov Ber Schneerson זצ"ל.
In the 1930s, the Frierdiker Rebbe, Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneerson זצ"ל, published approximately 300 of these letters in the Chabad journal התמים.
The Mysterious Yom Tov of כ"ו תמוז
Among these manuscripts are two letters that contain a remarkable claim:
The בעל שם טוב and his תלמידים allegedly established כ"ו תמוז as a permanent Yom Tov for all future generations:
"יום משתה ושמחה וגיל לנו ולזרעינו עד העולם"
A day of celebration and joy — for us and for our descendants forever.
This Coming Shabbos כ"ו תמוז — Should We Celebrate?
Should we be drinking and rejoicing like a Yom Tov?
Apparently not.
Did the Rebbe Change His Mind?
The Kherson manuscripts were enthusiastically received when they first appeared. However, questions regarding their authenticity soon began to surface.
Questions Raised About the Kherson Genizah
- Some letters contain dates that fall on Shabbos or Yom Tov, creating historical difficulties.
- Researchers argued that some of the paper used in the manuscripts was manufactured only after the supposed dates of the letters.
- The language, writing style, and historical references raised additional questions.
A Major Historical Problem In The כ"ו תמוז Letter
The letter, dated 1759, refers to a "Bishop Skolsky" who supposedly assisted the Jewish community.
However, historical records identify the Bishop of Lviv during that period as Alexander Lubienski , and no bishop by the name "Skolsky" has been identified from that era.
This raises a fundamental historical question:
Who was the "Bishop Skolsky" mentioned in the letter?
Who Rejected The Letters?
Because of these and other concerns, the overwhelming majority of scholars outside of Chabad have concluded that the Kherson Genizah manuscripts are not authentic eighteenth-century documents.
Among the prominent Rabbinic figures who expressed doubts regarding the manuscripts were:
- The Imrei Emes — Gerrer Rebbe
- Rabbi Yissachar Dov Rokeach — Belzer Rebbe
- The Minchas Elazar — Munkatcher Rebbe
The Lubavitcher Rebbe's Defense
The last Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson זצ"ל, who possessed extensive knowledge of rare seforim and manuscripts, strongly defended the authenticity of the Kherson Genizah.
In 1957, the Rebbe published a lengthy analysis arguing that the manuscripts were genuine and rejecting many of the criticisms raised against them.
The Remaining Mystery
If the Rebbe maintained that these letters were authentic...
And if the letters themselves declare that כ"ו תמוז should be celebrated by "us and our descendants forever"...
Why Is כ"ו תמוז Not Celebrated Today?
Why is this day not observed as a Yom Tov?
Why is there no widespread celebration?
Why is it not even observed within Chabad communities?
A Fascinating Historical Question Remains
Whether one accepts the authenticity of the Kherson Genizah or not, the question remains one of the most fascinating mysteries surrounding these manuscripts:
What happened to the Yom Tov of כ"ו תמוז?
