Igrot Kodesh · Letter 585 — Torah Study as Reward in Both Worlds After the Histalkus

By the grace of Hashem,

Echad (13) Nissan 5710,

To the great Rav, distinguished Chassid* who fears Hashem,

the Rav I. Halevi,[1]

I greet you and bless you.

You will find enclosed the booklet edited for the occasion of the festival of Pesach*. It contains maamarim* of my father-in-law, the Rebbe, a sicha* and a letter, as I explain in my foreword. You will surely make it available to your students, in order to illuminate them with the clarity of the Torah and the luminary it contains.

The author of these words resides in both worlds at once, materially and spiritually, according to Tractate Yevamot 96b.[2] It is said in Tractate Sanhedrin 90a[3] that Hashem acts "measure for measure." In the same way, the reward of those who strive to study the texts of which he is the author is revealed both in this world and in the world to come, materially and spiritually.

The importance of this reward can be deduced from the immense satisfaction one provides him by acting in this way. For, in a certain sense, he desires that one repeat his teaching, as Tractate Yevamot reports at the same reference, regarding David, King of Israel, who formulated the same request.

I conclude by wishing you a kosher Pesach festival and all the best,

Rav Menachem Schneerson

You have surely received the booklet of 2 Nissan. One who offers a present to his friend must let him know, and when I was at the tomb on 13 Nissan, I mentioned your name so that you should have a kosher and joyous Pesach festival.

The matter of "I shall dwell in Your tent for eternity"[4] — through the fact that one recalls his teaching by mentioning his name, which can of course be done by all, has the consequence that he must necessarily be cited by name.

* * *

In your previous letters, you specify the difference between Moshe* and Yehoshua, according to the Zohar* vol. 3, page 148a,[5] underlining that the verse says concerning Moshe "your shoes"[6] in the plural, which is not the case for Yehoshua.[7]

You have indeed found the correct explanation, and that is exactly what is said in the Zohar Chadash on Parshas Tetze, in the Midrash HaNe'elam.

* * *

A) I wrote to you[8] what is, in my humble opinion, the reason that the Rebbe Rashab[9] requested that the water of the lower basin cover the ground of the upper basin before drawing the running water.

The reason is quite simple. It is in this way that the running water can flow appropriately, which is not the case when it is poured first and rendered permitted, in a second case, by being brought into contact[10] with the rainwater of the other basin. This is quite obvious.

B) I asked why the Rebbe Rashab does not adopt the more stringent opinion of the Darkei Teshuvah — not in order to accumulate the most stringent opinions, to use the expression in your letter, but according to the established principle that for a Mikveh*, one strives to adopt a position aligning with the largest number of opinions.

— — —

585*

By the grace of Hashem,

Third day of Chol HaMoed* Pesach 5710,

To the great Rav, distinguished Chassid who fears Hashem,

the Rav B. G.[11],

I greet you and bless you.

I have received your letter of 9-10 Nissan and I thank you for it. Be reassured, as you yourself reassured me by announcing that you are keeping your function in your place, in this period in which the achievements and institutions need to be protected, strengthened and developed, both outwardly and inwardly.

Concerning Rav M. Lipsker, you are surely showing diligence, and I would be grateful if you would let me know the good results already obtained.

Concerning the rabbinate of the Montevideo Street synagogue, in my humble opinion everything must be done so that this post is granted, as far as possible, to Rav Tsoller. He told me he met Rav Langer here, who was previously the rabbi of this synagogue, and spoke with him about this position, promising to help him obtain it and to recommend his candidacy — on condition that the synagogue contact him first and that it not be his own initiative.

Rav Tsoller also told me that, at the request of this community, he sent a curriculum vitae documenting his studies. You no doubt remember Rav Tsoller, and there is every reason to believe that if he becomes the rabbi of this synagogue, it will have positive consequences not only for it, but also in a wider radius.

We received yesterday from the Joint a sum of seven, without explanation, and please tell me whether this concerns the month of April.

