Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9269

[Tevet* 5727]

You will request[1] from my secretariat a copy of the text that was sent to the soldiers of the Holy Land* — may it be restored and rebuilt — the main points of which are as follows. In accordance with a saying of the Baal Shem Tov*[2], everything[3] that one sees…[4] is a lesson on how to put into practice the mission entrusted to man. How much more is this the case for something permanent, or at the very least, that extends over a long period.

The very idea of an army[5] — its foundation and the condition of its existence[3] — is obedience*[3]. Even if an instruction is logical, it is forbidden[3] to wait until one has fully understood it. Moreover, this could endanger the entire[3] army and the war. The essential thing is therefore concrete action. This applies equally to a soldier who is deeply versed in the stratagems of war. It is indispensable[3] that he also put into practice: "we will do and [then] we will understand"[6].

This is also true when the officer is infirm, Heaven forbid, when he has multiple flaws — as long as he has received "ordination," as long as he has been appointed officer by the supreme commander. And, as I was saying, on this depends the fate of the entire[3] country. Now, if this is so for an officer of flesh and blood, how much more is it so for the Supreme King, the Holy One, blessed be He.

Notes

[1] This letter is addressed to Rav Moshe Feller. See Likkutei Sichot*, vol. 14, p. 295.
[2] See, on this subject, letter no. 9159.
[3] The Rebbe underlines the words: "everything," "its foundation and the condition of its existence," "obedience," "forbidden," "entire," "indispensable," and "entire."
[4] Or hears.
[5] See, on this subject, letters nos. 4991, 5235, 6822, and 7042.
[6] See tractate Shabbat* 88a.

ט'רסט

[טבת, תשכ"ז]

יבקש בהמז' העתק הנוסח לאנשי צבא באה"ק ת"ו. הנקודות:

פתגם הבעש"ט שכל ענין שרואים כו' - הוראה במילוי תפקיד האדם, עאכו"כ ענין תמידי (הנמשך כו"כ זמן).

נקודת הצבא ויסוד קיומו - קב"ע . אפילו בפקודה שכלית - אסור לחכות במילואה עד שיתבונן ויבינה בשכלו (ועי"ז יכול לסכן כל הצבא ו המלחמה ) - כ"א העיקר ה"נעשה". כך הוא גם בנוגע לחייל שהוא חכם גדול בתכסיסי מלחמה - מוכרח נעשה קודם לנשמע.

כ"ז הוא אפילו אם המפקד הוא בעל מום ר"ל ומלא חסרונות וכו' ובלבד שיש לו "סמיכה" (שהועמד כמפקד) ע"י הגענעראל ראשי.

וכנ"ל בקיום כ"ז תלוי גורל כל המדינה.

ואם במפקד בו"ד (בשר ודם) כך עאכו"כ בממה"מ הקב"ה.

ט'רסט
נדפסה בלקו"ש חי"ד ס"ע 295 (בתאריך תשכ"ט - בערך), והושלמה עפ"י העתקה, והיא אל מו"ה משה שי' פעלער.

פתגם הבעש"ט : ראה גם לעיל אגרת ט'קנט, ובהנסמן בהערות שם.

נקודת הצבא : ראה גם לעיל חי"ד אגרות ד'תתקצא. ה'רלה. חי"ח ו'תתכב. חי"ט ז'מב.

נעשה קודם לנשמע : ראה שבת פח, א.