Igrot Kodesh · Letter 6003 — Teshuvah

By the grace of Hashem*,

22 Teves* 5718,

Brooklyn,

Shalom* u'vracha*,

I am responding to your letter of 14 Teves*. Of course, I was very surprised by its content, and above all by its conclusion, since it seems that you wish to fast for forty days. Such an approach runs counter to the teaching of the Iggeres HaTeshuvah* by the Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* — the halachic* authority of the hidden dimension of the Torah* — and author of the Shulchan Aruch* — the halachic* authority of the revealed dimension of the Torah*. I therefore hasten to write to you and send you the present letter by express. May Hashem* grant that it have its effect.

Even if you have made a commitment to do so, such that it is necessary to obtain a release before three persons (note 1: Constituting, for this purpose, a rabbinical court to annul the vow), you will do so and tell them that you had no knowledge of what the Iggeres HaTeshuvah* states, in chapter 3, page 92b — and that this also runs counter to the well-known teaching of the Baal Shem Tov* regarding the verse: "If you see the donkey of your enemy bending under its burden... you shall surely help him" — as reported in the Hayom Yom*, at the date of 28 Shevat*, page 23.

You have two means of replacing these forty fasts:

A) By giving tzedakah*, until Purim* or Pesach*, in an amount of twenty-seven dollars (note 2: That is, two-thirds of a dollar per fast. See, on this subject, Letter no. 3034).

B) By committing yourself, in place of this, to half-fasts over several years — for example, over nine years (note 3: See the Iggeres HaTeshuvah at this reference, which states: "in nine years or more").

Likewise, you mention your withdrawal from your wife. This is entirely contrary to my opinion. You must observe the laws of our holy Torah*, the principles and rules of family purity, but not separate — all the more so since this has the effect of inflicting pain upon another person, an element that must necessarily be taken into account according to the Shulchan Aruch*.

You ask me what must be done for repair. You should know by heart several chapters of Mishnah* and at least one chapter of Tanya*. These may be short chapters. Each weekday, before the prayer, you will give tzedakah*. You will also adopt the studies of the Chumash*, the Tehillim*, and the Tanya*, each day as well. Of course, you will commit to all of this without making a vow.

I await, as quickly as possible, your good news regarding all that has been said.

With my blessing,