Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9612

By the grace of Hashem,

17[1] Kislev* 5729,
Brooklyn, New York,

To each of those who sent their greetings[2], according to the list established by the central directorate of the youth of the Chabad* association in Brooklyn, New York, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet and bless you,

I have duly received your letter of the 14th of Kislev*, with what was enclosed[3]. I thank you for your greetings, offered on the occasion of the fortieth anniversary. According to the words of our Sages[4]: "the word that is addressed to you has already been spoken, which means that your blessing was already inscribed when the Holy One blessed be He said: 'I will bless those who bless you'[5]."

May Hashem cause this blessing to increase[6], may the addition granted by the Holy One blessed be He be even greater than the principal[7]. The fact that many of those who sent me greetings reinforced and confirmed them through Torah* and Mitzvot* observance, a donation to Tzedakah*, a specific Torah* study, was particularly pleasing to me and caused me great joy.

There are, in this, three qualities, which one can enumerate in ascending order. The fulfillment of a practical Mitzvah* adds, in this world and in the World to Come, not only for the person who fulfills it, but also for the entire world[8]. Yet, this is more clearly true for the person who is the origin of all this, even if he is not aware of it[9]. This is especially true when the action is to his merit and for him[10].

I will therefore formulate the following proposal and request. Each of those who belong to the community that offered greetings will commit to both simultaneously — to study and to action — each possessing a quality the other does not[11]. Moreover, the act of Tzedakah* brings elevation "to the fulfillment of all the Mitzvot* and, above all, to Torah* study"[12], which is the life of the children of Israel, just as fish need water[13]. It is therefore quite clear that an addition to that which is the vitality of man enlivens[14] all his actions.

Moreover, these days form the transition between the liberation of the Admor HaEmtzai* on the 10th of Kislev* and that of the Admor HaZaken* on the 19th of Kislev*. The liberation of the one and that of the other were linked to the reading and the content of the verse[15]: "He redeemed my soul in peace, in the battle waged for me, for they were many with me"[16]. On this our Sages explain[17] and comment: "The Holy One blessed be He declares: Whoever dedicates himself to Torah*, to good deeds, prays with the community, I consider it as if he had redeemed Me, as well as My children, from among the nations of the world." With my blessing on the occasion of the Festival of Liberation,

M. Schneerson

* * *

One should not give too much attention[18] to the punctuation in the Passover Haggadah* with a collection of commentaries that was printed[19].

It is obvious that an additional explanation[20] of the halachic* decisions of the Admor HaZaken* that diverge from those of the Mishnah Berurah* would be advisable. Of course, it will be necessary to emphasize that this is only one possible interpretation. Indeed, his thoughts are particularly profound[21]. And they correspond to the Holy of Holies, as the Tzemach Tzedek*[22] emphasizes in his responsa[6], which means that this is also so according to the revealed part of the Torah*[6].

As for the distribution of your time, you will seek the advice of the elderly Chassidim* present there.

* * *

I have duly received your letter of the 27th of Marcheshvan*[23]. Of course, with regard to the network[24], its leadership must seek counsel on site[25] and not on another continent[26], especially since the description of the situation from one [party] contradicts[6] that of the other.

I thank you for your greetings and I address you my blessing on the occasion of the Festival of Liberation, as well as for great success in your sacred mission within the Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak* network. Your names will be mentioned near the tomb of the one whose name it bears[27].

P.S. I have just received your follow-up letter to the one in question above.

* * *

I have duly received your letter[28] and your telegram of the 14th of Kislev*. I thank you for your greetings and I address you my blessing of Mazal Tov*, on the occasion of your grandson's Bar Mitzvah*, as well as my blessing on the occasion of the Festival of Liberation,

P.S. Regarding the precautions to be taken for the funds of the Kuppat Rabbi Meir Baal HaNess*, the letters of our masters and leaders on this subject are known[29]. Your request for a blessing will be read, without making it a vow, near the tomb[30].

Notes

[1] The Rebbe writes Tov, good, a word whose numerical value is seventeen.
[2] On the occasion of the Rebbe and Rebbetzin's fortieth wedding anniversary, 14 Kislev 5689–5729.
[3] This letter was addressed to several people. See the Likkutei Sichot*, vol. 5, p. 429, as well as the talk of the 14th of Kislev 5729, in the Likkutei Sichot*, from p. 422.
[4] The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "Yerushalmi*, cited by the Tosafot* in tractate Chullin* 49a. See the Chassidic discourse entitled: 'Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi teaches: every Kohen* who blesses', from 5629 (at the beginning of Sefer HaMaamarim* 5629), which analyzes the modification found in the Yerushalmi*, in tractate Berachot*, at the end of chapter 8."
[5] Lech Lecha 12:3.
[6] The Rebbe underlines the words: "increased," "responsa," "the revealed part of the Torah," and "contradicts."
[7] The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "According to the Midrash Bereishit Rabbah*, chapter 61, paragraph 4."
[8] Tractate Kiddushin* 40b.
[9] Tractate Kiddushin* 40b.
[10] Tractate Kiddushin* 40b.
[11] Study has a quality that action does not, and vice versa.
[12] According to the Admor HaZaken*, cited by the Rebbe's father-in-law.
[13] Tractate Berachot* 61b.
[14] The Rebbe notes at the bottom of the page: "See the Tanya*, chapter 5, at the end."
[15] Psalms 55:19.
[16] Psalms 55:19.
[17] Tractate Berachot* 8a.
[18] Regarding the punctuation.
[19] A Haggadah published in the Holy Land.
[20] Of the Admor HaZaken's* rulings that differ from the Mishnah Berurah*.
[21] His halachic* rulings.
[22] In his responsa, vol. 3.
[23] The Rebbe underlines the word "contradicts."
[24] The Ohalei Yosef Yitzchak* school network.
[25] In Israel.
[26] In America.
[27] Near the tomb of Rabbi Yosef Yitzchak Schneersohn.
[28] From another correspondent.
[29] Known letters of the Rebbes of Chabad on the precautions for such funds.
[30] The tomb of the previous Rebbe.

