Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2061 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

28 Adar 5713,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the distinguished chassid who fears Hashem,

fulfills his task faithfully and

devotes himself to communal needs,

Rav Yaakov HaKohen [1],

Greetings and blessings,

I enclose for you the kuntres* [2] printed for the 2nd of Nissan [3], which has just been bound. I wish you a freilichen* Shabbos Mevarchim [4], all the more so since on it Parshas HaChodesh is also read. For this parshah from the outset evokes geulah*. May Hashem grant that we know the geulah ha'amitis vehashleimah*.

In accordance with the practice instituted by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us, you will surely participate in a chassidishe farbrengen* this Shabbos. May Hashem grant you material and spiritual hatzlachah*.

You ask me about the eighty-six nitzotzos* of kedushah* [5]. The Torah Or* explains this idea briefly in Parshas Vayeshev, in the second chapter of the maamar entitled 'we were binding sheaves.'

In general, the world was created by Divine kochos*. Globally, these are divided into two hundred and eighty-eight sparks, each of which has a general scope and is divided into many fragments. These are the source of everything that exists in the world, that is, of minerals, vegetation, animals, humans, food, drink, and clothing.

All of this must receive elevation, so that the sparks be liberated from the kelipah* that conceals and veils them. Such is the mission entrusted to Yidden.

During the exile in Mitzrayim*, the children of Yisrael elevated two hundred and two sparks. It is in this connection that it is said: "A great (rav) multitude went up with them [6]." There remained, for the subsequent exiles, to bring elevation to the eighty-six remaining sparks, a number which is the gematria* of the Divine Name Elokim.

With my brachah,

Notes:

[1] Rav Y. Kats, of Chicago. See, regarding him, letter no. 2046.

[2] Containing the chassidishe maamar entitled "a voice calls in the desert," delivered in 5701-1941 by the previous Rebbe.

[3] Hilula of the Rebbe Rashab.

[4] Of Nissan.

[5] Two hundred and eighty-eight sparks of kedushah were introduced into the matter of the world, so that men should bring them elevation by using this matter for avodas Hashem. Two hundred and two sparks received their elevation in Mitzrayim. Since the liberation of the children of Yisrael from that country, eighty-six remain to be elevated.

[6] The gematria of the word 'rav' is two hundred and two.