Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4813 — Prayer

B"H

5 MarCheshvan* 5717

Brooklyn

To the distinguished chassid* who fears Hashem, Rav Raphael (Rav R. Cohen, of Yerushalayim*),

Greetings and blessings,

I am responding to your letter, which was undated.

A) We have said regarding kavvanah* — fervor — in prayer that there are two kinds: that which is maintained throughout the entire prayer, and that which is specifically required for the first verse of the Shema Yisrael* and for the first blessing of the Shemoneh Esrei*. There is a discussion as to whether the first type is truly necessary throughout the entire prayer.

This can be compared to what various texts explain regarding the necessity of acting "for the sake of His Name," which is required at the beginning of the action. Then, the continuation is considered an extension of the beginning.

You will also see what the Alter Rebbe* says in the Tanya*, at the end of chapter 41, page 58b. See also, more generally, the idea developed in the Kuntres Acharon*, page 154b.

B) You discuss what the Kesef Mishneh* says regarding the ruling of the Rambam* in his Laws of Primary Causes of Impurity, at the end of chapter 6. He holds, indeed, that one is purified upon exiting the mikveh* — not during the immersion itself. I thank you for having reproduced the explanations of the Rogatchover Gaon* on this matter, based on the Tosefta*.

This is an occasion for me to point out to you that this idea — the fact of being purified precisely upon exiting the mikveh* — is a truly novel concept, which would even be surprising were it not stated by the Kesef Mishneh*.

Indeed, one can raise questions about this from various perspectives, as the Shem MiShimon, first edition, by Rav Sh. Polak, published in Satmar in 5692 (1932), section Yoreh De'ah*, chapter 18, discusses at length.

I read with pleasure in your letter that you maintain a connection with Chabad*. This strengthens my hope that you have set aside a time to study the teachings of Chabad* or, at the very least, that you will do so in the future. Without doubt, your friends and acquaintances among the Chabad* chassidim* of the holy city of Yerushalayim* will assist you in this matter, to the extent that it is necessary.

With my blessing,

ב״ה ,ט״ז אד״ר ,תשי״ז

ברוקלין.

שלום וברכהו

. , .הגיעתני ידיעה מופלאה )שיתכן שמסבירה חלקית את הקשיים

המופלאים בהם אתה נתקל בעניני השידוכים [(],והיא ,שבחלק מהזמן

שהיית ב . . .תוך התעלמת מכך שנסעת מכאן בכוונה ידועה ,בחרת

ללמוד בישיבה הלוחמת נגד לימוד החסידות ועוד . . .בכל אופן יהי

רצון שנצא ידי חובה על כל הנ״ל בעגמת-נפש שהיתה עד עתה ,ומכאן

ולהבא ינחהו השי״ת בעגלא דידן ,בטוב הנראה והנגלה.

בברכה,

בשם כ״ק אדמו״ר שליט״א

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