Igrot Kodesh · Letter 1961 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

27 Kislev 5713,

Brooklyn,

To the chassidim* participating in the meal organized for the day

of liberation[1], of our liberation and of the redemption of

our soul, the 19th of Kislev, in the Beis Midrash* of Nusach Ari*, on Fine Avenue, Montreal, upon whom Hashem will

bestow long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I was pleased to learn that you organized a chassidic farbrengen* for the luminous day of 19 Kislev[2].

Our Sages affirm that the Shechinah* is revealed every time ten Jews gather. The Alter Rebbe explains, on this subject, in chapter 23 of Iggeres HaKodesh*, that the simple fact that they gather suffices to provoke this revelation. All the more so is it the case when the purpose of this gathering is to commemorate the liberation of a leader of the Jewish people, the Alter Rebbe, author of the Tanya* and the Shulchan Aruch*, who gave of his own person for the love of his fellow, the love of Torah*, and the love of Hashem.

One may, on this occasion, take good resolutions in all the domains just mentioned. In such a case, the divine revelation is even stronger and even more intense.

In such a situation, the good resolutions one adopts can be particularly fruitful. They will be put concretely into practice throughout the year. Furthermore, when the time comes, they will be reinforced.

This idea is also introduced, in an allusive manner, by the lights of Chanukah*. They stress the necessity of the addition, from one day to the next, within the realm of holiness, particularly in the darkness of galus*.

The lights of Chanukah* are distinguished, in this sense, from those of the Beis HaMikdash*, whose number was always identical, whereas they themselves have an increasing number. One can justify that it is so by the fact that the lights of Chanukah* are kindled after sunset, whereas those of the Beis HaMikdash* were kindled well before this sunset.

There follows from this, for us, a teaching. When one evolves in an environment that is not luminous, one cannot be content with the good actions that have been carried out today. They cannot be identical to what they were yesterday and to what they will be tomorrow. Each day must bring an addition with respect to the previous one, for one must know how to ascend in the realm of holiness — maalin bakodesh*.

Thanks to the suitable energy and to an appropriate effort in this direction, one can attain such an objective and know success.

With my blessing for all that is good materially and spiritually, addressed to each of the participants, as well as to the members of their family and to their children,

Notes

[1] Of the Alter Rebbe, from the Tsarist prisons.

[2] See, on this subject, letter no. 1957.