Igrot Kodesh · Letter 4485 — Tzedakah

B"H

28 Sivan 5716

Brooklyn

To the distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, devoted

to communal needs and faithfully carrying out

his mission, Rav Yaakov (see note 1) HaKohen*,

Greetings and blessings,

I learned with pleasure that you will endeavor to participate in the preparation of the Chassidic* farbrengen* that will take place on Shabbos* Rosh Chodesh* Tammuz*, Parshas Korach*, which approaches, at the Anshei Lubavitch* synagogue. You will attend and no doubt will convey my greetings to all the participants.

Words of Torah* will surely be spoken there, words of encouragement to practice the Torah* and its mitzvos*. With the help of Hashem, you will achieve tremendous success, in accordance with the following well-known saying (see note 2) that we heard from my father-in-law, the Rebbe*, whose merit protects us, in the name of the Alter Rebbe*: "What a Chassidic* farbrengen* can accomplish, the angel Michael cannot accomplish."

And may this take the form, in particular, of the greatest possible number of actions carried out to strengthen and develop the Anshei Lubavitch* synagogue, in everything that may concern it.

To mention a point that is timely (see note 3), I will recall that the Sidra* we will read this Shabbos* is devoted to the Kohanim* (see note 4) — at its beginning and also at its conclusion.

More broadly, all Jews are called Kohanim*.

They received this title in order to prepare for the Giving of the Torah*, as it is said: "You shall be for Me a kingdom of Kohanim* and a holy nation."

How does one bring this about? The Rambam* explains, at the end of the Laws of Shemittah* and Yovel*, in these terms: "One whose spirit moves him, who understands that he must set himself apart in order to stand before Hashem, to serve Him and to know Him, will be sanctified as Holy of Holies. He will merit, in this world, that which will be good for him, as was the case for the Kohanim* and the Levi'im*."

In other words, when Jews become aware of the purpose of the creation of man, which is, in the formulation of the Mishnah*: "I was created to serve my Creator," they serve Hashem through everything they do, as it is said: "In all your ways, acknowledge Him." Thereby, they are Kohanim*.

There is a principle applying to the gifts given to the Kohanim*, as stated in the conclusion of our Sidra*. These must be "from the best." And this rule is immutable, as it is said: "The offering to Hashem shall be from all the fat thereof." The Ibn Ezra* specifies: "The most important part," which is "an eternal covenant of salt."

The promise of Hashem is definitive. When Jews adopt the conduct just described, Hashem grants them "all of His fat," in every place, at every time — that is, "an eternal covenant of salt."

The natural place for the service of Hashem by Jews is essentially the Beis HaMikdash*. And the same is true in our era for synagogues and houses of study, which are also "a small sanctuary." From them emanates the holiness and clarity of each individual's home, enabling the sanctification and illumination of mundane concerns.

May Hashem grant success so that this approach may indeed serve as an immediate preparation for hastening the restoration of the service of Hashem in the Third Beis HaMikdash*, which will be eternal. Then the promise will be fulfilled: "You shall restore the service to the courtyard of Your House."

With my blessing for a good Shabbos* and a joyous month to all who will participate in this farbrengen*, and above all, to the Rav, distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem, of manifold accomplishments and generous conduct, Rav Shlomo Zalman (see note 5), shlita*,

Notes

(1) Rav Y. Katz, of Chicago. See, regarding him, letters no. 2046 and 4674.

(2) See, on this subject, letter no. 4433.

(3) From this paragraph onward, an identical letter was addressed to Rav David Meir Shulman, of Brooklyn. See, regarding him, letter no. 4342.

(4) The addressee of this letter is a Kohen*.

(5) Rav Sh. Z. Hecht, of Chicago. See, regarding him, letter no. 4322.