Igrot Kodesh · Letter 8914 — Teshuvah
Volume 23 · Letter 239 · 10 Kislev 5725 · To: distingué ‘Hassid qui craint D.ieu et se consacre
10 Kislev* 5725,
Brooklyn,
To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself
to communal needs, Rav* Yosef (note 1: Rav Y. Hillel of Lod*.),
I greet you and bless you,
An explanation is cited, in the name of the Gaon* of Rogatchov* (note 2: See, regarding this, Likkutei Sichos*, vol. 17, p. 186, in notes 45 and 46.), establishing, based on Tractate* Kiddushin* 49b, that those who attain Teshuvah* surpass the perfectly righteous. I have also had knowledge of this, but it seems to me that what is said in this regard is not accurate (note 3: That the Gaon* of Rogatchov* could not have said this.). It is said, indeed, that: "one who marries a woman on the condition that he is a Levi* when he is in reality a Kohen* has not contracted a valid union." And, one must explain it, based on what Tractate* Kiddushin* says, by the fact that a person who has attained Teshuvah* is also called righteous, in common parlance. And it is the same according to the terminology of the Sages*, in the figurative sense, inasmuch as he will be vindicated in the judgment, as the first chapter of the Tanya* explains.
ח'תתקיד
ב"ה, יו"ד כסלו תשכ"ה
ברוקלין.
הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ עוסק בצ"צ מו"ה יוסף שי'
שלום וברכה!
... להשמועה בשם הרגוצבי: ראי' דבע"ת גדולים מצד"ג מקדושין (מט, ב) - גם אני שמעתי', אבל נ"ל דאינה אמתית, שהרי המקדש ע"מ שאני לוי ונמצא כהן ג"כ אינה מקודשת. [והטעם בקידושין עכצ"ל מפני שבלשון בנ"א גם בע"ת נקרא צדיק. וגם בל' חז"ל בל' המושאל שהרי זכה בדין -תניא פ"א].
ח'תתקיד
מו"ה יוסף: הלל, לוד.
להשמועה... ראי': ראה גם לקו"ש חי"ז ע' 186 הערה 46 - 45.