Igrot Kodesh · Letter 6794 — Faith & Bitachon

By the grace of Hashem,

Rosh Chodesh* Nissan*, the month of redemption,

5719, Brooklyn, New York,

To all the students of the evening Yeshivah*, in the

holy city of Yerushalayim*, may it be restored

and rebuilt, very soon and in our days, by our righteous

Moshiach*, may Hashem grant you long life,

I greet you without end and bless you,

I received your letter and your request for a blessing. Today is Rosh Chodesh* Nissan*, and it is concerning it that it is stated: "This month is for you the head of the months. It is for you the first of the months of the year." On this occasion, I express my blessing to each of you. You will make an addition and advance from one stage to the next, in the study of our holy Torah*, Torah* of life, and in the practice of the mitzvos* in the finest manner, with conduct befitting a student of a Yeshivah*, especially when it is directed in the spirit of Chabad*, in the direction traced by our masters, who advocate elevation in the domain of holiness. As Chassidus* explains (note 1: See in particular the Chassidic* discourse entitled "This is the day," of 5709), advancement is true when it effects a change of nature — that is, an addition not only quantitative, with enthusiasm and ardor, but also qualitative, concerning the manner of study. Furthermore, it is necessary that each person influence his friends in this direction, for we are enjoined: "You shall love your fellow as yourself." Moreover, within a Chassidic* Yeshivah*, especially when it is founded and directed by our masters, the leaders of Chabad*, all the students form but a single entity. In all this, the assurance has been given that the result is commensurate with the effort (note 2: Literally, "the mark on the camel's back depends on the weight of the burden").

Moshe, addressing all the elders, all of Yisrael* (note 3: See the Mechilta*, at this reference), after hearing the word of Hashem — "This month will be for you..." — pronounced the following introduction: "Draw away and take the Pesach*." Our Sages* explain (note 4: Midrash* Shemos Rabbah*, chapter 16, paragraph 2): "Draw your hands away from idolatry, take for yourselves cattle, slaughter the gods of Mitzrayim*, make the sacrifice of Pesach*, for it is thus that the Holy One, blessed be He, will pass over you." You yourselves will take good care, from this Rosh Chodesh* and for all the days, for all the months of the coming year, to draw your hands away from every accomplishment that would be foreign to you (note 5: See Tractate Shabbos* 105b) — foreign to every Jew, whose mission is solely, in the words of the Mishnah*: "I was created to serve my Creator." You will take and you will slaughter the gods of Mitzrayim*, of all your surroundings that are limited and measured by the barriers and impediments of matter and physical existence. You will make the Pesach*, which will be a leap forward and not a gradual elevation (note 6: Likkutei Torah*, Parshas* Chukas*, page 61c), for it is a matter of transforming darkness into light and bitterness into sweetness. Thus will be transformed (note 7: Zohar*, vol. 1, page 4a; Tanya*, end of chapter 10) what concerns the body and the animal soul into light and holiness. In this way, the Holy One, blessed be He, will indeed pass over you. He will take pity on you and He will protect you (note 8: Targum Onkelos* and Targum Yonasan* on the verse Shemos* 12:23) from every unfortunate event, and above all from everything that obstructs the person who desires to advance on the path of our Torah*, Torah* of life, breathing life into this world and life in the World to Come.

Great is the merit linked to such conduct — consisting of drawing away, slaughtering, and making the Pesach* — to increase the blessing and success of your families (note 9: See the Bechayei* on the verse Shemos* 12:21, which says: "according to your families... It will be the same at the time of the redemption...") and for everything that concerns you, above all for your parents and your teachers, may Hashem grant them long life. With my blessing to give good tidings, as well as for a kosher and joyous Pesach*,

M. Schneerson,

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By the grace of Hashem,

4 Nissan* 5719,

Brooklyn,

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

assumes a holy mission, Rav* David (note 10: Rav* D. Eidelman, of Springfield. See, concerning him, letter no. 3666) HaLevi,

I greet you and bless you,

I am responding to your letter of Rosh Chodesh* Nissan*. I thank you for the good tidings you conveyed — the overall success of the banquet. Nevertheless, the financial aspect left something to be desired, and naturally I am pained by this, for this money could have brought that other form of money that is the love of Hashem. And it is said that "no form of the service of Hashem is comparable to that of love." But, in accordance with the custom prevailing at such banquets, one can surely complete all this now, at least to a certain extent, by drawing on the impressions retained from this banquet. This is self-evident.

You speak to me about the Kadima shul*. You tell me that it will surely be put up for sale and you ask whether it is advisable to take an interest in it. You know my opinion that it is advisable to do so, particularly this year, the one in which it was proclaimed: "You shall spread out" (note 11: See, on this matter, letter no. 6541). It is moreover a year of Shemittah*, of Shabbos* for Hashem, preserved from all negative elements, as it is stated: "You shall be saved in calm and tranquility." One can therefore reveal therein the pleasure and its source, as the Tzemach Tzedek* explains in his commentary on Tehillim*, concerning the verse: "A song, a psalm for the day of Shabbos*," which you should consult carefully. Naturally, you must consult discreetly on this subject with those close to you among the Chassidim* of Springfield. You will then contact the center of the Yeshivah* Tomchei Temimim*. Naturally, it would be preferable to also inquire in Boston, where the same was done, for no one is as wise as one who has acquired experience.