You have no doubt transmitted, on my account, fifty to the settlements committee. Please add to it twenty for the account of the Merkaz LeInyanei Chinuch*, fifty for Rav N. Nemanov for the Yeshiva*, and twenty-five for Rav Ch. Z. Duchman to distribute to those connected with Beis Rivka. I heard that Rav Ch. Z. Horovits met him, but they can also be transmitted in another way.

The receipts will be issued for individuals, in the name of the synagogue Chevrei Sha'arei Torah Bnei Avraham.

Due to the holiness of the festival, this letter will not be signed.

You have surely received in its time the booklet edited for the occasion of the festival of Pesach and you have given it the diffusion it deserves.

With my blessing for a kosher and joyous Pesach festival,

Rav Menachem Schneerson

תקפה*

ב"ה, ג' דחוה"מ פסח, ה'תש"י
הרה"ח הרה"ג הוו"ח אי"א נו"מ וכו' וכו'

מוהרב"ג שי'

שלום וברכה!

בתודה אאשר קבלת מכתביו מט' יוד ניסן, ותנוח דעתו כאשר הניח את דעתי, במה שנשאר עתה על משמרתו ומקומו, בזמנים אלו שכל הענינים והמוסדות צריכים שמירה מעולה וחיזוק ביותר ותוספות התפשטות הן כלפי חוץ והן כלפי פנים.

בדבר הר"מ שי' ליפסקר בטח עושים בזה בזריזות ות"ח אם יודיעני מהתוצאות הטובות. בדבר הרבנות של בהכנ"ס מאנטאווידעא, לפע"ד צריכים להשתדל ביותר אם רק יש אפשרות, שיתקבל הרה"ח וכו' צאלער, הוא סיפר לי כי התראה פה עם הרב לאנדזשער מי שהי' רב בבהכנ"ס הנ"ל מלפנים והוא הי' הראשון אשר סיפר לו עד"ז וגם הבטיחו לסייע בידו ולהמליץ בעדו - אבל רק אם יפנו אליו מבית הכנסת ולא שהוא יהי' המתחיל. - כן סיפר לי הר' צאלער שע"פ דרישת בהכנ"ס כבר שלח להם סקירה קצרה אדות עצמו והמקומות שלמד וכיו"ב. בטח גם כת"ר זוכר את הר' צאלער ויש לקוות שבאם יסתדר בבהכנ"ס הנ"ל יהיו תוצאות טובות לא רק לבהכנ"ס כי אם בהיקף יותר גדול.

אמש נתקבל מהדז. ז' ובאשר אין כל ביאור בזה יודיעני אם זה בעד אפריל.

בטח מסר נ' לועד הסניפי מע"ח ובקשה להוסיף ע"ח המל"ח ועוד כ' לועד הסניפי, נ' להר"נ שי' נעמאנאוו בעד תו"ת, כ"ה להרש"ז שי' דוכמאן לחלק שם להשייכים לבית רבקה (כי שמעתי שהרש"ז הורוויטץ התראה עמו - או למסור באופן אחר).

הקבלות צריכים להיות מאנשים פרטים המקבלים ע"ש "בית הכנסת חברי שערי תורה בני אברהם".

מפני קדושת המועד אין אני בא על החתום.

בטח קיבל במועדו הקונט' לחה"פ ופרסמו באופן המתאים.

בברכת חה"פ כשר ושמח.

הרב מנחם שניאורסאהן
תקפה*
צילום האגרת נדפס בס' "זכרון" (גורודצקי) ע' 162.

מוהרב"ג: מוה"ר בנימין גורודצקי. אגרות נוספות אליו - לעיל תקסט, ובהנסמן בהערות שם.

בדבר... ליפסקר: ראה לעיל אגרת תקנט, ובהנסמן בהערות שם.

בדבר הרבנות : ראה לעיל אגרת תקעח*.

מהדז . ז : מהדזוינט סכום ז.

ראה גם לקמן אגרת תרכ*.