Igrot Kodesh · Letter 9460

By the grace of Hashem,

[2nd day of Rosh Chodesh* Adar* 5728]

Of course,[1] the situation of the Chassidim* had changed since the composition of this holy epistle*.[2] Between the first and the third time, this change was possible — and it became necessary in the first part, to which was added in particular: "in most of the Chassidic* towns and communities."

The lengthy development of the holy epistle introduced by "You shall rebuke" calls for "concluding the study of the Talmud*" — which means that this was a new practice. If this is indeed the case, one may think that the beginning of the epistle "One begins with a blessing" is the response to the "good news" that this request had been fulfilled. See Likutei Dibbur im*[,] volume 1, page 86, according to which the holy epistle "One begins with a blessing" was "composed and disseminated ten years before the composition of the letter: 'I have felt my smallness'" — that is, in the year 5549*.

Notes

[1] See Likutei Sichot*, volume 15, page 521.
[2] The recipient of this letter posed the following question to the Rebbe: the Sefer HaMaamarim* 5708, page 170, states that the first half of the holy epistle introduced by "One begins with a blessing," found in the Iggeret HaKodesh* section of the Tanya*, was composed before the Admor HaZaken* made his first visit to the Maggid* of Mezritch. How then [is this consistent with the later redactions?]

ט'תס

[בדר"ח אדר, תשכ"ח]

מובן שבהתאם לשינוי מצב החסידים מזמן כתיבת אגה"ק זו בפעם א' עד לפעם הג' הי' מקום (וצורך) לשינוי ג"כ בחלקי' הראשונים כולל ההוספה "ברוב עיירות ומנינים מאנ"ש".

ולכאורה מהאריכות באגה"ק הוכח תוכיח ע"ד "לגמור כל הש"ס כו'" – משמע דהי' בזה חידוש דבר, וא"כ הוא י"ל דהתחלת אגה"ק פותחין בברכה באה כתשובה על ה"שמועה טובה" שמלאו המבוקש. וראה לקו"ד (ח"א עפ"ו) דאגה"ק פותחין בברכה "נכתב ונתפרסם עשר שנים קודם כתיבת אגרת קטנתי" – היינו בשנת תקמ"ט.