You will be protected by the merit of these propitious days — those of Nissan*, the month of redemption, during which we will be redeemed, and "the breaker (note 12: Moshiach*, who will break the barriers of exile) will rise before them," so that: "You shall spread out." You will thus know success in all this. With my blessing to give good tidings,

You convey to me someone's question about the name to be given to his grandson, who will be born soon. You know, in this matter, the instruction (note 13: See, on this subject, letter no. 4170) given by my father-in-law, the Rebbe, whose merit protects us, according to which it is the parents' responsibility to give a name to their children. This is what he would reply when asked such a question. And from this one can deduce the reason for the words of the Arizal* according to which the name given to the child is suggested from Above to the parents, in order to correspond to the essence of the neshamah*. This is explained in the Shaar HaGilgulim* and in the Emek HaMelech*. Nevertheless, a doubt has been raised concerning the name he mentioned (note 14: Which was perhaps that of a person who did not have the desirable conduct). Now, our Sages* say: "One does not pay attention whenever those concerned do not pay attention" (note 15: The name cannot have a harmful effect if the people concerned do not attribute one to it — which is not the case here, since a doubt was indeed raised in this matter). Therefore, why enter into the doubt? You tell me that this man had previously received his education among Chabad* Chassidim*. I therefore have good hope that he maintains a fixed time for the study of Chassidus*. In accordance with the teaching of the Alter Rebbe*, this fixation is not only in time but also and above all in the spirit. And nothing can withstand the will.

ו'תשצד*

ב"ה, ד' ניסן, תשי"ט
ברוקלין.
הרה"ח הוו"ח אי"א נו"נ מלאכתו מלאכת

שמים כו' מו"ה דוד שי' הלוי

שלום וברכה!

במענה למכתבו מר"ח ניסן.

ת"ח על הבשו"ט מהצלחת הבאנקעט בכלל. מובן שמצער זה שהי' בחלישות מצב הכספי שבדבר, והרי זהו כסף המביא גם לכסף ברוחניות אהבת ה' דלית פולחנא כפולחנא דרחימותא. ובודאי כמנהג באנקעטין, יש להשתדל למלאות עכ"פ במדה מסוימת גם עתה, על יסוד הרושמים מהבאנקעט, וק"ל.

במ"ש אודות בנין ביהכנ"ס "קדימה", שיש מקום לומר שיעמוד למכירה, אם להתענין בזה.

ידועה שיטתי בכגון דא שנכון הדבר, ובפרט בשנה זו שנת ופרצת, שנת השמיטה שבת לה' משבית מן המזיקין וכו', בשובה ונחת תושעון, תענוג ומקור התענוג (ראה הצ"צ לתהלים עה"פ מזמור שיר ליום השבת, עיי"ש היטב), אלא שמובן שצריכים להתיעץ באופן חשאי עם המקורבים בענין זה מאנ"ש דספרינגפעלד, ולאחר זה לבוא בקישורי דברים עם מרכז תו"ת. ומובן שנכון להתדבר גם עם בוסטון שעשו כהנ"ל, ואין חכם כבעל הנסיון.

וזכות יומי זכאין הם ימי חודש ניסן, חודש הגאולה דבו עתידין להגאל, יעלה הפורץ לפניהם ופרצת כו', תעמוד להם להצלחה בכל הנ"ל.

בברכה לבשו"ט.

בשאלת... בענין נתינת שם לנכדו אשר יולד, בכלל ידוע בזה הוראת כ"ק מו"ח אדמו"ר זצוקללה"ה נבג"מ זי"ע אשר קביעות השם להילדים צריך להיות על ידי ההורים שיחיו, וכזה הי' עונה כשהיו שואלים אותו בכגון דא.

וטעמו מובן עפ"י המובא מהאריז"ל שהשם הניתן להילד הוא עפ"י ההתעוררות מלמעלה לההורים לכוין לשרש הנשמה בגופה, וכמבואר בשער הגלגולים ובעמק המלך.

בכ"ז כיון שהנ"ל עורר חשש בהשם אודותו כותב, ובכלל אמרו דדוקא אמאן דלא קפיד לא קפדינן, למה להם ליכנס לחששות.

כיון שכותב שהנ"ל נתגדל אצל חסידי חב"ד מלפנים, תקותי חזקה שיש לו קביעות עתים בלימוד תורת החסידות וכהוראת רבנו הזקן קביעות לא רק בזמן כ"א גם, והוא העיקר, בנפש, ואין לך דבר העומד בפני הרצון.