Igrot Kodesh · Letter 3535 — Tzedakah

B"H

Erev* the time of the giving of our Torah* 5715

Brooklyn, New York

Greetings and blessings (this letter is addressed to Rav Dovid Ovadyah*, of Sefrou*, Morocco; see letter no. 2005),

I have duly received your letter and, in accordance with your request, when I was near the tomb of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, leader of Israel, I mentioned the names of these people, so that they may lead their children to Torah*, to the chuppah*, and to good deeds, with joy and enthusiasm.

The teaching of the Baal Shem Tov*, which was transmitted by our masters, emphasizes the necessity of putting into practice the words of the verse: "Serve Hashem with joy." And indeed, the Halachah* is also decided in this sense in the revealed dimension of Torah*, which is its body. For the great master — the Rambam* — in his Hilchos De'os*, cited by the Tur* and the Beis Yosef* in Orach Chaim*, chapter 231, emphasizes that man must serve Hashem "in all his ways" — that is, when he eats, when he drinks, and in all the other actions also cited by the Rambam*. From this one can conclude that at every moment, one must serve Hashem through each action, which thereby receives its full importance. Moreover, one must do so with joy and enthusiasm, as the Rambam* states at the end of the laws of Lulav*.

In these auspicious days when one prepares for the time of the giving of our Torah*, the revealed dimension and the hidden teaching which, in our era, is unveiled and expounded through Chassidus*, may Hashem grant that each of us receive the Torah*, revealed dimension and hidden teaching, with joy and in a profound manner, in the words of my father-in-law, the Rebbe*.

With my respects and my blessing,

As you requested, I have also mentioned your own name, at an auspicious moment, near the holy tomb, although you did not specify in your letter the name of your mother, in accordance with the explanation of the holy Zohar*, vol. 1, p. 84a — according to which the mother's name must be mentioned in a blessing.

You wished to bring to your country a competent sofer*. Thank Hashem, your efforts have been crowned with success and this project is advancing. For the practical arrangements — where he should settle, his work — you will consult the great Rav*, the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, Rav Binyamin Eliyahu Gorodetzki* (see letter no. 3443), if possible in writing, or when he visits your country shortly. May Hashem grant that the Name of Hashem be praised through you and through me.

Following your request, the series of ten volumes of the Sdei Chemed* has been sent to you. May Hashem grant each of us the merit of succeeding in the teaching of Halachah* concretely applicable, particularly that which is necessary on a daily basis. And it has already been said that the preparation, the foundation of all this, is a pure fear of Hashem transcending the rationality of the intellectual soul and the principles of the world.

Our Sages* teach in tractate Sanhedrin* 92b that the Halachah* consistently follows the opinion of King Dovid*, because "Hashem is with him" in all His Essence — "He is, He was, and He will be" — completely transcending nature, surpassing the Divine Name Elokim*, which corresponds to His natural manifestation.

And our Sages* note that the numerical value of the Name Elokim* is the same as that of HaTeva — nature. The Pardes*, gate 12, chapter 2, and the Shnei Luchos HaBris*, gate of letters, chapter 1, page 1, appear to indicate that this explanation is found in the version of the Zohar* of which he had possession.

With my respects and my blessing for a joyous festival, to receive the Torah* with joy and in a profound manner,

ג'תקלה

ב"ה, ערב זמן מתן תורתנו, ה'תשט"ו
ברוקלין, נ.י.

שלום וברכה!

במענה על אגרתו מי"ט אייר, שנתקבלה באיחור זמן קצת.

הנה בהנוגע לההשתדלות להביא למדינתם סופר מובהק, תהלה לא-ל ההשתדלות עושה פרי ומתקדמת, ובענין הפרטים ע"ד מקום התישבותו ועבודתו וכו', הרי יבוא עמו בדברים הרה"ג והרה"ח וו" אי"א נו"מ עוסק בצ"צ וכו' וכו' מוהר"ר בנימין אלי' שי' גורודצקי, אם כתב אם אפשרי, אם פנים בפנים כשיבקר במדינתו בזמן הקרוב. ויה"ר אשר מיני' ומינאי יתקלס ם עילאה.

למלאות בקשתו, הנה נשלח לכהדר"ג שורת הספרים שדי חמד, עשרה כרכים, וחפץ הוי' ביד כל אחד ואחת מאתנו יצליח להורות הלכה למעשה, וביחוד בהלכות הצריכות בחיים היום-יומיים, וכבר נאמר אשר הכנה ויסוד לזה היא יראת שים טהורה למעלה מטעם ודעת דנפש השכלית והנהגת העולם וכמרז"ל (סנה' צג, ב) על דוד המלך שהלכה כמותו בכל מקום משום שהוי ' עמו - שם העצם, הי' הוה ויהי' כאחד, למעלה מהטבע לגמרי, ולמעלה משם אלקים כמו שהוא מתלבש בטבע, שלכן אמרו רז"ל שאלקים בגימ' הטבע (פרדס שער י"ב פ"ב ובשל"ה שער האותיות פ"ט ע"א משמע קצת שכן הוא בזוהר שהי' לפניו).

בכבוד ובברכת מועדים לשמחה ולקבלת התורה בשמחה ובפנימיות.

ג'תקלה
האגרת היא אל מוה"ר דוד עובדי', ספרו מרוקו. אגרות נוספות אליו - לעיל ח"ז ב"ה, ובהנסמן בהערות שם.