ט'תריב

ב"ה , טו"ב כסלו, ה'תשכ"ט

ברוקלין, נ.י.

לכאו"א מהמברכים – כפי רשימת הנהלת

צעירי אגודת חב"ד המרכזית שי' – ברוקלין, נ.י.

ה' עליהם יחיו.

שלום וברכה!

מאשר הנני קבלת המכתב מיום י"ד כסלו והמצו"ב.

ות"ח על הברכות – בקשר לתקופת הארבעים שנה.

ובלשון חז"ל: מלתך כבר אמורה, פירוש כו' שברכתך כתובה, מואברכה (הקב"ה) מברכיך.

ויה"ר שתהא באופן של תוספת , שתוספתו של הקב"ה מרובה על העיקר.

נעמה ביותר והביאה שמחה רבה הידיעה אשר רבים מהמברכים צרפו להברכה וחזקו ואישרו אותה ע"י ענין של תומ"צ – תרומה לצדקה, לימוד ענין בתורה וכו'.

ושלש מעלות בזה, זו למעלה מזו: עשיית מצוה – מוסיפה (בזה ובבא) לא רק באדם העושה, כ"א בכל העולם כולו. יתרה מזה – באדם הגורם לעשייתה (ואפילו בלא הודע). והעולה על כולנה – באם העשי' לזכותו ובעדו.

ובאתי בהצעתי-בקשתי אשר כל אחד מציבור המברכים יעשה שניהם, תלמוד ומעשה, גם יחד – שהרי יש בזה מה שאין בזה. ולא עוד אלא שמעשה הצדקה מוסיף עילוי "בכל מעשה המצות ות"ת כנגד כולן", ות"ת שהיא חיי בנ"י ובדוגמת דגים במים – מובן שע"י הוספה בה, בחיות האדם – נתוסף חיות עי"ז בכל מעשיו.

ובפרט שהימים – בין ימי הגאולה של אדמו"ר האמצעי – יו"ד כסלו – ושל אדמו"ר הזקן – י"ט כסלו – שגאולת שניהם הייתה (ושייכת) לקריאת (ותוכן) הכתוב : פדה בשלום נפשי מקרב לי כי ברבים היו עמדי, וביארו חז"ל פירושו: אמר הקב"ה כל העוסק בתורה ובגמ"ח ומתפלל עם הציבור מעלה אני עליו כאילו פדאני לי ולבני מבין או"ה.

בברכת חג הגאולה,

מ. שניאורסאהן

***

אין לדייק כ"כ בהפיסוק שבהגש"פ עם הלקו"ט הנדפסת.

בירור נוסף בפסקי אדה"ז (ודלא כהמשנה ברורה) – מובן שנכון הוא [ופשוט – בהדגשה "שאפ"ל כן", כי מאד עמקו מחשבותיו וכקדה"ק כו' – כדברי הצ"צ בשו"ת שלו (היינו שכן הוא גם ע"פ נגלה )].

איך יחלק זמנו כו' – בהתייעצות עם זקני החסידים על אתר.

***

מאשר הנני קבלת המכתב מיום כ"ז מ"ח, ומובן שבעניני הרשת צ"ל התייעצות על אתר (הנהלת הרשת) ולא מעבר לים ובפרט כשתיאור המצב שנתקבל מא' – סותר זה דהשני.

ות"ח על הברכות . . .

בברכת חג הגאולה ולהצלחה רבה בעבוה"ק ברשת אהלי"י, שעל הציון של בעל השם יזכירם.

נ.ב. ז"ע נתקבל מכתבו שלאחרי הנ"ל.

***

מאשר הנני קבלת המכתב והמברק מי"ד כסלו.

ות"ח על הברכות . . .

בברכת מז"ט לבר מצוה דנכדו שי' ובברכת חג הגאולה.

נ.ב. הזהירות במעות רמבעה"ן – הרי ידועים מכ' רבותינו נשיאינו בזה.

הפ"נ יקראו, בל"נ, עה"צ.