Igrot Kodesh · Letter 2157 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

1st day of Rosh Chodesh* Tammuz 5713,

Brooklyn, New York,

I bless and greet you[1],

I take this opportunity to remind you and to emphasize to you the importance of an account that appears in the parshah* we have just read, that of Korach*. It conveys a lesson to all Yidden* in general and to women in particular, especially the women and girls of Chabad*, of whom our Rebbeim* ask that they go beyond the line of the law, in everything that concerns the love of Hashem, the love of the Torah*, and the love of one's fellow. And they also give them the strengths necessary to attain this.

The account, and the lesson that emerges from it, are as follows:

Korach* came from one of the most illustrious Jewish families. His lineage was unimpeachable, and he himself was a great scholar of the Torah*, one of the wealthiest men in the world, particularly intelligent, a close relative of Moshe Rabbeinu* and of Aharon HaKohen*.

In contrast, On ben Peles, one of those who followed him, did not distinguish himself, it would seem, in any way — neither by his wisdom, nor by his lineage, nor by any other quality.

In what manner did their lives unfold?

The opposite of what one might have thought.

Korach* came to a tragic end, and he dragged hundreds of Yidden* into his disaster.

In contrast, On ben Peles was saved, with all his family. Of all the assembly of Korach*, he was the one and only who did not fall victim to what occurred.

For what reason did Korach* meet so bitter an end, while that of On ben Peles was positive?

The influence and conduct of the two wives were decisive.

The wife of On ben Peles concretely saved her husband and all her family, even if she did so at the last minute. She was a balabusta* worthy of the name.

The wife of Korach*, on the other hand, by her words and her attitude, took part in the schemes of her husband and of all those who followed him. Instead of acting as a balabusta*, she destroyed her home[2] and tore it apart.

Tractate Sanhedrin* 109b and the Midrashim* relate this account in detail.

All this must, at every moment, lead each one of us to deep reflection on the immense responsibility that rests upon a woman, on the fundamental role that she is called to play, for the good of her home, of her husband, of her family.

King Shlomo says (Mishlei* 14:1) that: "The wisdom of women builds their house." The woman must, indeed, be the one who builds her home. Otherwise, chas veshalom*, the end of the verse specifies what happens[3].

With my brachah* for each one of you, with my wishes of success in your mission and in your personal concerns,

Notes

[1] It seems that this letter is addressed to the N'shei uBnos Chabad* organization. See, on this subject, letter no. 1869.

[2] Akeres, mistress, is from the same etymology as okeres, she who uproots/destroys.

[3] "Their folly tears it down with their own hands."

2157*

By the grace of Hashem,

2 Tammuz 5713,

Brooklyn,

To the members of the kehillah* "Rodef Shalom, Anshei Kiev"[1],

in Toronto, may Hashem grant you long life,

Greetings and blessings,

I obtained with pleasure news of your shul*, through the Rav, distinguished chassid* who fears Hashem and devotes himself to communal needs, Rav Chaim Plotkin[2], the shochet*. I hope that in the future, your shul* and its members will know elevation, in everything that concerns Torah* and mitzvos*. In this way, one can strengthen and broaden, from time to time, the berachos* that Hashem grants to each one, to satisfy his needs.

As my father-in-law, the Rebbe, may his merit protect us, told us many times, every Jew preserves the vivid memory of his parents and of his home of old. It seems that you are originally from Kiev. I hope that you indeed remember your parents, your grandparents, the manner in which they conducted themselves there, their enthusiasm and their attachment to the practice of Torah* and mitzvos*.

Each one, at every moment, wherever he finds himself, must therefore perpetuate all this. For just as Hashem is eternal, so too are the Torah* and the mitzvos*. And so it is for the people of Yisrael*, as a whole, and for each Jew, individually.

By strengthening oneself in Torah* and mitzvos*, one binds oneself to the Holy One, blessed be He. Hence, "Yisrael, the Torah and the Holy One blessed be He are one."

With my brachah* of success for each member of the kehillah* and all those who belong to his family,

Notes

[1] "Those who pursue peace, originally from Kiev."

[2] See, regarding him, letter no. 2044.