Igrot Kodesh · Letter 7327 — Chinuch

By the grace of Hashem,

Days of Limitation* 5720,

Bicentennial of the Hilloula*

of the Baal Shem Tov*,

of holy memory,

Brooklyn, New York,

To the House of Yaakov — the women (note 1: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Mechilta* on the verse Shemos* 19:3"),

To the children of Israel — the men,

May Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you and bless you,

The Days of Limitation*, of preparation for the giving of the Torah*, impose a specific reflection, intimate and profound, about what this Torah* is. For our holy Torah* is not merely a collection of laws applying to various situations. It concerns, in fact, the existence of man in its entirety (note 2: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Tractate Avos*, chapter 6, Mishnah* 7. See the Chassidic* discourse of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, on the verse: 'And you shall speak of them,' reported in Hayom Yom*, on the date of 13 Menachem Av*"), from his first moment to his last, and extends to all situations of life, on a daily basis. Such is the profound meaning of this Torah*, which is defined as a Torah* of life. Moreover, as our Sages*, of holy memory, explain, the Torah* governs all of creation. They clarify this idea (note 3: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Beginning of Midrash* Bereishis* Rabbah. Zohar*, Volume 1, page 5a") by means of an image — that of an architect who, before building a house, first makes a plan presenting all the aspects of his project. Similarly, Hashem specified in the Torah* every detail of creation, down to the lowest level of the mineral, of inert matter.

This leads us to one of the fundamental principles of general Chassidus*, introduced by the Baal Shem Tov*, which is based on the interpretation of the verse: "Forever, Hashem, Your Word stands in the heavens" — for example, that which says: "Let there be a firmament in the heavens." The Alter Rebbe*, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, explains all of this precisely in Chabad* Chassidus* and, in particular, in the Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah* (note 4: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "At its beginning. See also Midrash* Tehillim* on verse 119:36, the Likkutei Torah*, at the beginning of Parshas* Acharei*"). He emphasizes that everything in heaven above and on earth below, down to the smallest detail, exists only through the Word of Hashem, Who created it, Who continues to create it permanently, without cease, at every moment.

A second fundamental principle follows from this — that of Divine Providence (note 5: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See Tractate Chullin* 63a and the explanation of the Alter Rebbe*, in the Reshimos* of the Tzemach Tzedek* on the verse Tehillim* 36:7, as well as in Hayom Yom*, on the date of 28 Cheshvan*"), of celestial knowledge, direct and precise, of everything that happens, down to the smallest detail of creation and of man, the chosen one among all beings, including the lowest mineral. From this follows another conclusion, which is also a great rule of Chassidus*, particularly emphasized by the Baal Shem Tov*, although it is also a law of the Shulchan Aruch* (note 6: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Orach Chaim*, chapter 231. See the Eight Chapters of the Rambam*, chapter 5"). One must serve Hashem in every act and through every act — first through the study of the Torah* and the practice of the six hundred and thirteen Mitzvos*, but also in the most ordinary event, the most common situation of daily existence.

Thus, from what happens around oneself (note 7: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "According to a saying of the Baal Shem Tov*, reported in Hayom Yom*, on the date of 9 Iyar*"), one must learn the love and the fear of Hashem — inexhaustible sources from which (note 8: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Tanya*, chapter 4") a Jew draws the state of mind that is fitting to put into practice the Torah* and the Mitzvos*, the Injunctions and the Prohibitions, pervaded by a true vitality, accomplished in the best manner (note 9: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Kuntres HaAvodah*, chapter 2").

By meditating on all that has just been said, by doing so with enthusiasm, ardor, and luminosity, in these propitious days, on the eve of the date of the giving of the Torah*, which is also that of the Hilloula* of the Baal Shem Tov*, one will apply it to every point of daily existence — in one's own life, for one's surroundings, and even for the entire world, in accordance with the expression: "Your wellsprings will spread outward." The wellsprings of Chassidus*, those of the inner dimension of the Torah*, will thus be disseminated and they will reach the outside, down to the most profound and most distant detail or event of all creation.

This will hasten the true and complete redemption through our righteous Moshiach*, when all of creation (note 10: The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the liturgy of Rosh Hashanah*: 'And let every created being know.' See Midrash* Tehillim* 73 and the Shaar HaYichud VeHaEmunah*, at the beginning of chapter 3") will see and feel that: "I am Hashem your Elokim*." Wishing you to receive the Torah* with joy and in a profound manner, as well as a joyous festival,

Menachem Schneerson,