Igrot Kodesh · Letter 482 — Teaching Chassidic Discourses

By the grace of Hashem,

14 Iyar 5709,

To the distinguished chassid* who fears Hashem,

Rav I.[1],

You inquire about Chassidic* discourses that can be repeated so that those present may retain them.

We have reviewed our archives and are sending you a list of accessible discourses[2]. Please focus primarily on the second, third, and fourth discourses on this list.

Thus, the discourse 'Vayassem Hakasaf'* from the collection Likkutei Torah* of the Haggados* of Pesach*[3] is well suited to beginner classes and proves particularly accessible.

The other discourses I recommend require preparation and explanation. Here is my advice for doing so.

For certain discourses, here are the general explanations you may use:

— If Creation is permanent, it is not due to matter, which is by nature transitory — but solely due to divine thought, referred to in Chassidus* as 'divine speech.' It is this divine speech that sustains Creation. If this divine speech were severed with regard to any created being, that being would immediately cease to exist.

— Everything that exists in the world has a spiritual expression. Thus, by acting on the physical and spiritual dimension of something, one acts upon its spiritual dimension.

— Every Jew is endowed with a divine portion, called Neshamah*, the breath of Hashem breathed into him. This Neshamah* constantly strives to draw close to the Source of its vitality and to merge with it. Since it is the essence and not the surface that we must reach, we must work to return to our Source.

For advanced students, it is possible to present this concept of the Neshamah* to them, and it is preferable to begin with the foundational concepts and deepen them with advanced students.

You may also consult, regarding the listed discourses, the explanations found in the journal 'HaTamim'* and those in Likkutei Biurim*.

With wishes for success,

M. Schneerson,

Director of the Executive Committee[4].

תפב

ב"ה, י"ד אייר, תש"ט
הרה"ח הוו"ח אי"א נו"מ וכו' מהור"י שי'

... בענין מאמרי דא"ח לחזור שיבינו השומעים גם בשכל אנושי - בכלל, נבחרו כבר מאמרים כאלו ונכתבו, ג"כ מטעם זה, באידיש. ונדפסו ב"ס' המאמרים אידית".

מה שלא הביאו ראי' לשינה בלילה בט"ק ממעשה דמתי מדבר, י"ל בכמה אופנים.

והפשוט והמחוור, כי בזמנם לא היו ט"ק מיוחדים, כ"א ציציות בבגדיהם שנשאו תמיד.

ופשיטא שלא רצו וגם הי' - כך אפ"ל - אסור לשכוב ערומים. וק"ל. אף דישנים היו ע"ד הרגיל ערומים, ולכן יש ראי' מדוד המלך. ועיין תוס' בב"ב [עד, א] ונדה ס"א: ופס"ד הל' ציצית. ואכ"מ.

תפב
בשוה"ג האגרת שלפנ"ז (ראה בהערה שם), והתאריך שבו שונה לי"ד אייר.

נדפסה בלקו"ש ח"ח ע' 310, והושלמה ע"פ צילום האגרת.